Fish

Leonardo's notebooks are fascinating. He wrote notes in reverse, which can be read in a mirror. I have read that he invented this style, but I have also read that it was common for people who wrote with their left hands, at the time, so that they would not smudge the fresh ink. I imagine it is the latter. Try it sometime!

I love this fish puzzle. So simple when you know how. But can you move just two matches, to make it swim in a different direction??

A fish with one eye. This type of puzzle is somehow annoying. And this is why it suits the story! My own name has two eyes, which is strange, as my surname actually means 'descendent of the one eyed person'.

The flounder has fascinated biologists, from Darwin to Dawkins.

The puzzle about the fish changing colour amazed me when I first read it. Evolution is real, even if this is still uncomfortable for some faiths. Darwin was a giant among scientists, but my schools glanced over him.

I drafted this sketch as I sat by the pond, and thought about evolution. I just want to encourage children to think and to ask questions. This was not my experience in school. Learning is often not thinking! Don't learn - Think!!

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Kite

When I see the lunak I am filled with joy. 

Many people might occasionally notice that there is a bird in the sky. but curious people will wonder, what type of bird is it? Very curious people will ask, where did it come from? Leonardo asked, how exactly does it fly.

While writing this book, the boy and the girl developed very distinct personalities. Subconsciously they were influenced by many children that I know, including myself, perhaps. This story is about curiosity.

There is an image from one of my paintings, where I am looking over Prague at dawn. Do you ever observe people who are just sitting, and thinking? If you see a child doing nothing, then please leave the child alone. Children who need to stare at a screen all the time, are not thinking. Thinking, daydreaming, and resting, are all normal and, I think, very healthy pastimes. 

The dog puzzle is also somewhat annoying. So, I like it.

Exactly 300 years separates Leonardo's birth from Benjamin's experiment. Both curious people. 

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Work

The girl is introduced. I know some children who are confident and positive like her. My own two boys have quite different personalities, but, they have always been the very best of friends. Always. I am so grateful for this. Their bond remains incredibly strong, and this is thanks to both of them.

The four secrets, were indeed secrets to me. I had to discover them. Don't work harder. Work better.

Two young people are playing a game of chess. How are they? Maybe some old sailors could tell you!?! Think!

The message in this story will probably seem simple. But I worked for many years, not just as an engineer, but as a project manager. I taught many agencies, in many countries, how to mange their programmes. But the most important message, started with how to manage their own time. My schools and colleges never taught me this. 

While writing this story, I was very aware, that my own time management is now pathetic. I have a damaged mind. It once was good. So I am not preaching, but hopefully, I am helping. This story can be extremely helpful for children, - for life! LEO is intended to be helpful. The stories are not based on what I knew as a young person, but rather, what I did not know.

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Friends

Listen to the morning chorus. The sound of the birds may be familiar, but can you identify each. Some people can. It is not so easy as birds do not just sing one song. They have many different calls. 

Friends often have some things in common with each other. But they must always have some differences too. Differences should be interesting. 

Do you ever read books which you read when you were much younger? Do you see anything differently? I really think that the books which we read when we are young, develop our minds. Places, nature, cultures, history, mysteries, science,...

The river puzzle has really existed for many, many centuries. There are varied versions in many cultures.

Some people love puzzles. A mystery gives us a chance to be a detective. Quizzes also appeal to certain people. A love of quizzing can help children to pay attention to facts. We are all bombarded by information every day. but only some of us pay attention to what is interesting. Be curious!

I was always fascinated by the height of mountains. The sketch shows the relative height of mountains, to scale. So the enormous Trosc Mór, in Sligo and Leitrim, is but a little fish fin, in comparison to the giant height of Qomolangma. I have long thought of the mountain as a fin, because my father told me that the Irish translation means big cod. Being curious we would discus why the tallest peak in the region was called after a sea fish. And so we would debate other possible meanings that sound similar. Great fast, or big journey, seeming more probable. I don´t know, but we liked mysteries that are hidden in our ancient language.

And aren´t the native names of mountains and rivers, so much more beautiful than the colonial names. Millions of people have lived within view of the tallest mountain on our planet, for many thousands of years, before it was named after the Surveyor General of India. Interestingly, George Everest never measured the mountain. He never even saw it. He also did not want it to be named after himself, preferring that it should be given a local name.

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Books

Owls have always been mysterious birds. Like bats they are associated with magic and witchcraft, - creatures of the dark.

I once saw a little owl sitting on a low branch, on top of a mountain. It just sat watching me. When I first heard the Shakespeare quote I thought of this.

Which part of the fence is painted, the left side, or the right?

Screens hypnotise us. Social media is designed to be addictive. Activities, such as gardening, painting, or golfing, can give our eyes a break from our phones. But just sitting, and thinking, and daydreaming is also rare these days. I think this is because I look at people waiting for a plane or in a hospital queue all staring at phones. Me too. Writing LEO helped to distract me, and before that, it was painting.

There was a time when reading was seen as something almost magical. Those few who could read possessed real power. Rulers used to maintain power by hiding the truth. Today they are more likely to create a false truth - which, is simply, a lie. Sad!

Young and old should read good children's books. Go through that looking glass!

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What is written on the old stone pillar?

What is written on the trees that surround Shakespeare?

U might have 2 luk it up. B curious!

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Great

Some times when you hear a word that sounds exotic, just think about the history behind it. 

Burnt Sienna, sap green, rose madder, sepia, etc. etc. These are among the many types of paint that an artist will use.

In school a teacher once introduced to debating. A topic is chosen, for example, Churchill was the greatest British man. The problem that I have always had with debates, is that people have to take a stance, for or against. But this only entrenches our bias. It never helps us to understand. I prefer to encourage young minds to understand. What was good, bot so good, and bad. Why???

Never be afraid to call out behaviour which you disagree with. if you don't, then the loudest voices will win. And dangerous people often have very loud voices. i like to encourage my children to be confident to disagree. Wit a teacher, or a politician or with me. anyone who tells young minds to listen and obey and to agree is simply tying to mould them, or to brainwash them. Be curious, be confident, and always B U !

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Please check back over future weeks and months. Be curious!

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