Tag Archives: The Did I Win Yet Competition

A Realm Beyond Comprehension and a Shortish List

Iawoke realising that I had failed. Not only had I failed in my mission to become an internationally acclaimed artist with medals and an OBE, but I had also failed in my attempt to achieve world peace.

‘There is still time.’ Whispered a distant voice from a realm beyond comprehension.
‘You’re optimistic,’ I replied, strangely unperturbed by this new aural phenomenon, ‘my deadline is 21st November 2045, I only have 23 years and a bit and then the crowds will descend on Mogwash village hall expecting some kind of spectacle/experience/miracle/wonderment/world peace/artistic extravaganza [delete as applicable].’

The distant voice offered no further advice so I heaved myself out of bed and decided that today would be the day that I would start to get things done. I had to be positive, I had been dribbling stupor for long enough, and maybe the distant voice had a point – there was time – so I washed, dressed, ate a bowl of gruel, and hauled myself up to my garret at the bottom of the garden.

My garret was much as I left it, though a bit more dusty. On my desk was a list [please see exhibit A]

After removing a pile of books from my chair, I sat, and tried to gaze out the window – I couldn’t, it was far too grubby so I added ‘clean window’ to the list.
It appeared that I had my work cut out, or at least written down. But there was something I’d forgotten – something very important, and I swear I could hear the words: Did I win yet? being typed on a keyboard. My reverie was interrupted when I felt a cool presence brush against my left elbow, and from the sound of glass bottles rattling in a cardboard crate. This was all rather startling, but even more so because of the Blackbird  standing on the bottles with its wings outstretched in a cormorant pose, as if perched on a groyne. There was only one thing I could do in the face of such terrorism, I passed out, hitting my head on my desk as I slowly slumped to the floor.

To be continued over the cusp.

Coming First

It has taken me many days to decide the ultimate winner of the ‘Did I Win Yet?’ competition, and some nights I have woken in a cold sweat wondering how I could resolve the conundrum, but I have finally made a decision. He may not be happy about it; he may fall to his knees in exasperation; he may flounce around for a bit and then go for a long walk to examine his groynes….but yes, the winner of the competition is Mr Devine! – Please be aware that you should never enter anything without accepting the very real possibility of coming first. And although Mr Devine is the ultimate winner, I still propose that we have some sort of Mr Lax festival in the future.

So that’s that then. I will be posting again at the weekend. I have news of the jolly variety! And an explanation as to why I might be posting less in February. Or I might be posting more – I haven’t quite figured that one out yet – though I might have it figured by July.

Meanwhile, I have been doing a lot of this sort of thing…

calligraphy-addressed-label-for envelope

collage-and-calligraphy-uk

….which is possibly why I haven’t been doing so much blog commenting.

And here is a tune…

Did I Win???

I know that everyone is desperate to know who won ‘The Did I Win Yet?’ competition. It has been tricky picking a winner. I was swamped with entries, plus chairs arrived at my backdoor with quotes written all over them – sadly these had to be disqualified as this is a virtual competition – I now have a three piece suite, a kitchen stool, and some sort of rickety Ikea affair to dispose of. Thank you!

Before I disclose the finalists let me first deal with section 1 of the competition – the quiz.

Q1. Many years ago Ms Scarlet had a dream about Mr Lax. In this dream Mr Lax instructed Ms Scarlet to do what?

The answer is: b) Mind the gap. [Well done Rimpy!]

Q2. What does LX mean?

To be fair I have no idea. So any answer is a winner! Yes, trick question, cunning, eh???

And now, [DRUMROLL] the finalists:-

Starting with Melanie, with pertinent quote from George Eliot.
Very neat, Melanie. A gold star for you for composition, cursive, and a festive spirit.

Next up – Mr Devine with an even more pertinent quote…

With this entry you are spoiling me, Mr Devine! I like your style! Very individual.

Next is Rimpy, who actually remembered my dream about Mr Lax! Were you in it too, Rimpy? Were you on the London Underground that evening? Anyhow, this is Rimpy’s creative entry….

Shakespeare! And there’s a nice cursive beneath that rush job – take your time Rimps!

Finally, and with much fanfare, I bring you Mistress Maddie with plenty of glamour and some lively curlicues…. nice chair…

Of course they are all winners for simply entering the competition, and if they would like to leave their addresses at reception, then they will all receive something jolly through their letter boxes in the very near future. Obviously, I do have to pick an overall winner for this competition to continue, so… hmmm…I think it should be…. well…. who do you think it should be?

Deadline

Before I rant and rave about the deadline, let me first rant and rave about WordPress. It is subtle, I know, but when I looked at my blog this morning the template had changed! I didn’t do it! Maybe Charmaine has been on the fiddle and tinkered with something under the bonnet? Rest assured that I am enfumed. YES, ENFUMED.

Meanwhile, the reason for this post – other than I haven’t written one for a week – is that I have only received TWO entries for the DID I WIN YET competition. Seriously, I wasn’t expecting such enthusiasm, it’s not like there is anything else going on in the world. The deadline for entries is Sunday 10th January, or thereabouts, I can be flexible. Please send your entries to me via my email address that is somewhere obvious on this blog/website. DO NOT MAKE ME THREATEN YOU WITH A FLOCK OF STARLINGS, or my appalling taste in music. I will announce the winner/s on Sunday 17th January.

And furthermore…. I have a meme for you from the olden days of 2008. What was the first vinyl single you ever bought? Slap it on your blog and tell us about it.

This was mine:-

The ‘Did I Win Yet?’ Competition/Award

Because I won the first ‘Did I Win Yet?’ competition, way back in January 2020, hosted by the lovely Mr Devine HERE, I now have the joyous pleasure of hosting the second! Yay!!

So what is the ‘Did I Win Yet?’ competition? It is simply a way to honour our old friend Mr Lax. And this competition/award can take any format I fancy! I am so relieved that it doesn’t have to be a quiz – I can instead make it easy. Thank goodness, as I think we have all been a little mentally overtaxed this year.

To win the ‘Did I Win Yet’ award 2021 please complete the following sections:-

Section 1 – The Quiz Bit

Q1. Many years ago Ms Scarlet had a dream about Mr Lax. In this dream Mr Lax instructed Ms Scarlet to do what? Was it:

a) Feed his cats

b) Mind the gap

c) Feed somebody else’s cats

d) Mind the cranberry sauce

Q2. What does LX mean?

a) No, seriously what does LX mean? Did we ever find out?

b) It means XL

c) Something to do with engineering

d) Nothing in particular

Section 2 – The Creative Bit

For this section I would like you to write out your favourite quote as adventurously as you dare; place it on a chair of your choice; photograph it; and then send this picture to me for me to examine with my keen eye for all types of writing.

That’s it!! This is all you have to do to enter the ‘Did I Win Yet?’ competition!! We’ve had gardening competitions, so it’s about time we had a handwriting compo!

The competition is open as soon as I publish this post. The deadline is 10th January 2021. The winner/s will be announced on 17th January 2021. Please send your entries to scarlet@wonky-words.com. Please remember to include responses to both sections. The prize is the honour of hosting the next ‘Did I Win Yet?’ competition; the exclusive right to put the following on your sideboard:-

AND, I might send you a little something if you want me to. I look forward to receiving your entries, and will continually pester you until you do.