Shadow Shot Sunday #130

Thank you to Tracy from 'Hey Harriet' who organises and hosts this meme.

photo copyright M R Oakley

Mark is one of the charming vets who look after our animals' health. In his spare time he  builds 1/12 scale F1 models from scratch. They are mainly from the 70s with some from the 60s and some from the 90s and later. He builds them for his own interest, each one representing a year's work from start to finish. They are not working models and are intended for museum display - indeed, he has been invited to display at the world-famous National Motor Museum at Beaulieu in Hampshire, UK.
Each model is 12" - 14" long (30 -36 cms)

Mark's meticulous approach involves photographing the original machines with permission, drawing his own engineering plans, and ensuring that the model he subsequently produces is as faithful to the original as he can make it. To this end all bodywork is removable so that the engineering can be seen and the underside of each car is carefully replicated. 

You can read more about his models here

By posting this blog I hope to draw attention to some of Mark's requests. If anyone can help or knows someone who could be of assistance I know he would be most appreciative.

1: He is looking for someone able and willing to print a small number of single decal sheets with a large proportion of white, using an Oki printer. The decals are all smaller than approx 30mm to suit a 1/12 scale model racecar subject. The artwork would be supplied, or be drawn up by the same person with use of an Oki printer.

2: He would be able to supply only basic artwork and photos of the desired end product (decal) and would appreciate someone with a drawing program such as Coral Draw or similar, to produce the digital artwork prior to printing on an Oki printer, with draft copy on plain paper for my final assessment before committing to the Oki printed material on the appropriate (Oki style) water-slide medium. Fee to be discussed, hoping to keep this realistic.

3:  He is very keen to see an Hewland TL200 gearbox from a Grand Prix car or Sports Car, in the UK, preferably out of the car on the floor/bench to measure and photograph for a scale model.

4: On an unrelated subject, he is keen to acquire a (spare/no longer wanted) FAI Home security on/off hand held remote control, preferably from the UK.

I shall be posting this in various formats (ie: with different illustrations) throughout the next few weeks in the hope that someone will be able to help.

Deep down in our hearts

Jinksy from ‘napple notes’ wrote the following verse in response to a remark from a friend of hers whose ‘driveway was beginning to resemble a babbling brook’. 

Floater's Dance

There, on a path where water is rushing 
over shingled drive not intended for gushing 
streams, leaves huddle, form a raft.
Without map or compass this craft 
will continue to dance to skirling song 
of wind and rain. Who knows how long
the piper has called this same tune
in other lands, under different moons?

I thought it was delightful but challenged her to pen something to make muddy pawprints acceptable. Almost immediately she responded with the following. 

Blokes, kids, cats and dogs

with mud on their feet

that treks in from the garden

or even the street,

can leave other traces,

much harder to beat -

deep down in our hearts -

and that's no mean feat!

Cleverly and succinctly Jinksy has captured the essence of our relationship with those we love. Thank you, Penny J

If you have not yet indulged yourself in a visit to ‘napple notes’ I urge you to do so. I promise you will not be disappointed.

Dogs in Bolivia

Dogs in Bolivia are being used as live shooting practice targets by the Bolivian army. I cannot post the picture relating to this - it is too horrible. 
Where is our humanity?

Feeling odd

I’m not writing this as a plea for sympathy but as an objective attempt to understand what is going on. I feel decidedly odd today. (Unkind commentators might observe that this feeling merely reflects my natural condition.)

I had planned to visit the garden centre this morning and then titivate the ornamental hay racks at the front of the house. Presently they are filled with the dead remains of geraniums and a few brave, lingering nasturtiums. However, when I clambered carefully out of bed, trying to avoid disturbing Winston, who sleeps on my feet, and Jenna, always pressed to my back, I had the peculiar sensation of being slightly off-balance. (Again, this leaves me open to cruel remarks.)

Now, a few hours later, I know I cannot trust myself to drive anywhere, so my day will be spent indoors, doing as little as possible (Nothing new there, then!) and hoping the fog will clear. My head is full of cotton wool (My detractors always suspected there was no grey matter in it!) and is threatening to ache. I suppose this is what one of my work colleagues used to refer to as ‘half a headache’.

Barry sporadically suffers from a balance problem – positional vertigo caused by crystals in the inner ear - which causes giddiness and nausea. Medication (betahistine dihydrochloride) helps him and sometimes exercises – the Epley manoeuvre, (similar to the Brandt-Daroff Repositioning Exercise) – are effective, though occasionally they aggravate the vertigo.

The Epley manoeuvre

He had a recurrence of this ailment after we came home from London at the weekend. It has lasted for several days and strangely, just as he is recovering I have developed a similar complaint, though I am not as severely affected as he has been. 

We are wondering now if we have picked up a ‘bug’. It just goes to show, it’s dangerous to go out! You never know how generous people are going to be with their germs. As Adrian Monk would agree, ‘It’s a jungle out there!’

Malware

Attempting to access Squirrel Queen's website, 'The Road to Here' I was alerted to potential harm to my computer. I cannot email Squirrel Queen as the warning message appears immediately, not giving me a chance to find her email address. If anyone 'out there' knows her address please could you inform her of the malware. Apparently it's associated with the blog 'anne-mariewithadash'. Google informs that this site has been infected in the past - I wonder if the owner knows?
It's a horrible feeling, to think that someone takes pleasure in infecting innocent bloggers' sites - or maybe it's all quite accidental.

Cat quiz

ABC Wednesday - Q is for Quartermaster

According to Wikipedia:- 'Quartermaster' refers to two different military occupations. In land armies, it is a term referring to an individual soldier or a unit specialising in distributing supplies and provisions to troops. It is a non-commissioned rank in many navies. In the US Navy, quartermaster is a job role linked to navigation. Aboard merchant ships, the term quartermaster usually refers to the experienced seamen assigned to bridge watches. The quartermaster's main task is to steer the ship and apply the helm orders given by the Captain or watchkeeping officers.

The Quartermaster's Song

There are snakes, snakes, snakes 

Big as garden rakes,
At the store! At the store!
There are snakes, snakes, snakes,
Big as garden rakes, at the Quartermaster's store.

ChorusMy eyes are dim I can not see.
I have not got my specs with me.
I have HEY! Not HO! got my specs with me.

There are mice, mice, mice
Running though the rice,
At the store! At the store!
There are mice, mice, mice,
Running through the rice, at the Quartermaster's store.

Chorus

Continue with each of the following:3. lice - living on the mice.
4. rats - big as alley cats.
5. roaches - big as football coaches
6. watches - big as sasquaches
7. snakes - big as garden rakes
8. bears - but no one really cares
9. beavers - with little meat cleavers
10. foxes - stuffed in little boxes

The only version I know refers to ants wearing yellow pants . . .

Thank you to Denise Nesbitt and her Quality team who organise and  host this weekly meme. Click here to see more Qs.

The Further Adventures of Frodo the Faller – a day with the vets

Frodo had a further appointment with Phil-the-Vet last Wednesday. Although he’s not squeaking anymore and doesn’t appear to be in pain he must still have a daily dose of Meloxidyl every morning for a further fortnight to reduce any swelling.  Phil-the-Vet suggested that an x-ray might reveal more about the causes of Frodo’s problem so Barry immediately booked him in for the next day.

He was going to be sedated for the process, not anaesthetised, but the same instructions applied:-

1:  No food after 8 pm the evening before

2: No water in the morning

We have a two gallon container of water in the kitchen that’s available at all times for the animals and is refilled every day. (Yesterday, Winston was miaouing by the bucket and when we looked we saw it was empty.)

Frodo is a creature of habit. It is his custom to groan and moan for food twice a day and he will never go out to relieve himself in the morning until he has been fed. Directly after breakfast he drinks copious amounts of water, or would, if I didn’t prevent him – too much liquid in one intake after a meal can cause gastric dilatation and torsion. Following that he repairs to the garden and then comes back to the kitchen for his medication.

The requirement not to feed after eight o’clock was no problem. The animals are always fed their second meal well before that time but the morning presented Frodo with some puzzling behaviour on the part of the humans, particularly the female human who feeds him. Food was not forthcoming, which was very perturbing for him. Even more disquieting than that, I was walking round and round the garden with him to try and encourage him to pee. No joy! Then Barry called him out to the car, (now known as ‘the dog box’ as it’s rather like a horse box and serves a similar purpose) and he jumped in but was not joined by the rest of his friends and relations. His mystified face stared back at me as the dog box disappeared out of the drive.

It was a strange feeling to walk the dogs without my Velcro dog by my side but it was quite relaxing not to have to watch out for other dogs all the time. Frodo is as soft as butter with the dogs he knows – any of them can steal his bone or pinch his food and he makes not a sound, but if a strange dog or human approaches when we’re walking he is very vocal so it is easier and quieter to avoid such scenes by taking an alternative route. We find that most experienced dog walkers behave in the same way, for a variety of reasons.

In the late afternoon we had the results of Frodo’s x-ray. There were a couple of small bone growth spurs that were not affecting him so the conclusion was that he had probably trapped a nerve. We were relieved!

Frodo is a very obedient dog and submits quietly to many procedures but he has taken a dislike to the plunger that administers his Meloxidyl. I don’t know whether he doesn’t like the taste of the medicine or associates the syringe with needles, even though he’s never had a hypodermic used on him at home. Whatever the cause, he slinks away, looking very hangdog. We were away at the weekend and Gillian was looking after the animals. When it was time for his liquid medicine Frodo sloped off and she found him at the top of the stairs!

I have now resorted to giving him a small biscuit after his dose much as children sometimes are given something to take away the taste of ‘nasty medicine’. Naturally, the others must have a biscuit, too. I shall have to adjust their rations accordingly!

Microfiction Monday #56

Lovely Susan from ‘Stony River’ organises and hosts this weekly meme. Thank you Susan J She provides a picture and the challenge is to create a story in 140 characters or less – including punctuation! Click here to read more marvels of microfiction – and perhaps join in. It’s fun!

Here is this week’s picture accompanied by my offering. We drive on the left in UK!

She made brmm brmm noises, longing to be old enough to drive. She knew she’d be good. Even now she was keeping closely to the left.

(131 characters)

ABC Wednesday - P is for Patience

Denise Nesbitt and her Playful Pals host this Perfect weekly meme. Thank you all! To enjoy more Ps please click here.

P is for Patience, a virtue of which I have very little. The Patience to which I refer is the game of that name. I believe it is usually known as Solitaire in the States. It is said, probably quite correctly, that people either play cards or they play Patience. 

I am not keen on card games. I can never remember the rules, apart from ‘Cheat’ which has none. My mother used to play card games with me when I was little – Gin rummy and Beat Jack Out of Doors – and though I enjoyed playing them then I cannot remember the rules now. The thought of playing Bridge or Canasta fills me with horror – far too serious! My father played many card games in his years at sea and had a sharp brain and an excellent memory. He was an exception to the rule that one either plays cards or Patience and taught me to play Double Patience. That was always fun, if rather a long game. Most of the time I play solitary Patience.  

I ran a Patience club when I was teaching, which was well attended and enjoyable. We learnt many different forms of the game, including Baker’s Dozen, Rosamund’s Bower, Labryinth and Puss in the Corner. The sessions were too short to embark on learning any of the Double Patiences. I also taught my children and grandchildren to play Patience.

There are only two Patience games that I can always remember – Clock Patience and Klondike. The latter is one that is often found on computers – sometimes it comes out, more often it doesn’t. If I want to play another version I have to refer to one of my books. 

The King of Hearts on the cover of this well-used book is playing Clock Patience

Another of my well-thumbed paperbacks

I prefer to play with real cards, in any case, and am fascinated by Patience cards. They are smaller than a standard pack, so take up less room when playing – this is something to consider when the tableau (initial lay-out) may take up considerable space. 

The deck on the right came from a Christmas cracker - cheap quality but with colourful illustrations. The deck on the left is  larger, better quality, but still smaller than a standard Patience deck

I like Piatnik cards – they are very good quality and feel smooth and easy to handle. Piatnik is based in Vienna, Austria, and has a long history of manufacturing high-quality Playing cards. 

One of my favourite sets is a double deck in a zipped leather case. 

It has two small booklets with the rules for 15 games of Patience.

The cards have Monet illustrations on them.

Many and varied are the historical figures who have enjoyed playing Patience. Napoleon, exiled on St Helena, is believed to have passed many evenings playing it. There is a game named after him called, unsurprisingly, Napoleon at St Helena. Tolstoy could be said to be obsessed by Patience, sometimes using it to decide on a course of action. If the result was not pleasing, he would replay the game. He even included it in a scene from ‘War and Peace’. A fellow Russian, Dostoyevsky, had the character Grushenka play it in ‘The Brothers Karamazov’. Magda Goebbels played Patience in the Führerbunker after she killed her six children. 

Playing Patience will not increase your measure of this virtue. In fact, it can lead to great frustration! Beware, though, if you feel inspired to play any version of this game – it can become addictive.

Ticks

What do ticks mean to you? If you’re a child, ticks mean you have done something correctly. If you’re a list-maker, a tick may indicate that a task on the list has been achieved or that an item on the shopping list has been found and placed in the trolley 

(I’m a crosser-out – I enjoy striking a line through words!)

Adult deer tick (Ixodes scapularis)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

If you are a mammal, bird, and occasionally a reptile or amphibian in the Great Outdoors, a tick may be a blood-sucking member of the arachnid family that attaches itself to your skin with its cutting jaws (chelicerae) and feeding tube (hypostome) as a small, insignificant creature that expands as its body fills with your blood. The hypostome, with its many recurved teeth, acts as an anchor to retain its hold on the host. When sated it drops off, resting in tall grass until requiring further sustenance when it will find another passing victim.

Ticks are able to sense carbon dioxide and heat from nearby hosts and are found inn most wooded areas throughout the world. They are particularly common where there are deer or human trails. They can also be found in meadows where shrubs and brushwood offer cover. They are noticeably prolific near water where animals come to drink, infecting wild and domestic animals alike.  

They are not only an irritant but also vectors of diseases like Lyme disease in Europe and the USA and Rocky Mountain spotted fever in North America. One form of natural control involves the Ichneumon wasp Ixodiphagus hookeri which lays its eggs in ticks. The hatching wasps feed on their host and kill it. Guinea fowl consume great numbers of ticks. Two birds can clear two acres completely in one year.

They are ancient creatures, believed to have been evident in the Cretaceous period, 65 to 146 million years ago, though most of their evolution occurred during the Tertiary period, 5 to 65 million years ago.

Male tick compared to match head

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Today’s generation of ticks has been conspicuous this year, if our dogs are an indicator of their activity. Jenna has been the main host, though Tia also has a visitor now. We have tried covering the ticks with Vaseline, which is supposed to stop them breathing, I believe. It didn’t work! We also tried pure alcohol, which Barry uses to clean tape heads and model rail tracks. That didn’t work either. Simply pulling off the ticks is not effective because the mouth parts are left behind and can cause infection. Now, we have the ‘O’Tom Tick Twister’ which we bought at our vets’ surgery yesterday. Ticks, look out – we’ve got you in our sights!

A new mantra

Like most couples, I suppose, Barry and I often discuss the things we’re going to do, the plans we’ve got, the hopes we have. None of our ideas are earth-shattering or innovative or even very much out of the ordinary. I mean, many people have a huge model train lay-out in the attic and a gymnasium and endless pool at the end of the garden and plans for an observatory to house the astronomical telescopes. And yes, we also have a special telescope to observe the sun. It’s not used very often as there are days when we don’t even see the sun.

The other day Barry said that he’s really enjoying his retirement and having the opportunity to pursue his many hobbies. I must admit that I had a great deal of trepidation at the prospect of him not going out to work each day. I thought he would miss the challenges – and there were many! – but he’s glad to be out of what was turning into a frustrating and rather dreary business. It was taken over by another company after he left and reports from the very few who remain there are not joyous.

He declared happily that he’s got time now to decorate. I remember doing some of that when I first stopped working but I’m an impatient painter. I start with great enthusiasm but soon get bored and slap the paint on so thickly that it forms small waterfalls frozen in time as they dry. Barry claims that he likes painting and about two months ago he declared his aim of painting a door a day. His new mantra, ‘Paint a door a day’, he would call gleefully to me as he passed through on his way to the loft, the gym, the pool.

Thus far, he has painted one door and it certainly looks very nice, contrasting so beautifully with the walls that now look rather tired. Last night he amended ‘Paint a door a day’ to ‘Paint a door a month’ and I quickly adjusted it to ‘Paint a door a year’. Well, there are more interesting things to do – and we’re doing them! 

The First of the Month

European rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

A pinch and a punch for the first of the month and no returns of any kind.’

‘A pinch and a kick for being so quick and no returns of any kind.’

 . . . and so on and so forth. I am glad to have those irritating dialogues a long way behind me. I never appreciated the fun in being pinched, punched and kicked black and blue just because of the date.

Another thing one is supposed recommended to say on the first day of each month is ‘White rabbits.’ Why? Not only are you expected to remember to utter this phrase but these two words must be the first words you speak when you wake. It’s meant to bring good fortune for the rest of the month.  Add to this the expectation that the last words you voice on the last day of the month must be ‘Grey hares.'

European hare, Brown hare (Lepus europaeus)

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

I pondered all this in the early hours of the morning as I massaged Tia to help her relax and go back to sleep so that I could return to the arms of whoever it is that’s the god of slumber – Morpheus, that’s him. I couldn’t sleep in his arms – he’s always portrayed as butt-naked. Ooh, all that sticky flesh.

Morpheus, Phantasos and Iris by Pierre-Narcisse 

Guérin, 1811

Image courtesy of Wikipedia

Naturally, I had neglected forgotten to say the magic words last night and my morning started early. Tia was quite concerned enough without me chanting at her because, of course, when I do remember to say ‘White rabbits’ I have to repeat it three times – three is a lucky number, you see. However, if I repeat it three times does that really mean that I’ve actually said it four times, since it’s not possible to repeat something unless you’ve already said it, unless you count previous occasions? But if you consider previous occasions you might, in the course of a year, supposing you’ve faithfully remembered, say ‘White rabbits’ at least 36 times (or 48 if my theory of repetition is correct.)

Anyway, to return to my question, ‘Why?’ When I googled the saying I discovered that I’ve been doing it wrong all my life (along with lots of other things, no doubt.)

Wikipedia, the fount of all knowledge – well, some of it, but you have to be careful what you believe – says, ‘"Rabbit rabbit" is a common British superstition. The most common modern version states that a person should say "rabbit, rabbit, white rabbit", "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", "rabbit, rabbit" or simply "white rabbits" upon waking on the first day of each new month, and on doing so will receive good luck for the duration of that month.’

Rabbits are considered to be lucky animals – though not for farmers -  and some people still believe that they will have good luck if they carry a rabbit’s foot, which is not so fortunate for the rabbit, of course. I wonder why rabbits have achieved this status, since hares are Britain’s native long-eared, long-legged furry creatures, rabbits having been introduced to this country by the invading Romans. An archaeological dig in Norfolk uncovered the remains of a 2,000-year-old rabbit.  The butchered bones were found amongst pottery fragments of cooking pots. It is believed that the Roman legions brought rabbits from Spain which were raised in walled enclosures and used for food.

More information on the superstitions surrounding rabbits has been copied from Wikipedia and reproduced below.

Variations

As with most folklore, which is traditionally spread by word of mouth, there are numerous variant versions of the "rabbit, rabbit" superstition, in some cases specific to a certain time period or region. There are hundreds of variants, some of the most common of which include:

• When the words, "Rabbit, Rabbit" are spoken to any person on the first of the month, for the rest of the month the speaker receives the luck of all who heard the phrase.
• "In some parts of Lancashire and the adjacent counties, it is considered unlucky by some to shoot a black rabbit. This is because they were once believed to be ancestral spirits returning in that form. InSomerset, white rabbits are said to be witches. That anyone really believes this now is improbable; nevertheless, white rabbits are not popular as children's pets, and they are sometimes left alone and not shot. A luck-bringing custom found all over Great Britain is to say 'Rabbits' or 'White Rabbits' once or three times on the first day of the month. It must be said early in the morning, before any other word has been uttered, otherwise the charm loses its force. In some districts it is considered necessary to say 'Hares' or 'Black Rabbits' when going to bed on the night before, as well as 'Rabbits' or 'White Rabbits' in the morning. If, however, the speaker becomes muddled and says 'Black Rabbits' on rising, bad luck will follow. The looked-for result of all this is variously given as general good luck during the ensuing four weeks, or the receipt of a gift within a few days."^[2]
• It is believed that saying "Rabbit Rabbit" on the first day of the New Year will bring yearlong good luck.
• The converse: instead of believing that saying it will bring good luck, believing that not saying it will bring bad luck.
• Being the first to say "rabbit rabbit" to a person on the first of the month will bring good luck.
• Instead of saying "rabbit, rabbit", saying just "rabbit", or "rabbits". Some also extend it to three rabbits: "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", which has some of the earliest written references.
• The earliest referenced usage may be to saying "rabbits" three times before going to sleep the last night of the month, and then "hares" three times first thing upon waking, though just two years later, it was three "rabbits" in the morning with no "hares" at all.
• Alan Zweibel used a variation as the title of his book, Bunny, Bunny, which recounted his friendship with Gilda Radner.
• Using the night of the new moon (traditionally the first day of the lunar month) instead of the first night of the month.
• Another variation is "bunny bunny hop hop".
• Saying "black rabbits" the night before, and "white rabbits" on the morning in question.
• Believing that the effect is stronger on one's month of birth.
• Referring to the first day of each month as "Rabbit Day".
• Various ways to counteract forgetting to say it, most commonly saying it backwards ("tibbar, tibbar") before falling asleep or saying "Moose Moose" upon waking on the second day of the month.
• A different but related practice of saying "Happy White Rabbit's Day" to someone in order to bring good luck.
• Making "rabbit, rabbit" be the last words said on the last of the month and the first words said on the first of the month.
• One variation involves an element of competition: Saying "rabbit, rabbit" to another person on the first of the month entitles the speaker to the luck of the listener for the duration of the month.
• Another variation is that the first person to say "rabbit, rabbit" on the last day of the month and "tibbar, tibbar" on the first day of the month wins bragging rights for the duration of the month.
• Traditions also extend to saying on the first of each month: "A pinch and a punch for the first day of the month; white rabbit!" White rabbit is declared to be the "no returns" policy on the "pinch and the punch" the receiver felt. A small concession exists, for recipients of the "pinch and a punch", where white rabbit declaration (no returns) is not made. Recipients may in this case reply with "A flick and a kick for being so quick." In some areas, it is simply, "Pinch, punch, first the month, no returns back!" Additionally, there is a way to defeat the white rabbit/no returns declaration. This is by introducing magic mirror glue. The following is an example of such a play, Person 1 "Hey X, a pinch and a punch for the first day of the month; white rabbit!" Person 2 "Not Happening Y, I declare Magic Mirror Glue, today's punches and kicks bounce off me and stick to you!" Person 2 is then free to pinch/punch/kick said instigator.
• Saying "White rabbits, white rabbits, white rabbits".
• A more modern variation is to say "rabbit, rabbit" to someone on the first day of the month, and whoever says it first wins. The idea of luck is not involved.
• Some couples have a tradition that the first to say rabbit rabbit on day entitles the sayer to a gift.
• Saying "white rabbit, white rabbit, white rabbit" as the first words of the month, before getting out of bed—and the speaker must first reverse position, so that speaker's head is at the foot of the bed and vice versa.
• Harold Nicolson, (1886–1968) politician and diplomat, often said "Rabbits" not only on the first of the month, but as a general talisman in his long-running diary, held at Balliol College, Oxford.
• Around 1920 the following belief is common in many parts of Great Britain, with local variants: To secure good luck of some kind, usually a present, one should say "Rabbits" three times just before going to sleep on the last day of the month, and then "Hares" three times on waking the next morning.
• The band Jawbreaker makes reference to the superstition in their song Jinx Removing.
• Another variation brought about by the Polish is the phrase "Bunny, Bunny".
• Chick McGee from The Bob and Tom Show says "rabbit, rabbit, rabbit", on the air, at the beginning of each month for good luck.
• In the early 1990s, Nickelodeon had a segment called "Nick days", which had an event for every day of the year. The first of every month was "Rabbit Rabbit Day". According to the segment, the phrase "rabbit rabbit" must be the first thing said after waking on the first day of the month.^[3]
• In some areas of the Southern United States, such as Tennessee and Mississippi, campers will say "I hate white rabbits" in response to campfire smoke blowing into their face, hoping the smoke will go elsewhere.
• In Ireland, children traditionally say "coinín bán" (Irish for "white rabbit") the first time they meet someone on the 1st day of any month.
• The podcast, Smart Mouths, has caused a phenomenon where listeners say and tweet "rabbit rabbit" the first day of every month. It reached Twitter Trend status in June 2009
• In some areas in Georgia, particularly in the Atlanta area, many people have begun saying "wabbit wabbit" as another variation.
• In central Pennsylvania, the custom is to say "Rabbit" last thing before going to sleep on the last day of the month, and to say it again first thing on the first day of the month.
• In northern New England, it is sometimes customary to say "rabbit rabbit" at the beginning of a new day (00:00), although this isn't considered to have the impact of saying it upon the start of a new month.
• For luck, the following must be spoken before noon on the first day of the month: "Rabbits Hot, Rabbits Cold, Rabbits New, Rabbits Old, Rabbits Tender, Rabbits Tough, Rabbits I've had enough." (Origin UK, possibly London, Hampshire or Derbyshire.