ChatterBank0 min ago
MM Links January 2012 Week 3
50 Answers
Once again this is 'The Court Jester'.
As I sit here making preparations for the entertainments to mark the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, I am reminded of a Chinese proverb. ‘Be careful of what you wish for, as your wish may be granted.’ For almost 6 years I’ve been wanting to have the chance to put the boot on the other foot and have a chance to tease my masters. But in spite of help and encouragement from the Lord Chamberlain, I’ve learned that it is not quite the bed of roses I was expecting. (Some lovely mixed metaphors there!)
But, back to the Chinese New Year. I’m going to have to watch my step. Last year I thought I made quite a good joke to introduce the Year of the Rabbit. It involved the words ‘receding hare line’, and a few of the vainer members of the court thought that their attempts to hide their follicular deficiencies had been sussed and I was poking fun at them. Of course we all know about their perukes, but I should have known it would be more than my job’s worth to allude to them – even obliquely. I had a very stern talking-to from the Lord Chamberlain – some retired General, who has the job of keeping the court running smoothly. It seems that Dragon jokes are definitely out, as almost everyone could take offence.
So I’m reminiscing about some of the years when they liked my jesting.
As I sit here making preparations for the entertainments to mark the beginning of the Chinese Year of the Dragon, I am reminded of a Chinese proverb. ‘Be careful of what you wish for, as your wish may be granted.’ For almost 6 years I’ve been wanting to have the chance to put the boot on the other foot and have a chance to tease my masters. But in spite of help and encouragement from the Lord Chamberlain, I’ve learned that it is not quite the bed of roses I was expecting. (Some lovely mixed metaphors there!)
But, back to the Chinese New Year. I’m going to have to watch my step. Last year I thought I made quite a good joke to introduce the Year of the Rabbit. It involved the words ‘receding hare line’, and a few of the vainer members of the court thought that their attempts to hide their follicular deficiencies had been sussed and I was poking fun at them. Of course we all know about their perukes, but I should have known it would be more than my job’s worth to allude to them – even obliquely. I had a very stern talking-to from the Lord Chamberlain – some retired General, who has the job of keeping the court running smoothly. It seems that Dragon jokes are definitely out, as almost everyone could take offence.
So I’m reminiscing about some of the years when they liked my jesting.
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