11+ Mistakes

We all hear stories every now and then.

“Oh mum. I was doing really well and then the boy next to me began to feel sick. I could not concentrate so I ran out of time. I did not manage to finish the last two pages of the test.”

Adults make mistakes too. We know the story of man who was saving for a new car. He hid his money in a safe place – where no one would find the money. He did not tell his wife because he wanted the car to be a surprise.

He gathered together £500 and hid the money among his old clothes. One day his wife threw the old clothes out and they landed in the local dustcart.

When he arrived home he discovered the mistake and hired a mechanical digger to try to find the old clothes on the dump or recycling site. He looked for two days, then gave up and went home. He started saving again and this time he put his money in the bank.

I was not privy to the conversation between husband and wife – but I am sure the words must have come up: “Well, why didn’t you tell me?”

Of course everyone remembers the story about the advertising team at General Motors when they introduced their new Chevrolet Nova to Mexico. Sales were slow – and so was the name of the car. In Mexico No-va means `won’t go’.

When this was pointed out to the Head of Advertising I wonder if he, or she, said: “Well, why didn’t you tell me?”

So in the conversation between the child and his mother alluded to earlier I wonder if the words came up: “Well, why didn’t you tell me?”