top of page
Mar 18

'International Day Of Happiness' 😃 20th March


"I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be. Yesterday is dead, tomorrow hasn't arrived yet. I have just one day, today, and I'm going to be happy in it." Groucho Marx "Share your smile with the world. It's a symbol of friendship and peace." Christie Brinkley



This week’s CST activities page focuses on 'Happiness' for two reasons. Firstly, it is ‘International Day Of Happiness’ on 20th March and secondly, it was ‘Comic Relief’, or ‘Red Nose Day’, on 17th March. ‘Comic Relief’ was founded in 1985 by Richard Curtis and Jane Tewson, in response to the Ethiopian famine. The 2015 telethon raised a maximum amount of £78m. In total ‘Comic Relief’ has raised over £1bn since the charity was founded, which is pretty impressive to say the least. UK charities have also benefited, including those for homelessness and disability groups.

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS



What things make members the happiest?


Who is their favourite person to spend time with?


Who is their favourite comedian?


What is their favourite comedy show?


Has anyone a joke to tell?





COMICS




As it has been 'Comic Relief' week, ask members if anyone used to have comics as children? 'The Dandy', 'The Beano' or 'The Bunty' may be in the list of comics mentioned.



Next, ask members to complete the following comic strip character names ...



- Desperate DAN


- Minnie the MINX


- Dennis the MENACE


- Beryl the PERIL


- Rupert the BEAR


- Korky the CAT


- Roger the DODGER


- Billy BUNTER


- Andy CAPP


- Roy of the ROVERS


- Lord SNOOTY


- Bash Street KIDS



Can anyone think of any more?



IDIOMS Ask members to complete these phrases about happiness together ... Laughter is the best - MEDICINE Laugh and the world laughs - WITH YOU (Weep and you weep - ALONE) Burst out - LAUGHING All the fun of the - FAIR Beyond a - JOKE Crack a - SMILE OR JOKE Doubled up - LAUGHING Fun and - GAMES Funny haha or funny - PECULIAR Girls just wanna have - FUN Good for a - LAUGH Grin from ear to - EAR Laugh something - OFF Wipe that smile off your - FACE I didn’t know whether to laugh or - CRY Not exactly a laugh a - MINUTE He who laughs last laughs - LONGEST Fall about - LAUGHING Laugh yourself - SILLY Laugh all the way to the - BANK Smiling like a Cheshire - CAT Laugh? I nearly - PAID THE GAS BILL etc Be full of the joys of - SPRING Jump for - JOY On cloud - NINE Like a dog with two - TAILS Happy go - LUCKY As happy as - LARRY Having a whale - OF A TIME On top of the - WORLD Over the - MOON In seventh - HEAVEN Walking on - AIR / SUNSHINE Are you having a - LAUGH A laugh a - MINUTE Laughed out of - COURT Laugh like a - DRAIN It's no laughing - MATTER The life and soul of a - PARTY A friend in need is a friend - INDEED Only - JOKING


What do these abbreviations mean?

LOL = Laugh out loud


ROFL = Roll on the floor laughing



Note to subscribers: This is just a reminder that the activities provided in this blog are only intended as a guide and not a blueprint. Feel free to use some or all of the materials and to add to them as you see fit or your group wishes. The suggestions here aim to prompt recall and promote discussion through reminiscence, but more importantly they are intended to provide enjoyment and support inclusion and engagement, thereby positively impacting on quality of life. You may need to adjust or reduce content according to the time you have available, the cognitive abilities of your members and their communication needs.



Give lots of clues, such as first names. Give time for story telling and personal reflection. Please let me know what works and doesn't. I'd love to hear any ideas you have for additional content or new activities.


MUSIC & PICTURE QUIZ


There's a lot here, so just choose the clips members would like to see ...




ROUND 1. Top 10 Catchphrases




1. Name the comedy duo?


What was the chap on the right's catchphrase?



COMEDY CLIP. 'Way Out West Dance' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNS0Xqg-cj8







2. Name the comedian?


What was his catchphrase, as this character, Mandy?






3. Name this magician?


What was his catchphrase?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Bottle Trick' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L9UMvfKBaZI





4. Name this character and TV sitcom?


What was his catchphrase?





5. Name the character and TV sitcom?


What was his catchphrase?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Rollerskates' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFLpwRMS00g





6. Name the TV comedian?


What was his catchphrase, as this character, Cupid Stunt?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Afternoon Tea' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ym7IEBntjuY





7. Name the characters and the TV sitcom?


What was the chap on the right's catchphrase?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Falling through the bar' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=63rcdLeXiU8







8. Name the character and TV sitcom?


What was his catchphrase?





9. Name the TV sitcom?


What was the chap on the left's name and catchphrase?





10. SONG BREAK. 'Happiness', Ken Dodd - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTN_W-9Ypl0


What character is he holding and where were they from?





11. COMEDY CLIP - Dad's Army 'Don't Tell Him Pike!' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kYz2nPE0BCk


Can anyone name these characters and catchphrases?






ROUND 2. Top 10 Comedy Partnerships




12. Name the comedy duo?


What was their catchphrase?







13. Name the comedy duo?


Who were (left) / are (right) they married to?





14. Name the comedy duo?


Name their TV sitcom?



COMEDY CLIP - 'University Challenge' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wi5SJKI6RpU





15. Name the comedy duo?


What was the shop sketch show called that this still is taken from?







16. Name the comedy duo?


What were the names of their alter-egos?





17. Name the comedy duo?


What was their TV sketch show called?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Meeting George Michael' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CcHldSZX99g





18. Name the comedy duo?


What was the chap on the right's catchphrase?





19. Name the comedy duo?


What was their catchphrase?





20. Name the comedy duo?


What was the one on the right's catchphrase?





21. SONG BREAK. 'Bring Me Sunshine', Morecombe & Wise - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfXjDELeW5M


What were their Christian names?





22. COMEDY CLIP - Morecombe And Wise 'Breakfast Sketch' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EFgdhZGLJrY


What did they have for breakfast?





ROUND 3. Top 10 UK Sitcoms




23. Name the TV sitcom and the other characters pictured here?







24. Name the TV sitcom and the lead actor?







25. Name the TV sitcom and the actor?



COMEDY CLIP - 'High Dive' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFY0PJO-c20





26. Name the TV sitcom and these two actors?



COMEDY CLIP - "The blind man." - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ljMo77c0Drk







27. Name the TV sitcom and these two actors?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Wine Tasting' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K706oNKwVF0





28. Name the TV sitcom and these two actors?





29. Name the TV sitcom?


Does anyone remember any of the anagrams used in the opening sequence, where the sign was muddled up?



COMEDY CLIP - "A biscuit with your rat?" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K_q4S7lZeik


COMEDY CLIP - 'Room With A View' -





30. Name the TV sitcom?


Complete the proverb?



COMEDY CLIP - 'Sharon Highlights' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9s1H6DxFsg





31. Name the TV sitcom and the characters?





32. Name the TV sitcom?


What was the name of the painting? (Pictured below)









33. SONG BREAK. 'Tears Of A Clown', Smokey Robinson - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcd9N62nOLg


As well as clowns, what else might you find in a circus?





TOP 10 COMEDY FILMS




34. Complete these Marx Brothers movie titles?


- 'Animal ********'

- 'A Night At The *****'

- 'A Day At The *****'

- 'Duck ****'





35. Name the 1959 movie and these three actors?





36. Name the 1969 movie (they are looking at Barbara Windsor doing exercises) and these two actors?





37. Name the movie series and the character and actor?





38. Name the 1980 movie?


What was the automatic pilot?


COMEDY CLIP - "River Of Jordan" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RMh9hPGNGKE





39. Name the 1988 movie and the actor pictured here?



COMEDY CLIP - "Nothing to see here!" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKnX5wci404





40. Name the 1987 movie and these two actors?





41. Name the 1974 movie and the director?


COMEDY CLIP - "Farting sketch!" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VPIP9KXdmO0


What number would you find on a can of 'Heinz Baked Beans'?





42. Name the 1982 movie and the lead actor on the right?





43. SONG BREAK. 'Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life', 'Life Of Brian' - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JrdEMERq8MA


Name the members of Monty Python?



COMEDY CLIP - "What Have The Romans Ever Done For Us?" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uvPbj9NX0zc&t=3s


ANOTHER COMEDY CLIP - "Lumberjack Song" - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FshU58nI0Ts


AND ANOTHER ONE - "Ministry Of Silly Walks" - https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x2hwqki





CLOSING SONGS




'When You're Smiling', Louis Armstrong -






'Happy Talk', South Pacific -






'Whistle A Happy Tune', The King And I -






'Make Me Smile', Steve Harley & Cockney Rebel -







'Happy Shiny People', R.E.M. -















SOME JOKES

Ken Dodd “Honolulu has got everything. Sand for the children, sun for the wife, sharks for the wife’s mother…” “My Dad always knew I was going to be a comedian. When I was a baby he said, ‘Is this a joke?'” “I have kleptomania. But when it gets bad, I take something for it.” “I used to think I was marvellous in bed – until I discovered all my girlfriends suffered from asthma.” Tommy Cooper "I sleep like a baby. Every morning I wake up screaming around 2 o’clock." "Show me a man who lost all his money and can still laugh and I’ll show you an idiot." "My wife had a bad habit of biting her nails but I cured her. I hid her teeth." "My wife dislocated her jaw and couldn’t talk so I phoned the doctor and told him to drop round anytime, in a few weeks or a few months."



" Two cannibals eating a clown. One says to the other, "Does he taste funny to you?" "




Les Dawson "I got home last night, the wife was in the kitchen. I knew she was getting my tea ready – I could hear the fire extinguisher going." "I’ve had some bad news about the wife’s wealthy uncle who’s ill in hospital. He’s recovering. I went to see him last week. I said: “Is there anything I can do for you?” He said: “Only one thing. Take your foot off the oxygen tube.”" "I call my wife "Treasure". She reminds me of something that’s just been dug up."



Billy Connelly



"The great thing about Glasgow is that if there's a nuclear attack it'll look exactly the same afterwards."


"Before you judge a man, walk a mile in his shoes. After that who cares? He's a mile away and you've got his shoes!"



"When people say 'it's always the last place you look'. Of course it is. Why would you keep looking after you've found it?"


"Who discovered we could get milk from cows, and what did he think he was doing at the time?"



Tim Vine



"I phoned the local gym and I asked if they could teach me how to do the splits. He said, "How flexible are you?" I said, "I can't make Tuesdays."

"This policeman came up to me with a pencil and a piece of very thin paper. He said, "I want you to trace someone for me."


"Conjunctivitis.com – that's a site for sore eyes."


"I rang up my local swimming baths. I said: "Is that the local swimming baths?" He said: "It depends where you're calling from."


"I met this bloke with a didgeridoo and he was playing Dancing Queen on it. I thought, that's Abba-riginal."


"So I was getting into my car, and this bloke says to me "Can you give me a lift?" I said "Sure, you look great, the world's your oyster, go for it.'"


Send me some more in and I'll add them!






ACTIVITIES One of the facilitators of the group could be asked to volunteer to be made up to look like a clown? Have some face paints, a comedy wig and a colourful t-shirt on standby for this activity. (Have red noses for members to wear.)

Alternatively buy some long balloons to blow up and make shapes out of. There are several YouTube clips which can be used as a guide. We also have used, with great success, a rainbow coloured parachute, large enough for everyone to hold, with a balloon or ball in he centre. Rolling it to each member, getting it to touch the ceiling, and doing some exercises through movement whilst using it, e.g. bend your knees, stretch your arms, stand on one leg etc. It’s usually a source of great mirth.





Another activities idea is using your iPad (other devices are available!) to take a photo of members with their best cheesiest smiles.


(Express permission and informed consent is required. If in doubt speak to your manager.)


Then using an application such as 'Prisma' or 'Color Planet', alter the photograph into an art form or a painting by numbers painting.


You could then print off and display the finished articles.


Here's mine, just for illustration.




(PS Be careful with subscriptions. Both offer free trial periods.)



Finally, they say laughter is infectious. Play this video and song and ask members to laugh along.








ANSWERS

1. Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy


"That's another fine fine you've gotten me into!"



2. Mandy (Dick Emery)


"Oh you are awful, but I like you!"



3. Tommy Cooper


"Just like that!"



4. John Inman as Mr Humphries in 'Are You Being Served?'


"I'm free!"



5. Michael Crawford as Frank Spencer in 'Some Mothers Do 'Ave 'Em!'


"Oo Betty!"



6. Cupid Stunt (Kenny Everett)


"But I'm telling you the plot!" or "It's all in the best possible taste!"



7. Del Boy & Rodney, played by Nicholas Lyndhurst & David Jason in 'Only Fools And Horses'


"Rodney you plonker!"



8. Victor Meldrew, played by Richard Wilson, in 'One Foot In The Grave'


"I don't believe it!"



9. Baldrick & Edmund Blackadder, played by Tony Robinson & Rowan Atkinson, in 'Blackadder'


"I have a cunning plan!"



10. Ken Dodd holding a 'Diddy Man' from Notty Ash



11. Captain Mainwaring - "You stupid boy!" or "Don't tell him Pike!"


Sergeant Wilson - "Do you think that's wise, sir?"


Private Frazer - "We're doomed!"


Corporal Jones - "Don't panic. Don't panic!"


Private Pike - "I'll tell Mum!"


Private Godfrey - "Do you think I might be excused?"


Private Walker - "It won't cost you much!"


Chief Warden Hodges - "Put that light out!"



12. Ronnie Corbett & Ronnie Barker


"It's goodnight from me. And it's good night from him!"



13. Dawn French & Jennifer Saunders


Lenny Hendry & Ade Edmonson



14. Rik Mayall & Ade Edmonson


'The Young Ones'



15. Julie Walters & Victoria Wood


'Acorn Antiques'



16. Dudley Moore & Peter Cook


Derek & Clive



17. David Williams & Matt Lucas


'Little Britain'



18. Tommy Cannon & Bobby Ball


"Rock on Tommy!"



19. 'The Chuckle Brothers'


"To me, to you."



20. 'The Krankies'


"Fandabidosi!"



21. Eric & Ernie



22. Cereal, Toast, Omelette, Grapefruit, Pancakes, Sausages & Pot of tea



23. 'Gavin And Stacy'


Nessa & Smithy



24. 'Miranda', played by Miranda Hart



25. 'Mr Bean', played by Rowan Atkinson



26. 'The Vicar Of Dibley'


Alice Tinker, played by Emma Chambers & Geraldine Grainger, played by Dawn French



27. 'Absolutely Fabulous'


Edina Monsoon, played by Jennifer Saunders & Patsy Stone, played by Joanna Lumley



28. 'Hi Di Hi'


Ruth Madoc & Sue Pollard



29. 'Fawlty Towers'


'Flowery Twats'


'Farty Towels'


'Fatty Owls'


'Watery Fowls'


'Flay Otters'


'Warty Towels'



30. 'Birds Of A Feather'


"Flock together"



31. 'Keeping Up Appearances'


Hyacinth Bucket, played by Patricia Routledge & Richard, played by Clive Swift



32. 'Allo Allo'


'The Fallen Madonna With The Big Boobies'



33. Ring Master, Lion Tamer (not any more, thankfully), Sword Swallowers, Fire Eaters, Jugglers, Acrobats etc



34. 'Animal Crackers', 'A Night At The Opera', 'A Day At The Races', 'Duck Soup' etc



35. 'Some Like It Hot'


Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon & Marilyn Monroe



36. 'Carry On Camping'


Hattie Jaques & Kenneth Williams



37. 'Pink Panther'


Inspector Clousseau, played by Peter Sellers



38. 'Airplane'


A blow up doll



39. 'Naked Gun'


Lesley Nielsen



40. 'Planes Trains And Automobiles'


Steve Martin & John Candy



41. 'Blazing Saddles'


Mel Brookes


57



42. 'Tootsie'


Dustin Hoffman



43. John Cleese, Michael Palin, Eric Idle, Graham Chapman, Terry Jones & Terry Gilliam




You might also like ...

bottom of page