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Salty Sam’s Fun Blog for Children

Number 125

Driving on the Left

 

Hello Everyone

 

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Last week, Bill and Bob met some French exchange students that were living in their next-door neighbours’ house.

 

These French children were curious to know why British people drive on the left-hand side of the road when the rest of Europe drives on the right, even in Gibraltar.

 

For the answer to this question you have to look back in history.

 

lt is said that when the only mode of transport on the road was horses, people tended to pass each other keeping other riders on their right side. This was because most people were right-handed and could reach for a sword to protect themselves if necessary with their right hand.

 

So what changed this habit?

 

Well, when Napoleon Bonaparte expanded his empire through Europe he insisted that his armies marched on the right and imposed this rule wherever he went.

 

Because he never successfully invaded Britain and was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo, he never managed to impose the rule here.

 

Adolf Hitler was no more successful at doing this with his ‘Rechts Fahren’ (go/travel on the right) policy – imposed whenever he invaded a country during the Second World War.

 

There is another story that because the old London Bridge was so narrow and congested the Lord Mayor of London instructed in 1772 that all vehicles should keep to the left half of the street across it. This may have started the tradition of vehicles travelling on the left side of the road.

 

What a lot of people don’t know is that out of all the countries in the world about a third of them drive on the left including Japan, Australia, New Zealand, lndia, a lot of African and South East Asian countries and Caribbean islands as well.

 

Malta and Cyprus started driving on the left in 2008. Samoa started driving on the left in 2009 and South Sudan in 2011.

 

So maybe Britain is not so different; just unchanged. smile1 (2) 

 

 

Bye bye everyone – don’t forget to subscribe to my blog!

 

lf you like my blog, please support it by telling all your friends and followers about it.

 

Thank you!

 

And see you again next Fun Friday!

 

Love and kisses

 

Salty Sam

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www.christina-sinclair.com

 

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Bill and Bob’s Joke of the Weekjokejoke

 

Bill: Why did the idiot sleep under his car all night?

 

Bob: l don’t know. Why did the idiot sleep under his car all night?

 

Bill: So that he could wake up oily in the morning!

 

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Salty Sam © Christina Sinclair 2015

Unauthorized use and/or duplication of material from this blog without express and written permission from this blog’s author and owner is strictly prohibited.

Links may be used to www.christina-sinclair.com

 
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Picture Gallery

 
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Napoleon

 

image010 The Battle of Waterloo

 

image012 A road in New Zealand

 

image013 Samoa is an island in the Pacific Ocean

 

image015 London Bridge

(with Traitors’ heads displayed on spikes – look at the lollypop shapes in the bottom right hand corner of the picture)

 

image017 Southwark 1630

(Southwark [pronounced Sutherk] was the part of London that was south of the River Thames)

 
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London today

 

 

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    desk  THE SALTY SAM NEWS DESKlamp

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Auntie Alice has been busy knitting again this week and she has knitted Emily’s 12” doll a lovely car coat (the beret from Blog Post 117 matches the coat). 

If you would like one for your doll too, then here is the pattern for you.

 

NEWSDESK MINIMAKE

A 12” DOLL CAR COAT

 

CAR COAT BACK (KNIT TWO) 

Using 4mm knitting needles and green dk yarn cast on 16 stitches

 

(Knit 1, purl 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

(Purl 1, knit 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

 

Repeat these last 2 rows 19 times more (40 rows moss stitch)

 

CAR COAT FRONT (KNIT TWO) 

Using 4mm knitting needles and green dk yarn cast on 12 stitches

 

(Knit 1, purl 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

(Purl 1, knit 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

 

Repeat these last 2 rows 19 times more (40 rows moss stitch)

 

CAR COAT SLEEVES (KNIT TWO)

Using 4mm knitting needles and green dk yarn cast on 18 stitches

 

(Knit 1, purl 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

(Purl 1, knit 1) repeat the last 2 stitches to the end of the row

 

Repeat these last 2 rows 14 times more (30 rows moss stitch)

 

TO MAKE UP 

With right sides facing sew 1cm/½ inch up shoulders using over-sew stitches.

Turn the pieces right side out.

Fold the fronts back to make lapels and sew along the tops.

With right sides facing again use over-sew stitches to sew garment together.

Attach the tops of the sleeves to the shoulders.

Sew up under arm and side seams.

Turn right sides out.

Sew two snap fasteners to the front edge.

Decorate with four tiny buttons at the front to create a double breasted effect to the coat.

Turn back the bottom of the sleeves to make cuffs.

 

TIPS

Slip the first stitch of every row to make neat edges except for the first two rows to make square corners.

If moss stitch is too difficult for you then garter stitch can be used.

The coat made in white would look like a doctor’s or vet’s coat but make the sleeves 4 stitches narrower.

 

You could also make the coat a little longer if you wanted to.

 

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Quick Quiz

 

 

There are a few differences in the use of words amongst English speaking countries; for example a ‘shooter’ in British’ English is slang for a gun but in American English it means a person who is shooting a gun.

 

Can you translate these words into American English?

 

Beginners:-

 

  1. flat
  2. sweets
  3. bill
  4. crisps
  5. pavement
  6. cupboard
  7. biscuit
  8. receptionist
  9. nappy
  10. wash up
  11. curtains
  12. a rubber
  13. autumn
  14. trousers
  15. petrol
  16. cinema
  17. holiday
  18. lorry
  19. return ticket
  20. mackintosh

 

lntermediate:-

 

  1. television aerial
  2. pram
  3. banknote
  4. to grill
  5. candy floss
  6. cul-de-sac
  7. chest of drawers
  8. aubergine
  9. ground floor
  10. caretaker
  11. spanner
  12. dummy
  13. postal code
  14. waist coat
  15. car bonnet
  16. tap
  17. drawing pin
  18. cloakroom
  19. pillar box
  20. off licence

 

Advanced:-

 

  1. hair slide
  2. funny bone
  3. bottom drawer
  4. Welsh dresser
  5. haberdashery
  6. icing sugar
  7. estate agent
  8. push chair
  9. spring onion
  10. plus fours
  11. bank holiday
  12. settee
  13. box room
  14. truncheon
  15. tadpole
  16. state school
  17. net curtains
  18. cattle grid
  19. noughts and crosses
  20. garden

 

 

And then these words into Australian English?

 

  1. vest
  2. banger (sausage)
  3. afternoon
  4. flip flops
  5. ambulance man (or woman)
  6. a pepper
  7. builder’s truck
  8. university
  9. sandwich
  10. chickens

 

 

Also…

 

  1. a football pitch is rectangular

 
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weekend

 
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lt’s the Weekend!

 

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HOW TO KNlT MY CABLE JUMPER 

Last week on Blog Post 124 there was a pattern for a scarf with a cable pattern on it. 

This is a pattern for a jumper with cables on it to get even more practice. 

It fits the Salty Sam toy.

 

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SAM’S CABLE JUMPER FRONT (KNIT 1) 

Using 3½mm knitting needles and dk yarn cast on 52 stitches

K3 (p2 k3) repeat these last 2 stitches until the last 3 stitches k3

P3 (k2 p2) repeat these last 2 stitches until the last 3 stitches p3

Repeat the last 6 rows 3 times (8 rows of rib)

 

Change to 4mm knitting needles

K18 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k18

P18 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p18

Repeat the last 2 rows twice

 

K18 p1 put the next 2 stitches on a cable needle and put behind or in front of your knitting (keep this choice the same for the rest of the jumper – whichever you find easiest) knit the next 2 stitches and then the 2 stitches from the cable needle

p1 k4 p1 put next 2 sts on a cable needle and put behind or in front of your knitting (keep this choice the same for the rest of the jumper) knit the next 2 stitches and then the 2 stitches from the cable needle

p1 k18

p18 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p18

 

K18 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k18

P18 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p18

Repeat the last 2 rows twice

K18 p1 k4 p1 put the next 2 stitches on a cable needle and put behind or in front of your knitting (keep this choice the same for the rest of the jumper) knit the next 2 stitches and then the 2 stitches from the cable needle

P1 k4 p1 k18

 

Repeat the last 16 rows twice

 

Cast off 10 stitches k8 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k4 p1 k18

Cast off 10 stitches p8 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p4 k1 p8 (32sts)

 

Change to 3½mm knitting needles

K3 (p2 k2) repeat last 4 stitches to last 3 stitches k3

P3 (k2 p2) repeat last 4 stitches to last 3 stitches p3

Repeat these 2 rows 3 times (8 rows of ribbing)

Cast loosely rib-wise

 

SAM’S CABLE JUMPER BACK (KNIT 1) 

Knit the back in the same way as the front using stocking stitch or the cable design again

 

SAM’S CABLE JUMPER SLEEVES (KNIT 2) 

Using 3½mm knitting needles and dk yarn cast on 40 sts 

K3 (p2 k2) repeat these last 4 stitches until the last 3 stitches k3

P3 ( k2 p2) repeat these last 2 stitches until the last 3 stitches p3

Repeat the last 2 rows 3 times (8 rows of ribbing)

 

Change to 4mm knitting needles

Stocking stitch 30 rows and cast off loosely

 

TO MAKE UP

Sew up the right shoulder seam but the left only 1cm up from the shoulder side (not neck side) with right sides facing.

Then fold the sleeves in half lengthways in order to find the centre. Match this centre up to the shoulder seam and sew across the top of the sleeves. Then sew under sleeve and side seams.

 

Using sewing thread, sew a snap fastener to the outside corners of the collar – this will then turn over to hide the snap fastener.

 

TIP

If you are a knitting newbie, it is not advisable to knit with black or a very dark coloured yarn because it is not so easy to see where you are or what you have done.

 

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Salty Sam says everyone should be careful when crossing the road.

 
Please note that the material on this blog is for personal use and for use in classrooms only.

It is a copyright infringement and, therefore, illegal under international law to sell items made with these patterns.

Use of the toys and projects is at your own risk.

©Christina Sinclair Designs 2015sand

  

 

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Quick Quiz Answers

 

Beginner

  1. flat – apartment
  2. sweets – candy
  3. bill – check
  4. crisps – potato chips
  5. pavement – sidewalk
  6. cupboard – closet
  7. biscuit – cookie
  8. receptionist – desk clerk
  9. nappy – diaper
  10. wash up – do the dishes
  11. curtains – drapes
  12. a rubber – an eraser
  13. autumn – fall
  14. trousers – pants
  15. petrol – gasoline
  16. cinema – movie theatre
  17. holiday – vacation
  18. lorry -truck
  19. return ticket – round trip ticket
  20. mackintosh – raincoat

 

lntermediate

  1. television aerial – antenna
  2. pram – baby carriage
  3. bank note – bill
  4. to grill – to broil
  5. candy floss – cotton candy
  6. cul-de-sac – dead end
  7. chest of drawers – dresser
  8. aubergine – egg plant
  9. ground floor – first floor
  10. caretaker – janitor
  11. spanner – monkey wrench
  12. dummy – pacifier
  13. postal code – zip code
  14. waist coat – vest
  15. car bonnet – car hood
  16. tap – faucet
  17. drawing pin – thumb tack
  18. cloakroom – rest room
  19. pillar box – mail drop
  20. off licence – liquor store

 

Advanced

  1. hair slide – barette
  2. funny bone – crazy bone
  3. bottom drawer – hope chest
  4. Welsh dresser – hutch
  5. haberdashery – notions
  6. icing sugar – powdered sugar
  7. estate agent – realtor
  8. pushchair/buggy – stroller
  9. spring onions – scallions
  10. plus fours – knickers
  11. bank holiday – legal holiday
  12. settee – love seat
  13. box room – lumber room
  14. truncheon – night stick
  15. tadpole – pollywog
  16. state school – public school
  17. net curtains – sheers
  18. cattle grid – Texas grid
  19. noughts and crosses – tic-tac-toe
  20. garden – yard

 

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Australian English

  1. vest – singlet
  2. banger (sausage) – snag
  3. afternoon – arvo
  4. flip flops – thongs
  5. ambulance man (or woman) – ambo
  6. a pepper – a capsicum
  7. builder’s truck – ute
  8. university – uni
  9. sandwich – sanga
  10. chickens – chooks
  11. a football pitch is recangular – a football pitch is oval 

 
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 The Australian Flag 

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  • Stardust1 says:

    This blog is unique. Very different from other stuff I have picked up.

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