A Close Shave

This blog isn't about sheep.  But I have included a photo of some sheep for any fans of the four legged ruminants, which was taken at West Dean, West Sussex this morning.

As with all Aardman Animations, the characters have been well named for the adventures they're about to embark on. Young 'Shaun' is a case in point. It isn't always so for us humans.

The business of names and naming was something I read about a few months ago in an online French publication. I then put it to the back of my mind and completely forgot about it, until yesterday when the subject re-emerged in of all places, Chichester Cathedral. The article was called Le droit à changer de prénom. An interesting piece, which discussed the pros and cons of whether offspring/children should have the right to change the first names they'd been given by their parent(s). Careful research showed how different cultures and the families within them, went about choosing names for a new arrival. There were several examples of where the first name was changed as the child grew up and reached a key stage of development in his or her life.

I have occasionally thought how nice it would be to change my middle name. It isn't bad - Mary. I just don't happen to like it very much, whereas I do like my first name and wouldn't want to change that. Mary was also the 'family' name. So given that significance, I've never done anything about it and being my second name, it was something I could live with, as it was seldom used.  Even so, my naming was very much a 'close shave'. My mother had been determined - I shudder at the thought and please, try to keep the laughter below Richter scale levels - to call me Primrose Rosemary!  Fortunately my Dad wouldn't have any of it - yeah for Dad! - although quite where he got the idea of Hilary from, I don't know. But I'm very glad he did and very glad I was named at least from my point of view,  with my names in the right order. If it had been Mary Hilary,  I might well have become the subject of the article!

The notion that someone should have the right to change their first name if they don't like it, is a real sign of our times.  Can't imagine it was an option in the 1800s. While ambling around inside the cathedral yesterday afternoon, Mike called me over to have a look at a gravestone from the same period that had been laid into the cathedral floor. Two sisters. The first one was called Anne. Straightforward. Nothing untoward. Have known and do know a few, some with an 'e' at the end and some not. Then underneath Anne came her sister.  Theopilania! For goodness sake! What had she done wrong? Anne and Theopilania. It's not easy to say. 'Hello I'm Anne and this is my sister - Theopilania'. Oh dear.

Intrigued as to the meaning, I did some research on the internet. There appeared to be no such name. Rather flippantly, the suggestion was made that perhaps there had been a spelling mistake. Having taken down all the details of ages etc, I had another look on the internet this afternoon. And guess what! According to the records that are available on line in the public domain, there had been a spelling mistake. Not once but twice.  The records show that Ann was spelt without an  'e' as in the cathedral spelling, and poor Theopilania was really meant to be Theophania - a rather interesting name from which Tiffany originates as follows: Old French for Tifaine or Epiphany which is from the Ecclesiastic Late Latin, Theophania (Epiphany/Manifestation of God).

What a turn up! Why weren't the mistakes - if they were mistakes - ever rectified?
Hairy stuff this name business and presumably it's too late to do anything about it now.
Suddenly Hilary Mary seems fine to me.

Curiosity killed the cat

Being a Leo with insatiable curiosity this is a concern. I hope to be around a while longer!
And even though I'm not really into astrology, I do recognize that I have always possessed a strong desire to 'find out'. Right now this is a particularly useful characteristic to have. . . forms for this and forms for that, in France, and forms for this and forms for that, in the UK. But at least we'll be legal. 

 A Uni friend of mine put up a quote on FB the other morning (via True Activist) by Albert Einstein - 'I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious'. As Jackie said after she'd posted it, 'what's good enough for Al is good enough for me'.  Which reminds me. There's a great track by Paul Simon off his 'Graceland' album called 'Call Me Al' and a ridiculous video of it on you tube with P.S. and Chevy Chase that'll definitely raise a laugh on a rather grey day.

Here we go. One thought leads to another. So now what's sprung into my mind?  Famous people called Al. Who to start with? A 1930s gangster or a 20th/21st century politician. Hard choice, but probably Al Gore is the more decent human, so he can take pole position, rather than Al Capone. Who else? Well there's Al Pacino, Al Jolson. Al Green. Al Jarreau. Al Foster toured with Miles Davis as his drummer. Al Dubin wrote the lyrics for amongst other things 'Lullaby of Broadway'. Al Jardine - Beach Boys, sometimes referred to as 'the lost Beach Boy' as he was the only one who wasn't a 'Wilson'. Probably there are more. Some smart arse on the internet came up with Al Qaeda.

This cat had better watch out!

Home from Home

Forest scene - Cravant

We feel really comfortable living in France. Every time we go back our local connections with people and place move on, and in all sorts of interesting ways. Mike now leads an English conversation once a month for one of our Anglo/French groups - L'Écrin. He's not the only one doing it. English conversations and French conversations each take place once a week, on a Monday morning (French) and Thursday morning (English). There are six individuals, English and French, who regularly lead sessions and some others who are more occasional. Mike seems to be a natural at it and he thoroughly enjoys it. A couple of weeks back for a French conversation we discussed 'Superstitions' and for an English conversation we discussed 'Idioms using animals'. After each conversation we have lunch together, that everyone brings with them, and we continue talking together in either French or English, depending on which day of the week it is.

Mike is also an origami enthusiast. There are quite a few households scattered across the UK and France that have been recipients of various  origami animals and decorations. Many a small child has been entertained by a paper folding session with Mike. Many an adult has received a birthday present or Christmas something or other, delivered in an exquisite multi-coloured paper box and been left wondering quite how it's been put together.

So it was rather fun for Mike to lead an origami workshop one afternoon at L'Ecrin just before we left for the UK. There were seventeen people, all French, some of whom spoke English, with ages ranging from about seven up to say late 60s. It went really well, starting at 2pm and finishing around 4.30pm. Something simple to start with - an airplane - so that everyone got used to folding accurately. Then when all the planes were ready, there was a massive plane launch from one end of the room, and a shower of white went flying through the air.  It was a thoroughly enjoyable afternoon, during which each person made seven different items, ending up with quite a tricky bird design, with flapping wings. Now there are some more sessions in the pipeline for when Mike gets back. 

We also decided to get involved with the L'Ecrin Book Club which is quite a challenge - reading French literature and then discussing it - and the Café Philo discussions, which take place once a month in French, around a philosophical subject. We've been to two of each so far. It's really been a case of taking a deep breath and diving in. Fascinating. Also a thoroughly enjoyable experience; a great way to learn more of the language and culture and as always, our French friends are very encouraging and helpful. Can't ask for more.

'Speaking too soon'

Sunny evening at Cravant

A useful little phrase and a particularly annoying little phrase especially, yesterday. The drive between our place in France and BOA is do-able in one day, but is a bit of a trek. Yesterday took sixteen hours rather than twelve to thirteen. The French end went really well. The crossing itself was terrific. But about forty minutes late departing. There weren't that many people on board. Some fabulous accents from some of the lorry drivers, we think Basque or close to the Spanish border. The sound was heavily Spanish, but once we'd tuned into it, we could hear it was French. Dinner was excellent and we arrived around 9.45pm. It took an age getting off the boat and another hour getting out of the port. But finally we were on our way.

All went well until about an hour and a half later when we got to Salisbury and were stopped by the police. None of our back lights were working. From Salisbury to BOA there are big chunks of the route which are completely unlit and understandably they didn't want anyone going into the back of us.  Neither did we.  A really friendly couple of police officers, who escorted us to a nearby supermarket with a Shell garage just off our route the A36, then we phoned the AA. The AA man was fab, but had to come from Basingstoke! He'd got delayed with the job there, so was an hour getting to us. Thank goodness for mobiles. We were texted with updates so we knew what was going on. Another really lovely guy and like a ferret up a drain pipe in his determination to get to the problem. Electrics seemed to be the culprit. He worked on the car for an hour. Got everything up and running except for one of the side lights. But it meant we were road worthy and able to continue our journey home. You rather these things didn't happen, but everyone was incredibly efficient and very considerate towards us. Fortunately Mike already had the car booked in for an early service this morning. But given we didn't actually get home till nearly 3.30am, we're both feeling a bit jaded getting up for a comparatively early start at 8.15. Never mind. Safe and sound. Thanks Salisbury police. Thanks AA. And no I didn't take any photos!
 
Having got in we found our good friend John, who lives nearby in BOA and who had been dropping by the house while we were away to sort out the post, had also very kindly got some bread in for us. So this morning has got off to a reasonable start with coffee and toast. Mike has disappeared off to the Honda garage, the sun has gone in in BOA, I'm typing my blog and trying to get enthusiastic about walking into town for the market. 

Two hours later we're both back at the house. Thanks to the AA man the garage only had dodgy light bulbs to deal with. But also spotted the front tyres were looking a bit tired, so they got sorted out too. I'm back from the centre of town having done the shopping. And I've just opened my latest camera lens - a second hand one as everything is else, which saves a fortune and comes fully checked from a specialist in the UK for Canon and Nikon cameras. This time it's a wide angle lens which is specifically for landscape and architecture. It looks fab. Going into Bath tomorrow for hair cut - I currently do a very good impersonation of a yak - and to meet some French friends who have a place in Bath for lunch. If it's a decent day I'll take the camera along and will try it out. One more lens to find if I can and then I am well and truly set up. Macro/middle range zoom/wide angle lenses. Don't need anything else.  Yeah!

Back tomorrow.

A beautiful day. . .Part 1

We're just about to set off for the UK - our last time as permanent residents. The move has been in the pipeline for a little while. But even so it's hard to believe that in just seven weeks we'll be based in France. There are a few things to do! This past week we've been surrounded by paperwork. Six different forms. It feels complicated because it's the first time we've done a move like this. But with our French specialist's advice beside us, with all the do's and don'ts, what and when, who and how etc.,  it's all been relatively straightforward she says grabbing the nearest wooden object, which for once is not my head.

If the day stays like it is now, we're in for a lovely drive and crossing. We've been lucky recently weather-wise. Brilliant sunshine and come the afternoon, the light quality has been perfect. Late afternoon is one of my favourite times of the day for taking photographs. Like so many other places, we've had more than our fair share of the wet stuff. Flooding is a regular annual event where we are, so everyone expects it and is prepared for it. But it's higher than we've seen before. There have been some wonderful textures, light and reflection against a very steely grey sky. I've been having a great time taking photographs, but for everyone working the land it's not been easy. We thought as did our neighbours, that we'd seen the last of the rain. The levels started going down, mud and grass started to appear. Mud and I are not natural friends. I seem to get it everywhere, but the views have been irresistible.

Then one morning on our way into Chinon for the market, the water was back again and this time higher still. All the roads near to the Vienne were flooded and impassable and have really only opened up again in the last day or so. As you'd expect the land is very sticky and gooey. Bradford on Avon has its own flooding problems. Not sure how many times the centre of town has been caught by it in the last twelve months. But I think there's three floodings, which have made life for some shopkeepers, very difficult. There have been a few blogs where I mention the height of the river, which can change so quickly with the tides.


Anyway . . .after a bit of a pause in my blogging, there's loads to write about. This visit has been particularly good and our involvement here as moved on for us very interesting ways. But for the moment, it's back on the road. Part 2 tomorrow.