That little noise: the swish-swash

Of the violent tongue, sharp with barbs

And ready to tear through the love.

It changes words, their shape and sound

Passed from one to several others,

Altered each and every time it leaves a mouth

Until it turns from light to dark,

Shrivelled into something ugly

Where there once was something bright,

Something once that tasted sweet.

I think almost everyone in the UK watches Married At First Sight. The Australian version is on at the moment and it trends on Twitter every night, so I can only assume that there are a lot of us watching it.

All of the couples are at a retreat this week and so it allows for a lot of gossip. They seem to be plied with alcohol every night and then left to rub up against each other, and it always ends in tears.

The big problem seems to be the Chinese whispers. One person says one thing, and then that is passed on and by the time it gets to the person it’s about, the whole nature of the conversation has been changed.

There was a time when I loved to gossip and I’m pretty sure that I was both subject to and the cause of a few Chinese whispers and they always ended badly. Half the time you don’t even realise what you are doing, you just repeat what you think you heard and then watch the carnage that ensues.

These days, I prefer to sit on the fence, or just sit out altogether. I really don’t have the energy to get involved. I guess that’s why teaching is so nice, because you have your own room and you can just hole yourself up in there. I also assume that this is a sign that I’m getting old because I find it exhausting just watching the drama these people manage to stir up.

Much Love

Rachel xx