Feest Isolation Days – 22 October
We passed a lot of places called Fitz something or other in the past week and so of course I needed to look up precisely what that meant. Fitz means son of. Or if you look closely, it seems to mean illegitimate son of…or bastard son of. In parts of Somerset there are several Fitz places. Charles II named one of his bastards Fitzroy, (‘son of the king’), (one of? How many did he have?! Well that could fill a page or two..LOTS is the answer).
Words can be such fun! They often carry entire worlds inside them and take us to other places and other ways of life. If you hadn’t already noticed, I love words.
Sadly, I don’t speak any other languages, a smattering of German and French and I suppose I can just about order a meal in Italy and ask for the bill in all countries. Waving your hand in the air as though writing remains a universal for “can I please have my bill”. I wonder if, when we return to restaurants and cafes that will still be a recognised way of getting the bill. The very word “Restaurant” has so much meaning! Of course, this word derives from a French verb “restaurer” (“to restore”, “to revive”) and, literally means “that which restores”. Now there’s a word I’d like to inhabit sometime soon.
My love of words mean I am a lexophile. I am pleased to have a label for this “ailment”. Apparently if you have lexophilia you are obsessively enamoured of words, especially those set in a new framework. The New York Times does a contest for Lexophiliacs and my American friend Robert sent me the results earlier in the week. It’s a lovely mid week diversion from the craziness of the world. Here are the winners – Enjoy!
I changed my iPod’s name to Titanic. It’s syncing now.
England has no kidney bank, but it does have a Liverpool.
Haunted French pancakes give me the crepes.
This girl today said she recognized me from the Vegetarians Club, but I’d swear I’ve never met herbivore.
I know a guy who’s addicted to drinking brake fluid, but he says he can stop any time.
A thief who stole a calendar got twelve months.
I got some batteries that were given out free of charge.
A dentist and a manicurist married. They fought tooth and nail.
A will is a dead giveaway.
With her marriage, she got a new name and a dress.
Police were summoned to a day care centre where a three year old was resisting a rest.
Did you hear about the fellow whose entire left side was cut off? He’s all right now.
A bicycle can’t stand alone; it’s just two tired.
The guy who fell onto an upholstery machine last week is now fully recovered.
He had a photographic memory but it was never fully developed.
When she saw her first strands of grey hair she thought she’d dye.
Acupuncture is a jab well done That’s the point of it.
I didn’t like my beard at first. Then it grew on me.
Did you hear about the crossed-eyed teacher who lost her job because she couldn’t control her pupils?
When you get a bladder infection, urine trouble.
When chemists die, they barium.
I stayed up all night to see where the sun went, and then it dawned on me.
I’m reading a book about anti-gravity. I just can’t put it down.
Those who get too big for their pants will be totally exposed in the end.
Keep the best one or two for your home made Christmas Crackers! What else is going to occupy you as we head towards winter? Surely homemade crackers will be a feature of your winter? Mine neither…Stay safe and enjoy whatever you get up to.
With love
Kathy x