A tribute to my niece (although really a song from world war 1)
K K K Katie
Beautiful Katie
You’re the only G
G G Girl that I adore
When the M M M Moon shines
Over the cow shed
I’ll be waiting at the
K K K Kitchen Door
Friday 12 April 2013
J is for Jolly Roger
J is for the jolly roger!
By adam ant
In days of old, when ships were bold
Just like the men who sailed them
And if they showed us disrespect
We’d tie them up and flail them
Often men of low degree
And often men of steel
Who’d make you walk the plank alone
Or haul you ’round the keel
Hoist the jolly roger!
Hoist the jolly roger!
Hoist the jolly roger!
It’s your money that we want
And your money we shall have!
Of all the pirates on the seas
The worst of them was blackbeard
So damnable a fiend from hell
He was the one they most feared
Any man who sailed with him
Was taking quite a chance
He’d hang them from the gallows
Just to see if they could dance (ha! ha!)
Just like the men who sailed them
And if they showed us disrespect
We’d tie them up and flail them
Often men of low degree
And often men of steel
Who’d make you walk the plank alone
Or haul you ’round the keel
Hoist the jolly roger!
Hoist the jolly roger!
Hoist the jolly roger!
It’s your money that we want
And your money we shall have!
Of all the pirates on the seas
The worst of them was blackbeard
So damnable a fiend from hell
He was the one they most feared
Any man who sailed with him
Was taking quite a chance
He’d hang them from the gallows
Just to see if they could dance (ha! ha!)
I is for Indian
I is for Indian
Do you know how many Indian words are in the English
Language? I say - NOT ENOUGH!
Some of the best words EVER are nabbed from the different
Indian Languages
I’ll list a few below. Im sure you wont be disappointed:
Shampoo
Bandana
Hullaballoo
Loot
Nirvana
Pundit
Pukka Pyjamas
Chutney
Kedgeree
And my personal fave – Bungalow.
Say them out loud. – they are all so bouncy! They bobble in
your mouth, so satisfying, so fulfilling.
H is for Hot Toddy!
On a cold day, when you’ve got a chill, and wrapped up in
blankets with the fire on -
Or when youre out shopping and you stumble across a
Christmas market – and your fingers are going blue? – is there anything nicer
than a hot toddy?
What is a hot toddy?
Well.. urban dictionary refers to an Usher song.
But that’s not what I mean.
What I mean is the drink. That lovely, soothing warm drink
of whiskey/whisky or brandy at Christmas time.
An excellent recipe that I have known over the years is as follows
Whiskey: however much you like… maybe two shots? Three?
Four?
Half a cup of hot water
Lemon Juice
A pinch of Cinnamon
Sit back and Enjoy
Monday 8 April 2013
G is for German tid bits
Guten Abend!
I think tongue twisters are hard enough, but here's one in German for you:
Zungenbrecher (tongue twister)
Schnecken erschrecken
Wenn Schnecken an Schnecken lecken
Weil zum Schrecken vieler Schnecken
Schnecken nicht schmecken
Wenn Schnecken an Schnecken lecken
Weil zum Schrecken vieler Schnecken
Schnecken nicht schmecken
Snails get frightened
When snails lick snails
Because to the dismay of many snails
Snails don't taste good
When snails lick snails
Because to the dismay of many snails
Snails don't taste good
Also, some exciting tid bits of info include:
Gnomes are supposed to be Germans in little red hats
Angela Merkel has a barbie doll named after her
When JFK visited Berlin, he infamously said “Ich bin ein Berliner,” which also translates to “I am a jam doughnut. ir jelly donut, for all the americans out there
The Christmas tree (Tannenbaum) tradition came from Germany.
Heinz did categorically not make pasta swastikas during the 20s http://www.wigantoday.net/news/local-news/swastika-spaghetti-apology-1-184815
And snappy das kleine krokodyl, is a song every person should know.
Do you know any interesting tongue twisters or german facts?
Sunday 7 April 2013
F is for Fridges
FRIDGES?!?!?!?!
Yes fridges.
When i lived in Poland, my lodgings did not have a fridge,
instead, we used the window sill.
We tried with ALL our power to get one. But apparently, in Poland, all fridges are mightily expensive!!!
so i did without one for a WHOLE YEAR! talk about going back to the dark ages.
I now have uttermost respect for fridges, and bow down whenever i see one.
Those with ice machines, and water coolers are just even more special and should really be knighted.
The problem with using the window sill in poland, is perhaps not what you would think.
in the winter months, it worked up to a point. but we soon found that it was more like a freezer, and in fact all the vegetables, water, and products froze outside. so they couldnt be eaten anyway. in the summer months, they boiled away, and were soiled within a day.
all this meant was that you had to eat by the day, and own plenty of pickles.
Technological inventions really make the world a better place.
Do you have any items that you could no longer do without?
Yes fridges.
When i lived in Poland, my lodgings did not have a fridge,
instead, we used the window sill.
We tried with ALL our power to get one. But apparently, in Poland, all fridges are mightily expensive!!!
so i did without one for a WHOLE YEAR! talk about going back to the dark ages.
I now have uttermost respect for fridges, and bow down whenever i see one.
Those with ice machines, and water coolers are just even more special and should really be knighted.
The problem with using the window sill in poland, is perhaps not what you would think.
in the winter months, it worked up to a point. but we soon found that it was more like a freezer, and in fact all the vegetables, water, and products froze outside. so they couldnt be eaten anyway. in the summer months, they boiled away, and were soiled within a day.
all this meant was that you had to eat by the day, and own plenty of pickles.
Technological inventions really make the world a better place.
Do you have any items that you could no longer do without?
E is for the Environs of Kent
I live in Kent.
Kent is one of the Homecounties, which means that it is one of London's borders.
Apparently it is 'the Garden of England', full of flowers, trees and lots and lots of grass - and not to mention the country pubs. theres a fair few of those too.
I recently took a drive through the weald of Kent, with its rolling hills and grassy verges. It is picturesque, and is probably perfect for photographs.
Any budding photographers out there may want to make a trip down south, but perhaps weather permitting.
I drove past various cricket clubs, and saw multiple birds and creatures on the way. a Partridge tried to even hitch a lift!
I would recommend Tenterden. there are a dozen country pubs, and a railway to boot. you can hop aboard a steam engine for the day.
Another place I admire, is Tankerton (another t word, woops) which has HUGE hills, and a spit going out to sea. you can walk along it at low tide and spot some star fish and jelly fish on your travels.
It too has numerous pubs and fish and chip shops.
Munching of chips is a nice way to travel around. i wonder if anyone has done a twist of the pub crawl, and gone for chip shops?!
for american readers, chips are fries, and for the french, chips are frites, not crisps.
but they all taste yum scrum, and i wouldnt mind any in my tum
Kent is one of the Homecounties, which means that it is one of London's borders.
Apparently it is 'the Garden of England', full of flowers, trees and lots and lots of grass - and not to mention the country pubs. theres a fair few of those too.
I recently took a drive through the weald of Kent, with its rolling hills and grassy verges. It is picturesque, and is probably perfect for photographs.
Any budding photographers out there may want to make a trip down south, but perhaps weather permitting.
I drove past various cricket clubs, and saw multiple birds and creatures on the way. a Partridge tried to even hitch a lift!
I would recommend Tenterden. there are a dozen country pubs, and a railway to boot. you can hop aboard a steam engine for the day.
Another place I admire, is Tankerton (another t word, woops) which has HUGE hills, and a spit going out to sea. you can walk along it at low tide and spot some star fish and jelly fish on your travels.
It too has numerous pubs and fish and chip shops.
Munching of chips is a nice way to travel around. i wonder if anyone has done a twist of the pub crawl, and gone for chip shops?!
for american readers, chips are fries, and for the french, chips are frites, not crisps.
but they all taste yum scrum, and i wouldnt mind any in my tum
Thursday 4 April 2013
D is for Detty
Detty is what my niece calls me. Its not quite Becky, but it fits. sortof.
My nieces and nephews have come up with a lot of weird and wonderful words over the years.
My favourites being
My nieces and nephews have come up with a lot of weird and wonderful words over the years.
My favourites being
- Bana = Banana
- Welwet = Velvet
- Geep = Sleep
- Sleetober = sleepover
- Odger = orange
- The Archbishop of Canterbury was "Theres no fish in the country"
- Horse Carrousel Ride was the Hot Caramel Ride
- Pingy = penguin
- Pointing = Anything that Lily wants
When I was little I probably did this a bit too. I made up song lyrics in my head, which now sound ridiculous.
What words did you make up when you were little? Any gems?
Wednesday 3 April 2013
C is for the Czech Republic
If you get the chance, you should really visit this absolutely beautiful country. The landscape is gorgeous, the food is not bad, and the people are so friendly. Prague, its capital, is incredibly touristy but still somehow quaint.
The Czech Republic itself is a relatively new country, it only came into being in 1993. Before this is was part of Czechoslovakia. And before this - well it was an ancient kingdom, dating back to the 9th century when it was known as Bohemia
It explains why, if you know Czech, you can quite happily speak to a Slovakian - the languages are so so similar. Unfortunately, I dont speak either - so its not such a happy experience. As its a slavic tongue, though, you are able to communicate if you speak any of these slavic derivatives.
In recent times there have been some fantastic Czech authors, my fave including Milan Kundera - though slightly heavy going. but i'd still recommend.
The velvet revolution of November 1989 (in Czechoslovakia) was a peaceful demonstration, mostly by students, against the communist ruling party. Along with the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, this saw the end of communism in this country. And in 1990 Czechoslovakia had its first democratic elections.
Apparently, and rather lovelily - One symbolic element of the demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution was the jingling of keys. The practice had a double meaning—it not only symbolized the unlocking of doors, but was the demonstrators' way of telling the Communists, "Goodbye, it's time to go home."
When I was living in Cieszyn, but not on the czech side, I was told that a great reminder of the fall of communism was the song - the wind of change - by the Scorpions. My friends who were from the CIS states and ex communist countries whistled the song, and knew all the words. even those who didnt speak any english.
I have posted a link to this song here.
I know that this really isn't comprehensive. in fact I have written longer essays. but this was just a few thoughts sewn and thrown together.
The Czech Republic itself is a relatively new country, it only came into being in 1993. Before this is was part of Czechoslovakia. And before this - well it was an ancient kingdom, dating back to the 9th century when it was known as Bohemia
It explains why, if you know Czech, you can quite happily speak to a Slovakian - the languages are so so similar. Unfortunately, I dont speak either - so its not such a happy experience. As its a slavic tongue, though, you are able to communicate if you speak any of these slavic derivatives.
In recent times there have been some fantastic Czech authors, my fave including Milan Kundera - though slightly heavy going. but i'd still recommend.
The velvet revolution of November 1989 (in Czechoslovakia) was a peaceful demonstration, mostly by students, against the communist ruling party. Along with the collapse of the Warsaw Pact, this saw the end of communism in this country. And in 1990 Czechoslovakia had its first democratic elections.
Apparently, and rather lovelily - One symbolic element of the demonstrations of the Velvet Revolution was the jingling of keys. The practice had a double meaning—it not only symbolized the unlocking of doors, but was the demonstrators' way of telling the Communists, "Goodbye, it's time to go home."
When I was living in Cieszyn, but not on the czech side, I was told that a great reminder of the fall of communism was the song - the wind of change - by the Scorpions. My friends who were from the CIS states and ex communist countries whistled the song, and knew all the words. even those who didnt speak any english.
I have posted a link to this song here.
I know that this really isn't comprehensive. in fact I have written longer essays. but this was just a few thoughts sewn and thrown together.
Tuesday 2 April 2013
This is where I live, and it is home.
I wouldnt say I was particularly nationalistic, but since living in other countries, it has made me think of England, but Britain particularly mostly, as home.
This may have been compounded by the fact that there were several international sporting events that took place while i was away. In the above photo, I am standing in front of the Polish centre of culture and art, (which was donated to them by the Russians, which everyone SEEMS to despise, but it has been noted as one of the most iconic buildings in Poland). There were monuments which depicted each of the nations taking part in Euro 2012.
Nationalism itself is something that I do find as an interesting topic however. People often get caught up saying that it is owned by either the right or left in politics - forgetting that really nationalism itself doesnt belong to one distinct wing.
Anyway back to Blighty. its green, it has tea (hopefully not together, yuck!) theres the queen - she's quite monumental, it has a lot of football teams, and a fair few themeparks.
I like it here, especially the holidays. Soon it is to be St George's Day, in 21 days i think. Now many countries have the story of St George, and how he slayed the dragon as tradition - and it Britain it is widely celebrated. You see the flag in the above photo? its called the st george's flag.
The holiday itself is not quite so fun as St Patrick's day, but at least i've got it off work :)
Monday 1 April 2013
The A-Z Challenge
Is excited about starting this!
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html
http://www.a-to-zchallenge.com/p/2012-to-z-challenge-sign-up-list.html
A is for April!
It has begun.... the A-Z challenge. its the FIRST of April! Prima Aprilis!! Happy Poisson Avril tout le monde!
I wonder if any of you have heard of śmigus-dyngus?
Its a Polish holiday. I used to live there, you know. and dyngus is a tradition that dates back millions of years. or at least decades. and on Easter Monday (So today) people are PERMITTED to chuck bucket loads of water out their bedroom windows, and onto unsuspecting passers by in the street below!
the aim is to drench as many people as possible.to pass on the love for easter monday, of course.
Mind you, true friends will ignore windows.
....such fun!
Fortunately, or unfortunately I havent suffered any april fools jokes today, yet.
But, i was pretty impressed with new idea of a glass bottomed aeroplane.
Anyway, back to April - Its my favourite month. :D
its the month of daffodils! The beginning of spring! the new tax year? changes to the benefit system and welfare? well...maybe thats not my main reason. its well... its...
its my birthday!!!
Sunday 31 March 2013
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