The Hits

I’m glad I’m a glump.

Hello good morning and happy friday!

It’s time for another installment of:

1. Muzzy in Gondoland

   I have been thinking a lot about Muzzy, the BBC language learning cartoon that premiered in the 80s. Most importantly I have been thinking about the character design, which is iconic. Here is Muzzy, a large extraterrestrial with greenish-blue fur, who eats clocks:

   

   And the glorious Princess Sylvia:

   

2. Alvin and the Chipmunks

   Princess Sylvia reminds me of Jeanette from the Chipmunks who had a heavy influence on my childhood identity.

   

Fred Wolf was involved in animating Alvin and the Chipmunks:

and he ALSO animated:

3. The Point by Harry Nilsson, which is giving Muzzy energy IMHO.

4. John Lennon - In His Own Write

   The Beatles were huge fans of Harry Nilsson and I recently bought John Lennon’s books of writing and poetry “In his Own Write”

When I was a very little I would contact John Lennon via ouija board and ask him which boys at school had a crush on me. He was a very thoughtful correspondent.

5. Blur - Good Song

John’s dog poem and subsequent dog drawing reminded me of David Shrigley- specifically this music video he did for Blur in collaboration with Shynola:

6. Some of us have been threatening our friend Colby by David Barthelme

I was introduced to this short story by Daniel’s Lavery’s substack The Chatner and it has quickly become one of my favourite pieces of writing.

7. The Chatner

I read Daniel’s substack religiously, and share it with my friends more than anything else on the internet. Waking up Times in Order is a good place to start.

Or of course Problems I Sometimes Have That A Gorilla Who Lives At The Zoo Might Also Have

8. Letters, Sounds and Words - A phonic dictionary by Linda Hayward

   

   I am over the moon to have discovered this book. I love it so much, I bought a second copy so I could frame some of the pages. Mainly - this one.

It looks like there are ongoing conversations about the teaching of phonics in schools. If it means you can say ‘I’m glad i’m a glump’ i’m all for it.

As we began on a green creature teaching language, it seems only right to end on a green creature teaching language.

Have a wonderful weekend, think about your troubles, I’m glad I’m a glump.