We had 'Janet and John' books. I can still remember how, before we used to pick them up, we all had to tie 'imaginary' 'thinking hats' on our heads (honestly) ...doing them up in imaginary bows, under our chins. This, allegedly, so our teacher reassured us, helped enormously in reading skills.

She was obviously right, as I shot through 'Janet and John' books in minutes, no trouble in reading at all. My trouble came in remembering. Right now I've not a clue what Janet did to, or with, John, or vice versa. Maybe I had my bow done up wrong? Maybe my 'thinking hat' was all askew?

Hey, I've just found, on googling, that they're bringing them back, but updating them for the 21st century.

Janet & John - The Sequel

Now they could prove an interesting way to learn to read, if the 'experts' have 'updated' them for present day children (below is said with the merest drop of humour):

"'Ere John mate, you comin' down the club tonight then?"

"Yeah, Ok Janet Babe. You buyin' the f'in booze tonight?"

"Yeah John and la'er on we can go back to my place and have hot sex before bedtime"

"'Ere Janet, you gonna wear those Britney 'jamas I bought for yer?"

"Yeah! Babe!"


The mind boggles...



As an adult, without my 'thinking hat' I've not changed at all. I love to read, I just don't recall very much of what I've actually read, which is incredibly frustrating at times. It goes with dyslexia though, which runs like a river through my family. I now know that I remember things when I hear them, so if I need to learn something I get my daughter to talk to me about it, she's a mine of information, indeed a mind of information.

The good news is that I can read, then re-read good books, or superb short stories, over and over and never get bored, for each time it's like reading them all anew, so I get double the pleasure.

(Bit like Janet and possibly John!)

A....B.....C "C...C...Come over 'ere Janet!"

;-)