This will be a short blog about gymnastics. Pandiculation means 'the act of stretching oneself' from the Latin pandere To stretch. Now I could write long about my superb lithe grandaughter who has being doing gymnastics since she was knee-high to a grasshopper. But my subject today is my niece Ruth. I have no reason to believe that she has ever done gymnastics as a child (but I wouldn't know,tbh). What appears to be happening is that she has just started doing gymnastics, for the sheer fun of it, at the indecently old age of.... well she's somewhere between 15 and 30... and she is amazing. Pandiculation is her thing. Definitely not mine.
So instead of a photo, I'd like you to see this little video that Ruth posted on Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/ruth.dixon.58/videos/vb.100000101071977/1149657555047603/?type=2
Busy couple of days, may not blog again until Monday
Saturday, 28 November 2015
Oniomania
Very good, dictionary.com to come up with this WOTD on black Friday. Oniomania is 'an uncontrollable desire to buy things' a nice hybrid of Greek & Latin, via Germany.
I am sure that real oniomania is an unpleasant medical condition that results in your house being stuffed full of unwanted items, I don't think it relates to people who love to do a bit of shopping.
My father once said to me, when I had pestered him once too often for my own radio, 'you,my girl, are too acquisitive and one day it will get you into trouble'. He DID let me borrow the money to buy the radio, but he made me pay back every penny.
He was right, of course (your parents are so often proved right in the end) and my acquisitive nature - not exactly oniomania, but close - coupled with the laissez-faire attitude of credit-card companies in the past (they're better nowadays) enabled me to get into all sorts of 'trouble' along the road of life.
I guess that you learn eventually that material possessions are like the tiny ropes used by the Lilliputians to tie down and imprison Gulliver and that they don't really set you free in any meaningful way. I have always wanted the minimalist home, and have failed miserably to come even close. Time for a clear-out?
NS & I had a great evening at 1a with Sarah (for her birthday) & Blue, Jacob & Philippa, chinese takeaway, lots of lovely family time. Can't beat it!
I am sure that real oniomania is an unpleasant medical condition that results in your house being stuffed full of unwanted items, I don't think it relates to people who love to do a bit of shopping.
My father once said to me, when I had pestered him once too often for my own radio, 'you,my girl, are too acquisitive and one day it will get you into trouble'. He DID let me borrow the money to buy the radio, but he made me pay back every penny.
He was right, of course (your parents are so often proved right in the end) and my acquisitive nature - not exactly oniomania, but close - coupled with the laissez-faire attitude of credit-card companies in the past (they're better nowadays) enabled me to get into all sorts of 'trouble' along the road of life.
I guess that you learn eventually that material possessions are like the tiny ropes used by the Lilliputians to tie down and imprison Gulliver and that they don't really set you free in any meaningful way. I have always wanted the minimalist home, and have failed miserably to come even close. Time for a clear-out?
NS & I had a great evening at 1a with Sarah (for her birthday) & Blue, Jacob & Philippa, chinese takeaway, lots of lovely family time. Can't beat it!
Thursday, 26 November 2015
Gormandize
Now, if there was ever a WOTD that applied to me, it's gormandize. meaning 'to eat greedily or ravenously' it has come to us from the French gourmand meaning a person who is fond of good eating. That's me, in a nutshell (not that you'd get much of me in one of those).
I have always had a difficult relationship with food, I know not why, or when it started. I know that my Mother's diary records that I had started at weight watchers, and I think I was about 16 at the time. I have been fighting with food ever since - sometimes I think I am winning, and sometimes food wins - I call this the 'Marjory Daw' approach to dieting.
I have reached weights where I think I look amazing;
something then undermines all my hard work and I end up podge of the year! I am very happy though, and will always find the will to lose a few pounds sometime during the year.
Somewhere along the line I learned to eat very fast, as if I were frightened the meal was going to be taken away from me. I also like to think it is to eat it before it gets cold, but I eat salad just as fast. I am just a gormandizer!
I have always had a difficult relationship with food, I know not why, or when it started. I know that my Mother's diary records that I had started at weight watchers, and I think I was about 16 at the time. I have been fighting with food ever since - sometimes I think I am winning, and sometimes food wins - I call this the 'Marjory Daw' approach to dieting.
I have reached weights where I think I look amazing;
something then undermines all my hard work and I end up podge of the year! I am very happy though, and will always find the will to lose a few pounds sometime during the year.
Somewhere along the line I learned to eat very fast, as if I were frightened the meal was going to be taken away from me. I also like to think it is to eat it before it gets cold, but I eat salad just as fast. I am just a gormandizer!
Wednesday, 25 November 2015
Uxorious
This WOTD made me laugh, as I know several people to whom this definition can be applied. It means 'doting upon, or fondly submissive towards ones wife'. I won't name names, but you know who you are.... It has nothing to do with today's blog though.
This blog is late, because sometimes it is just not possible to get everything done in the evening and I was late home because I had to shop for bathroom fittings. The tiling being done so assiduously by Jacob is nearing completion, so it is time for a new paint job and towel rails etc to be fixed. I would like to get the work completed by Christmas, but this is looking increasingly unlikely. Here is a picture of what they used to look like before we started.
I expect these turquoise fittings were installed when the house was built, they have '70's' written all over them.There is carpet on the bathroom floor (yuck) and the toilet cistern is stuck to the wall because it collapsed one day on Neil in situ. Our landlord is very accomodating (pun intended) and made no objection to being asked to pay for a new bathroom & toilet. We paid for the bleach, though!
This blog is late, because sometimes it is just not possible to get everything done in the evening and I was late home because I had to shop for bathroom fittings. The tiling being done so assiduously by Jacob is nearing completion, so it is time for a new paint job and towel rails etc to be fixed. I would like to get the work completed by Christmas, but this is looking increasingly unlikely. Here is a picture of what they used to look like before we started.
Tuesday, 24 November 2015
Penetralia
It had to happen - a WOTD so obscure that I didn't think I could apply it to my day at all. But the foremost meaning of 'penetralia' is 'the most private or secret things', (so it seems to be a plural noun) and is the nominalisation of the Latin 'penetrare', to penetrate.
The burden of secrets has never sat easily on my shoulders, except the happy Christmas-present sort of secret, for 2 reasons. When in possession of someone else's secret, you are bound to stay silent about it for ever, then you find out that everyone else knew about it anyway, so you feel a ninny (although you should feel proud of keeping the secret).
Today has not gone ATP. My doctor was off sick, so my appointment was cancelled and Neil had to attend a breakdown in Surrey at 5pm, so decided to stay there overnight. Although I miss him enormously when he is not here, it did mean that I could watch 3 concurrent episodes of Downton Abbey, so I am now up to date. And I could sneak certain secret things into the house for coming festivities.
The burden of secrets has never sat easily on my shoulders, except the happy Christmas-present sort of secret, for 2 reasons. When in possession of someone else's secret, you are bound to stay silent about it for ever, then you find out that everyone else knew about it anyway, so you feel a ninny (although you should feel proud of keeping the secret).
If it is your own secret, you have to be very sure before telling anyone else - sure that they will keep quiet for ever. I instinctively mistrust those who tell me other people's secrets - would they be equally careless with mine? So I don't have much
in the way of penetralia - I am very open and honest, I can't stand
secrecy and lies and the currency of my life is truth. The few grains of
secret things will go with me to the grave.
Today has not gone ATP. My doctor was off sick, so my appointment was cancelled and Neil had to attend a breakdown in Surrey at 5pm, so decided to stay there overnight. Although I miss him enormously when he is not here, it did mean that I could watch 3 concurrent episodes of Downton Abbey, so I am now up to date. And I could sneak certain secret things into the house for coming festivities.
Monday, 23 November 2015
Splendiferous
I love this word - splendiferous! So much more than splendid, magnificent or fine, the given definitions. With the accent on the second syllable, it has a power and emphasis missing from mere splendid.
Now, I have had a splendiferous day. I have done all the ironing. I have caught up on paperwork. I have resolved a long standing problem with my computer (took the techie guy about 2 minutes!), renewed the house contents insurance, changed the bedding and all before 2.30 when I left to collect Evie & Max from school. The children were fun and we played silly games on the I-pad
With no Facebook, I phoned and SPOKE TO my brother Christopher to wish him a happy birthday and this evening Neil and I watched a documentary 'Wider Horizons' about David Gilmour. It was a most enjoyable shared experience.
The biggest change was that I cooked dinner, 'creamy fish & brocoli pie' which was completely delicious, the start of random Monday, when I shall choose and cook a recipe we have never tried before. Had Neil known about today's WOTD, he would have said the dinner was splendiferous, he was full of praise and ate the lot!
Early night, GP appointment first thing tomorow.
Now, I have had a splendiferous day. I have done all the ironing. I have caught up on paperwork. I have resolved a long standing problem with my computer (took the techie guy about 2 minutes!), renewed the house contents insurance, changed the bedding and all before 2.30 when I left to collect Evie & Max from school. The children were fun and we played silly games on the I-pad
With no Facebook, I phoned and SPOKE TO my brother Christopher to wish him a happy birthday and this evening Neil and I watched a documentary 'Wider Horizons' about David Gilmour. It was a most enjoyable shared experience.
The biggest change was that I cooked dinner, 'creamy fish & brocoli pie' which was completely delicious, the start of random Monday, when I shall choose and cook a recipe we have never tried before. Had Neil known about today's WOTD, he would have said the dinner was splendiferous, he was full of praise and ate the lot!
Early night, GP appointment first thing tomorow.
Sunday, 22 November 2015
Gratulation
This wotd is easy to guess from the better known congratulation. The wotd means feelings or expressions of joy. I got some of those feelings today when the sun came out after a seriously cold start, and we had blue sky and for a trip to John's Cross to look at the latest motorhomes. We saw one which was very tempting but we put our sensible hats on and walked away. The rest of the afternoon and evening was spent catching up on essential paperwork and watching some of the TV that I have recorded recently. I particularly like watching 'landscape artist of the year'. People seem to get great satisfaction from painting and if I had to learn a new skill in my retirement, I'd like to have a go. I have no reason to believe that I have any artistic talent but I'd like to try. It may help with my current feelings of disquiet which come from I know not where.
Early night.
Early night.
Saturday, 21 November 2015
Nominalize
I should have known this, having done English grammar as part of my degree, but my guesses were all wrong. Nominalize means to convert (another part of speech or phrase) into a noun or noun phrase. For example, changing 'To investigate' to 'the investigation' is to nominalize, or is a nominalization. I suppose we do it all the time without really knowing about it.
Neil and I have been talking about Facebook in the light of a recent study in which students were divided into two groups, and one group asked to go without Facebook for a week. They reported feeling generally happier and less lonely with an improved social life. We have often thought it bizarre that we sit in the same room, not talking, both busy 'Facebooking'. We have decided to give Facebook a miss for a week from Monday. If you have enjoyed reading my blogs, you can still do so; I just won't be posting them to Facebook. I will be interested to see whether my life is enriched after a week.
Today was the first day of winter, with temperatures only barely above freezing. Parts of East Sussex had some meaningful snow, although in Bexhill we only had a 5 minute flurry of sleety stuff, and all was gone by mid-morning once the sun appeared. Neil is hoping for serious snow, similar to this downpour in January 2010
Neil collected his repaired and 'blinged-up' car from the garage, where the expert, MG Simon, had put right the bodges of a previous owner and added some fancy touches. I left him to it, and went to work at the emergency dental clinic.
Neil nearly scored 10/10 for his divine chicken and prawn stir fry, only losing half a point because he had failed to provide garlic bread!
Rekorderlig passion fruit cider, very tasty and (interestingly) completely colourless.
Total Prog tonight:- music from Fish, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Steve Hackett, Anthony Philips and Nad Sylvan.
Neil and I have been talking about Facebook in the light of a recent study in which students were divided into two groups, and one group asked to go without Facebook for a week. They reported feeling generally happier and less lonely with an improved social life. We have often thought it bizarre that we sit in the same room, not talking, both busy 'Facebooking'. We have decided to give Facebook a miss for a week from Monday. If you have enjoyed reading my blogs, you can still do so; I just won't be posting them to Facebook. I will be interested to see whether my life is enriched after a week.
Today was the first day of winter, with temperatures only barely above freezing. Parts of East Sussex had some meaningful snow, although in Bexhill we only had a 5 minute flurry of sleety stuff, and all was gone by mid-morning once the sun appeared. Neil is hoping for serious snow, similar to this downpour in January 2010
Neil collected his repaired and 'blinged-up' car from the garage, where the expert, MG Simon, had put right the bodges of a previous owner and added some fancy touches. I left him to it, and went to work at the emergency dental clinic.
Neil nearly scored 10/10 for his divine chicken and prawn stir fry, only losing half a point because he had failed to provide garlic bread!
Rekorderlig passion fruit cider, very tasty and (interestingly) completely colourless.
Total Prog tonight:- music from Fish, Genesis, Jethro Tull, King Crimson, Steve Hackett, Anthony Philips and Nad Sylvan.
Friday, 20 November 2015
Penurious
Now here's another odd WOTD; Dictionary.com describes penurious with two meanings - 'mean, miserly' and 'poor'. I see these two meanings dependant upon whether you are the subject or the object of the word. It is my opinion that many people who are judged mean or miserly are not poor at all, although they may describe themselves thus. On the other hand, many people who are poor are so because they are too generous.
I am not, and have never been, penurious in either sense of the word. Neil and I love to save and as I speak we have 7 money pots around the house, most of which are empty right now but will fill up with holiday savings. We love breaking open the Terramundi and seeing how our £2 coins have added up over the year. This year Neil had about £250 in his.
I was confused because mean and poor are not synonyms, so I looked the WOTD in the good old Penguin English Dictionary. It describes penurious as 'poor or frugal'; of course it is the adjective of penury, meaning extreme poverty, again from the Latin. The other meaning (mean, miserly) has been around since 1630 so I don't think I'm going to change it now!
A real favourite for dinner - sausages, JP with GC, mushrooms. Ice cream. Neil's 'radio 7' music mix from Frankie Laine, Tony Banks, Marillion, Level 42, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan and Be-Bop Deluxe,
I am not, and have never been, penurious in either sense of the word. Neil and I love to save and as I speak we have 7 money pots around the house, most of which are empty right now but will fill up with holiday savings. We love breaking open the Terramundi and seeing how our £2 coins have added up over the year. This year Neil had about £250 in his.
I was confused because mean and poor are not synonyms, so I looked the WOTD in the good old Penguin English Dictionary. It describes penurious as 'poor or frugal'; of course it is the adjective of penury, meaning extreme poverty, again from the Latin. The other meaning (mean, miserly) has been around since 1630 so I don't think I'm going to change it now!
A real favourite for dinner - sausages, JP with GC, mushrooms. Ice cream. Neil's 'radio 7' music mix from Frankie Laine, Tony Banks, Marillion, Level 42, Deep Purple, Peter Gabriel, Bob Dylan and Be-Bop Deluxe,
Thursday, 19 November 2015
Empyreal
This word has an unusual etymology if you understand its meaning as 'pertaining to the sky, celestial' because it comes from the Greek term 'empyrios' meaning 'fiery'. Empyreal does have an alternative meaning 'formed of pure fire or light' and you might talk of empyreal radiance.
You might! I don't think I have ever used this WOTD in my life and would find it hard to squeeze into today in the last 2 minutes before midnight.
I do love the sky, though, and enjoy the ever-changing light and patterns it presents. I also love the stars and planets, and I am particularly thrilled with the app on my phone (Skyview) which will show you all the stars and planets and even the position of the International Space Station and the Hubble Telescope.
You can see these images day and night from the comfort of your own sofa - no more craning your neck and peering into the inky blackness.
Productive day at work, quiet night (no footie!) chicken for dinner, early to bed, then I am up again at 11.30 with cramp. Perfect time to write my blog!
Slugabed
This word cannot apply to me. Does not apply to me. Even on a cold winter Sunday, I do not stay in bed. I rejoice in the appearance of the new day and cannot bear to let it slide by while I sleep. Very occasionally, so rarely that it causes comment, we will doze off for an hour after our morning tea, but 6.30 is time for tea, whatever day it is.
Neil was using my car again today and had to go to Surrey, so was a bit late back. I forgot I had a podiatrist appointment at 5.45 and had to scramble to find her phone number to let her know I might not be on time. We arrived home to find her still outside the house, even though I was 15 minutes late. What a star! I love having my feet cared for by a professional. I don't go for all the polished nails and stuff (I would never want MY feet on show) but just proper foot and nail care is a valuable part of my healthcare routine.
Tesco delivery brought our daily bread (and mayonnaise, and chicken, etc, etc. ) so we had dinner of sausages, tomato pasta, mushrooms and curried chicken and rice. Weird combo, but tasty!
Read Brooklytrek, then early night (oops , forgot to publish this last night)
Tuesday, 17 November 2015
Panglossian
How tempting to attribute this quality to myself! Panglossian means ' given to extreme optimism, especially in the face of unrelieved hardship or adversity' . Unlike previous words, this doesn't come from an ancient foreign language, but from a character in a play - Voltaire's Dr Pangloss. I AM given to extreme optimism, but I cannot say I have ever had unrelieved hardship or adversity. I like the name 'Pangloss' - giving everything a coat of shiny optimism. My sister Julia said on facebook recently that fantasy needs to meet reality at some point if disaster is to be avoided, and I believe that the panglossian type is not a realist.
However, I am a firm believer that a healthy dose of optimism will carry you further through life than those who don't have any. I know; just believing that a bus will turn up on time doesn't make it happen, but there is plenty of evidence to support the view that optimists live longer than the average pessimist. Hey, wait a moment.... there is plenty of evidence to support the view that pessimists live longer than optimists. I just know that I would rather walk in the sunshine.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. I enjoyed my corned beef & pickle sandwich for lunch, and we're having fish & chips for dinner. There's international football on TV, so I don't stand a chance!
I popped into Tesco on the way home to buy a terramundi for my holiday savings. It was on special offer at £6, so this is a case of thrift. Not extreme optimism!
However, I am a firm believer that a healthy dose of optimism will carry you further through life than those who don't have any. I know; just believing that a bus will turn up on time doesn't make it happen, but there is plenty of evidence to support the view that optimists live longer than the average pessimist. Hey, wait a moment.... there is plenty of evidence to support the view that pessimists live longer than optimists. I just know that I would rather walk in the sunshine.
Nothing out of the ordinary happened today. I enjoyed my corned beef & pickle sandwich for lunch, and we're having fish & chips for dinner. There's international football on TV, so I don't stand a chance!
I popped into Tesco on the way home to buy a terramundi for my holiday savings. It was on special offer at £6, so this is a case of thrift. Not extreme optimism!
Monday, 16 November 2015
Hortatory
This WOTD had me completely foxed, and my rudimentary knowledge of Latin was no help. It means 'urging to some course of action; exhorting; encouraging; as in a hortatory speech'.
I suppose that in these days of social networking, the idea that someone would give a hortatory speech is rather ludicrous, as they are all posted on facebook, and shared to millions in a few hours. The many and varied (each one correct, no doubt) courses of action that I should take following the Paris attrocities came thick and fast - do this, don't do that, these are the real culprits, no THESE are the real culprits, and so on until you end up not knowing what to think, whether your instincts are correct, or who to turn to for the unvarnished truth.
High winds and lashing rain this morning as Neil and I headed off to Eastbourne to swap cars at MG revival, his to have some work done and get 'blinged up' a bit. So he did a few jobs in Eastbourne and then home in my car.
I love Mondays (unlike the song) as I get to meet Evie and Max from school and spend a couple of hours with them. Tonight we played scrabble, and they let me win. I'm sure it won't always be like this.
Emily came to give my nails some more strenthening medicine, then it was dinner, blog, bed. Neil is out with Andy at a Waterboys gig at the DLWP.
I suppose that in these days of social networking, the idea that someone would give a hortatory speech is rather ludicrous, as they are all posted on facebook, and shared to millions in a few hours. The many and varied (each one correct, no doubt) courses of action that I should take following the Paris attrocities came thick and fast - do this, don't do that, these are the real culprits, no THESE are the real culprits, and so on until you end up not knowing what to think, whether your instincts are correct, or who to turn to for the unvarnished truth.
High winds and lashing rain this morning as Neil and I headed off to Eastbourne to swap cars at MG revival, his to have some work done and get 'blinged up' a bit. So he did a few jobs in Eastbourne and then home in my car.
I love Mondays (unlike the song) as I get to meet Evie and Max from school and spend a couple of hours with them. Tonight we played scrabble, and they let me win. I'm sure it won't always be like this.
Emily came to give my nails some more strenthening medicine, then it was dinner, blog, bed. Neil is out with Andy at a Waterboys gig at the DLWP.
Sunday, 15 November 2015
Diaphanous
I shouldn't be surprised at my knowledge of English words - after all, I come from a family of logophiles and I have a degree, part of which was studying the roots and usage of the English language - but I have been pleased this week that I have known nearly every WOTD and it's meaning. Today's word means very sheer & light, transparently delicate, like a fairy's wings. It comes to us from the Greek word meaning 'to show through'.
I imagine that the word can also be applied metaphorically - to some action or personality trait. It is hard to see how diaphanous applies to me in any way, literally or figuratively. Except that I thought I had the most diaphanous personality of anyone I know - no sub-plots, no hidden agenda. Really, what you see is what there is. But just lately, I have been feeling misunderstood and I am struggling to find the reason for this sudden loss of transparency. I trust it will all become clear again soon.
I full of admiration for Jacob who won a 5k race for the first time - in 45 mph wind, not always behind him!
Neil and I had lunch today in Hastings with a local author, someone who we had made friends with on facebook. She was intelligent and funny and chatty and kindly signed a couple of her books. I like to make new friends, and hope we will meet up with her again.
We came home and dozed until 6pm. Neil is now watching footie as I write my blog.
That's really it; nothing more than a pleasant bit of paperwork to round off the day.
I imagine that the word can also be applied metaphorically - to some action or personality trait. It is hard to see how diaphanous applies to me in any way, literally or figuratively. Except that I thought I had the most diaphanous personality of anyone I know - no sub-plots, no hidden agenda. Really, what you see is what there is. But just lately, I have been feeling misunderstood and I am struggling to find the reason for this sudden loss of transparency. I trust it will all become clear again soon.
I full of admiration for Jacob who won a 5k race for the first time - in 45 mph wind, not always behind him!
Neil and I had lunch today in Hastings with a local author, someone who we had made friends with on facebook. She was intelligent and funny and chatty and kindly signed a couple of her books. I like to make new friends, and hope we will meet up with her again.
We came home and dozed until 6pm. Neil is now watching footie as I write my blog.
That's really it; nothing more than a pleasant bit of paperwork to round off the day.
Saturday, 14 November 2015
Indefatigable
Today's news has been dominated by the reports from Paris where 127 (at least) are known to have died in a night of the most unspeakable, disgusting murder of innocent people enjoying an evening out. Lots of brave words have been publicly spoken by important people, but I hope that there is something more than rhetoric and empty threats.
Of course, the real evil in all these outbreaks of violence, whether a crazed pupil seeking revenge at the school that expelled him 3 years ago, or the religious fanatic seeking to destroy the infidel, or the policeman stopping a suspect after a robbery is the explosive. Killing someone with a knife or a brick is possible, and will always happen but you can't kill hundreds of people in one go. Take the guns and bombs away from the terrorists and they would have to find other ways to convert you to their point of view. Sure, there are plenty of ways that people can find to be vile to other people, but none is so deadly as the explosive. In my ideal world there would be no explosives.
Today's word is 'indefatigable' which means tireless or unflagging. I take this means in a spritual rather than a physical way and I hope that the western nations will, jointly, be indefatigable in seeking out these terrorists and showing them that the guns they use, the trucks and cars they drive, the internet they use to spread their cancerous message were all invented by the very nations that they are now seeking to obliterate.
It has been a wet and windy day, so I didn't venture out at all until I went to Philippa's for a 'girlie' night. It is really an excuse for me to have a one-to-one chat with my daughter-in-law. She cooked a lovely dinner of lasagne & garlic bread, we had wine & Baileys, and cheescake for pud. It didn't really matter that Jacob was there too - he made himself scarce after dinner and Philippa and I had a great natter.
We need to make more space for 12" vinyl records, so we have started a cull on our old 7" 'singles'. Many of them are neither valuable nor enjoyable, and many of them I had completely forgotten about so they are going to the charity shop. Abba singles anyone?
Of course, the real evil in all these outbreaks of violence, whether a crazed pupil seeking revenge at the school that expelled him 3 years ago, or the religious fanatic seeking to destroy the infidel, or the policeman stopping a suspect after a robbery is the explosive. Killing someone with a knife or a brick is possible, and will always happen but you can't kill hundreds of people in one go. Take the guns and bombs away from the terrorists and they would have to find other ways to convert you to their point of view. Sure, there are plenty of ways that people can find to be vile to other people, but none is so deadly as the explosive. In my ideal world there would be no explosives.
Today's word is 'indefatigable' which means tireless or unflagging. I take this means in a spritual rather than a physical way and I hope that the western nations will, jointly, be indefatigable in seeking out these terrorists and showing them that the guns they use, the trucks and cars they drive, the internet they use to spread their cancerous message were all invented by the very nations that they are now seeking to obliterate.
It has been a wet and windy day, so I didn't venture out at all until I went to Philippa's for a 'girlie' night. It is really an excuse for me to have a one-to-one chat with my daughter-in-law. She cooked a lovely dinner of lasagne & garlic bread, we had wine & Baileys, and cheescake for pud. It didn't really matter that Jacob was there too - he made himself scarce after dinner and Philippa and I had a great natter.
We need to make more space for 12" vinyl records, so we have started a cull on our old 7" 'singles'. Many of them are neither valuable nor enjoyable, and many of them I had completely forgotten about so they are going to the charity shop. Abba singles anyone?
Friday, 13 November 2015
Inconnu
A dodgy start morphed into a fine day. This is true of both my work and of the weather. Had you seen the torrential downpour at midday, you wouldn't have believed the blue sky at 2pm. Is this the effect of storm Abigail?
Today's WOTD is 'Inconnu' which I guessed at (and was nearly right); it means a stranger, someone unknown.
This is the first year that the met office is naming storms in the UK in the same way that the US has been doing for years. It is believed that naming a storm, gives it an identity makes it easier to track and report on the news.
The full list of names chosen for future selection are: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy. Hello, what's my son doing in there?
A colleague mentioned feeling irrationally peeved when someone spells her name incorrectly and I totally sympathised, especially when the error is made by someone you know well (and therefore should know better). I feel a little flutter of excitement if I see my name mentioned in a document, or on a list of attendees at a seminar, and a special pride when I see it written in my mother's diaries. I feel that my name is an essential part of ME, and helps to define who I am. I like to inhabit spaces where people know who I am, and that I know most other people by name. I don't do well in a room full of new faces.
During my holiday in Canada, I found myself feeling like the inconnu at a couple of events. The effect on me was paralysing. I didn't have a name, any identity, I was a stranger, someone unknown, and I froze into uncharacteristic silence. Now the reality of the situation is that I wasn't a stranger to the others (they all knew I was a BA - British Auntie) but they were strangers to me. How bizarre that, in these circumstances, I should feel the effect in such a personal and negative way. Of course, I was soon made to feel welcome and recovered my identity.
Dinner tonight was a first-rate prawn curry, cheesy chips and garlic bread, all made by Neil.
My cider of choice is a Koppaberg strawberry & lime (not as good as the Rekordalig) and music has been provided by The Cure, Portishead, Porcupine Tree, Cream, Jethro Tull, and Anathema
Today's WOTD is 'Inconnu' which I guessed at (and was nearly right); it means a stranger, someone unknown.
This is the first year that the met office is naming storms in the UK in the same way that the US has been doing for years. It is believed that naming a storm, gives it an identity makes it easier to track and report on the news.
The full list of names chosen for future selection are: Abigail, Barney, Clodagh, Desmond, Eva, Frank, Gertrude, Henry, Imogen, Jake, Katie, Lawrence, Mary, Nigel, Orla, Phil, Rhonda, Steve, Tegan, Vernon and Wendy. Hello, what's my son doing in there?
Storm clouds building over Beachy Head
A colleague mentioned feeling irrationally peeved when someone spells her name incorrectly and I totally sympathised, especially when the error is made by someone you know well (and therefore should know better). I feel a little flutter of excitement if I see my name mentioned in a document, or on a list of attendees at a seminar, and a special pride when I see it written in my mother's diaries. I feel that my name is an essential part of ME, and helps to define who I am. I like to inhabit spaces where people know who I am, and that I know most other people by name. I don't do well in a room full of new faces.
During my holiday in Canada, I found myself feeling like the inconnu at a couple of events. The effect on me was paralysing. I didn't have a name, any identity, I was a stranger, someone unknown, and I froze into uncharacteristic silence. Now the reality of the situation is that I wasn't a stranger to the others (they all knew I was a BA - British Auntie) but they were strangers to me. How bizarre that, in these circumstances, I should feel the effect in such a personal and negative way. Of course, I was soon made to feel welcome and recovered my identity.
Dinner tonight was a first-rate prawn curry, cheesy chips and garlic bread, all made by Neil.
My cider of choice is a Koppaberg strawberry & lime (not as good as the Rekordalig) and music has been provided by The Cure, Portishead, Porcupine Tree, Cream, Jethro Tull, and Anathema
Thursday, 12 November 2015
Saporific
My nephew Mark, who writes an excellent blog describing the start of his day as he takes his dog Brooklyn on their morning walk, has commented how the time difference between us gives a strange twist as he reads about the end of my day just as he is starting his. And vice-versa I suppose. I am alarmed that he and Brooklyn have to dress up like funfair bunting to avoid being mistaken for deer and subsequently shot. Take care M & B
Today's word is 'saporific', a word I have never heard before and which means 'producing, or imparting flavour or taste'. From the examples given, it seems that this doesn't just mean adding a little grated ginger to your curry sauce, but something more fundamental, suggesting that the conditions under which you eat can be saporific; that picnics on the beach taste better than the same food eaten in your dining room; that chips taste better out of paper than from a polystyrene tray;
I was made to experience this in a most personal way, many years ago, and I hope my sister Julia won't be too picky if the details of this story are not spot on - the punch line is the same!
I had been having a discussion with my sister during which I must have stated that all this wine glass snobbery was stuff and nonsense; wine would taste just as good out of a plastic tumbler. Like all the best siblings, we agreed to differ and life carried on. But that year I spent Christmas with Julia and her family and everyone had beautiful glasses at their places - except me; I got a green plastic tumbler and no, my wine didn't taste so good. Fortunately, we all saw the funny side of it and I was duly given a proper glass for the rest of the meal.
Now, even I support
the use of the wine glass (as above) for my Pinot Grigio and the champagne flute for prosecco as I realise the saporific
effect of the correctly shaped glass. And the soporific effect of too much of it!
Today's word is 'saporific', a word I have never heard before and which means 'producing, or imparting flavour or taste'. From the examples given, it seems that this doesn't just mean adding a little grated ginger to your curry sauce, but something more fundamental, suggesting that the conditions under which you eat can be saporific; that picnics on the beach taste better than the same food eaten in your dining room; that chips taste better out of paper than from a polystyrene tray;
I was made to experience this in a most personal way, many years ago, and I hope my sister Julia won't be too picky if the details of this story are not spot on - the punch line is the same!
I had been having a discussion with my sister during which I must have stated that all this wine glass snobbery was stuff and nonsense; wine would taste just as good out of a plastic tumbler. Like all the best siblings, we agreed to differ and life carried on. But that year I spent Christmas with Julia and her family and everyone had beautiful glasses at their places - except me; I got a green plastic tumbler and no, my wine didn't taste so good. Fortunately, we all saw the funny side of it and I was duly given a proper glass for the rest of the meal.
Magnanimous
I love the word for Wednesday - 'Magnanimous'. I enjoy the sound of the word, and the noble sentiment behind it. For it means generosity of spirit, easy in forgiving an insult or injury, free from petty resentfulness. And we would all wish to be like that, all the time, wouldn't we? Wouldn't we?
It was a strange day at work, with a busy hour, followed by an intense staff meeting, followed by a corporate lunch. Then everyone other than me went to a target sports afternoon - you know the sort of thing: bow and arrow, rifle shooting, axe throwing (yes!), all harmless fun. I decided, for my own personal reasons, to opt out of this particular variety of team bonding event. They may as well have asked me to go skiing.
This left me in the office alone, and I did some essential tasks before sliding out 3/4 hour early. Why did I feel naughty? I have flexi-time. Maybe because no-one had expressly told me I could go early, but then I hadn't asked.
Anyway, it was great to get away early to Crawley, to see Dave Gorman, one of my favourite comedians, getting 'straight to the point', ably supported by Nick Doody. We were very late home, which explains why this blog is late.
During our delicious pre-show meal, I had a text exchange with a friend of mine. She has recently had a birthday and we had agreed to spend a few pleasant hours together chatting, eating, maybe a bit of shopping or a film. My friend has made various changes to the original plan, all of which I have accepted unless it involves driving at night which I find difficult and stressful (i'm not talking about the 10 mph crawl home in traffic on lit roads). Finally, my friend has postponed the date indefinitely until 'you are not so rushed'.
I like to think that at this point I show my magnanimity, that I am free from petty resentfulness, easily forgiving an insult. But it took me a full 24hours to achieve that happy state of mind. She has been my friend for 20 years or more, and I am happy to meet her on her terms, at a time and place of her choosing, even if she does change it 10 times in the process.
It was a strange day at work, with a busy hour, followed by an intense staff meeting, followed by a corporate lunch. Then everyone other than me went to a target sports afternoon - you know the sort of thing: bow and arrow, rifle shooting, axe throwing (yes!), all harmless fun. I decided, for my own personal reasons, to opt out of this particular variety of team bonding event. They may as well have asked me to go skiing.
This left me in the office alone, and I did some essential tasks before sliding out 3/4 hour early. Why did I feel naughty? I have flexi-time. Maybe because no-one had expressly told me I could go early, but then I hadn't asked.
Anyway, it was great to get away early to Crawley, to see Dave Gorman, one of my favourite comedians, getting 'straight to the point', ably supported by Nick Doody. We were very late home, which explains why this blog is late.
During our delicious pre-show meal, I had a text exchange with a friend of mine. She has recently had a birthday and we had agreed to spend a few pleasant hours together chatting, eating, maybe a bit of shopping or a film. My friend has made various changes to the original plan, all of which I have accepted unless it involves driving at night which I find difficult and stressful (i'm not talking about the 10 mph crawl home in traffic on lit roads). Finally, my friend has postponed the date indefinitely until 'you are not so rushed'.
I like to think that at this point I show my magnanimity, that I am free from petty resentfulness, easily forgiving an insult. But it took me a full 24hours to achieve that happy state of mind. She has been my friend for 20 years or more, and I am happy to meet her on her terms, at a time and place of her choosing, even if she does change it 10 times in the process.
Tuesday, 10 November 2015
Logophile
Word of the day is perfect for me, and for my blog. It's what I'm doing, what drives me to commit to writing this daily page; 'logophile' - a lover of words. I suppose it's my inheritance and something I share with my siblings and many members of my extended family. I was not surprised to find bananagrams being played in the Kennedy house, and everyone pleased to join in. The online games I play are mostly word games and I love crosswords and scrabble.
Tuesday still feels like a strange day to be starting the working week, I must try to stop thinking it's Monday. A taxi driver tried to mow me down at the notorious Ravenside roundabout, and would have driven into me if I hadn't let him in. Bully!
Today was busy and productive at work and I put my love of words to work, drafting the first few pages of the new staff handbook. What a legacy I will leave behind in that document!
Dinner was chicken, JP, vegetables, chocolate ice cream. No footie, so I got to choose TV, which was a nature programme about Scotland followed by a knock out pottery competition. Stupidly early to bed, but sitting doing this until 11pm. For the first time this year I feel cold.
Tuesday still feels like a strange day to be starting the working week, I must try to stop thinking it's Monday. A taxi driver tried to mow me down at the notorious Ravenside roundabout, and would have driven into me if I hadn't let him in. Bully!
Today was busy and productive at work and I put my love of words to work, drafting the first few pages of the new staff handbook. What a legacy I will leave behind in that document!
Dinner was chicken, JP, vegetables, chocolate ice cream. No footie, so I got to choose TV, which was a nature programme about Scotland followed by a knock out pottery competition. Stupidly early to bed, but sitting doing this until 11pm. For the first time this year I feel cold.
Monday, 9 November 2015
Lassitude
The weather has been surprisingly sunny, although very windy later. Not much chance of lassitude today. This is defined in one sense as 'weariness of body or mind from strain, oppressive climate, etc.; lack of energy, listlessness', and I knew I had lots to do, although it didn't quite turn out how we planned it.
Neil had a servicing call to make in Eastbourne. Eastbourne is mostly choked up with traffic most of the time, and parking in the town centre is notoriously difficult. Neil has to find a parking space, walk to the property agent to get the key, walk back to the car, drive to the property, find somewhere to park, walk (with tool box, papers, etc) to the property, and then do it all in reverse. This doubles the time he needs to spend on the job. However, if I am driving, he can leave the parking to me while he gets on with the work. SFSG
Of course, it doesn't work out like that. Firstly, he manages to get a space very near the agent. He pops in to get the key, only to be told that they don't manage the property any more, and the keys have been returned to the office - in Bexhill!
I ate my lunch at 11am to comfort myself for my lost day out, while Neil did another couple of service calls and we came home.
Of course, then there was a mountain of paperwork and catching-up to do, phone-calls, laundry, tidying and before long it was time for the highlight of my day - collecting Evie & Max from school. I love spending time with them and hope they like having me around. Evie was particularly kind to Max when he got upset about his drawings.
Dinner was jacket potato with Tuna, salad, yogurt with banana and seeds. Jacob came and did some more tiling, Neil watched footie.
I find I have been very busy, often not really giving up until after dinner. So whilst I have experienced lassitude in the past (more usually when I am unhappy) I have had none of it today, and go to bed proud of my achievements
Neil had a servicing call to make in Eastbourne. Eastbourne is mostly choked up with traffic most of the time, and parking in the town centre is notoriously difficult. Neil has to find a parking space, walk to the property agent to get the key, walk back to the car, drive to the property, find somewhere to park, walk (with tool box, papers, etc) to the property, and then do it all in reverse. This doubles the time he needs to spend on the job. However, if I am driving, he can leave the parking to me while he gets on with the work. SFSG
Of course, it doesn't work out like that. Firstly, he manages to get a space very near the agent. He pops in to get the key, only to be told that they don't manage the property any more, and the keys have been returned to the office - in Bexhill!
I ate my lunch at 11am to comfort myself for my lost day out, while Neil did another couple of service calls and we came home.
Of course, then there was a mountain of paperwork and catching-up to do, phone-calls, laundry, tidying and before long it was time for the highlight of my day - collecting Evie & Max from school. I love spending time with them and hope they like having me around. Evie was particularly kind to Max when he got upset about his drawings.
Dinner was jacket potato with Tuna, salad, yogurt with banana and seeds. Jacob came and did some more tiling, Neil watched footie.
I find I have been very busy, often not really giving up until after dinner. So whilst I have experienced lassitude in the past (more usually when I am unhappy) I have had none of it today, and go to bed proud of my achievements
Sunday, 8 November 2015
Frangible
I can always remember the meaning of this word (easily broken) as it seems like a hybrid of fragile and breakable. Indeed, the words frangible and fragile come from the same latin root 'Frangere' meaning 'to break'.
Today's chore was cleaning the conservatory. This has been the dumping ground for an assortment of bits and pieces whilst we have decorating going on, but things can now be sorted out. Lots of frangible stuff too; unwanted plates & teapots, pictures in and out of frames, Jacob's tiling paraphanelia.
This was all done before going out to get the MG cleaned, and then mauka in time for the gathering in Westham. It was a friendly, relaxed affair - a very good-natured bunch of people with more to talk about than just their cars. We ate bacon or egg rolls, drank tea, swapped vehicle information and anecdotes and generally socialised before travelling in convoy (I love that bit) to Beachy Head for a photo shoot and a natter in the pub. The weather was kind, and although overcast, it was dry and not windy.
Popped in to see the inlaws on the way home, where I enjoyed one of the best cups of tea I have had for a while that I didn't make myself. Hot and flavoursome with just the right amount of milk
So did anything get broken today? Yes - a phone charger cable frayed beyond use, Neil's chair in the pub was broken, and the waistband of my jeans could take no more and came apart under the strain. I wouldn't call any of those things frangible, except when poetic licence is required for blogging purposes!
Salad & jacket potato for dinner, a bit of TV and an early night. I have to be a lift engineer's assistant tomorrow AND be back to collect the grandchildren from school, so I need to be on form. I've had a great day
Today's chore was cleaning the conservatory. This has been the dumping ground for an assortment of bits and pieces whilst we have decorating going on, but things can now be sorted out. Lots of frangible stuff too; unwanted plates & teapots, pictures in and out of frames, Jacob's tiling paraphanelia.
This was all done before going out to get the MG cleaned, and then mauka in time for the gathering in Westham. It was a friendly, relaxed affair - a very good-natured bunch of people with more to talk about than just their cars. We ate bacon or egg rolls, drank tea, swapped vehicle information and anecdotes and generally socialised before travelling in convoy (I love that bit) to Beachy Head for a photo shoot and a natter in the pub. The weather was kind, and although overcast, it was dry and not windy.
Popped in to see the inlaws on the way home, where I enjoyed one of the best cups of tea I have had for a while that I didn't make myself. Hot and flavoursome with just the right amount of milk
So did anything get broken today? Yes - a phone charger cable frayed beyond use, Neil's chair in the pub was broken, and the waistband of my jeans could take no more and came apart under the strain. I wouldn't call any of those things frangible, except when poetic licence is required for blogging purposes!
Salad & jacket potato for dinner, a bit of TV and an early night. I have to be a lift engineer's assistant tomorrow AND be back to collect the grandchildren from school, so I need to be on form. I've had a great day
Saturday, 7 November 2015
Mauka
I started the day as I always do on a Saturday - preparing Neil's business invoices for dispatch, and I was not ecouraged to go out as it was pouring with rain. We finished putting up shelves in the kitchen cupboard, which please me greatly.
Today's word of the day is Mauka, an Hawaiian adverb meaning 'toward the mountain, inland'
We planned to go inland (not by much, about 2 miles) to visit my father-in-law, but this idea was abandoned and we went into Bexhill town centre, distinctly downhill and seaward. How was I going to encompass the WOTD in my day? Our nearest mountain is Beachy Head on the South Downs.
Neil had a voucher for a free cream tea at Jempsons, so we popped in there for a welcome diversion from the wind and rain outside. We did a bit of shopping and returned home where I settled down to do battle with posting my blog to facebook (easy when you know how).
Suddenly Neil appeared in the study with excitement written all over his face - he had just received an invitation to a meeting of MG/Rover owners tomorrow, and they are all going for a run to (wait for it....) Beachy Head! So we are both going mauka tomorrow, together with a lot of like-minded MG pals.
We enjoyed last night's indian meal so much that we had enhanced remains of the day tonight and I am really pushing the boat out with a Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime cider. Music by Nad Sylvan, Beatles, Canned Heat and Prog compilation P33.
Today's word of the day is Mauka, an Hawaiian adverb meaning 'toward the mountain, inland'
We planned to go inland (not by much, about 2 miles) to visit my father-in-law, but this idea was abandoned and we went into Bexhill town centre, distinctly downhill and seaward. How was I going to encompass the WOTD in my day? Our nearest mountain is Beachy Head on the South Downs.
Neil had a voucher for a free cream tea at Jempsons, so we popped in there for a welcome diversion from the wind and rain outside. We did a bit of shopping and returned home where I settled down to do battle with posting my blog to facebook (easy when you know how).
Suddenly Neil appeared in the study with excitement written all over his face - he had just received an invitation to a meeting of MG/Rover owners tomorrow, and they are all going for a run to (wait for it....) Beachy Head! So we are both going mauka tomorrow, together with a lot of like-minded MG pals.
We enjoyed last night's indian meal so much that we had enhanced remains of the day tonight and I am really pushing the boat out with a Rekorderlig Strawberry & Lime cider. Music by Nad Sylvan, Beatles, Canned Heat and Prog compilation P33.
Crepuscular
Reading Mark's blog 'Brooklyntrek' made me wonder whether I could
reopen my blog and make it readable. I love writing my diary; could
this work as a blog? I will try to link to the word of the day and make
it relevant. Let's see.
The word of the day was "crepuscular" which means 'of, or relating to, twilight; dim. This perfectly described the light today, as it was gloomy and wet all day. My office windows are coated in a transparent/reflective film which is very effective, but has a slight dulling effect on the incoming light. So it seemed even dimmer and we had the lights on all day.
Neil and I had Indian takeaway for dinner and spent the remainder of the evening listening to tracks by Jethro Tull, Steve Hackett, Nad Sylvan, & Peter Gabriel pausing only to put away the grocery delivery. Neil says we also listened to Ringo Starr, but I wasn't going to mention that. Respectable bed time of 11pm
The word of the day was "crepuscular" which means 'of, or relating to, twilight; dim. This perfectly described the light today, as it was gloomy and wet all day. My office windows are coated in a transparent/reflective film which is very effective, but has a slight dulling effect on the incoming light. So it seemed even dimmer and we had the lights on all day.
Neil and I had Indian takeaway for dinner and spent the remainder of the evening listening to tracks by Jethro Tull, Steve Hackett, Nad Sylvan, & Peter Gabriel pausing only to put away the grocery delivery. Neil says we also listened to Ringo Starr, but I wasn't going to mention that. Respectable bed time of 11pm
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