The bells, the bells!

 

The bells, the bells!

                                                Image source

The crackers we pulled at Christmas with our youngest daughter and her family contained small musical bells. There were eight crackers. wrapped in manuscript paper and ribbons, and we were able to play a selection of simple tunes with them. There were six of us so two people had two bells each. They were great fun. Jack was entertained for a very long time after lunch, following the ‘manuscript’ and playing the bells. Each bell carried a number from 1 to 8.

The crackers we pulled with our middle daughter on Christmas Day were beautifully packaged. I took the miniature cones and ribbons from them and put them on the small growing Christmas tree in the conservatory. Those crackers contained what were described as ‘superior’ gifts, and they were rather nice. One, a small silver whistle, was effective at summoning the dogs from the garden.

Quasimodo never actually utters ‘The bells, the bells,’ in ‘The Hunchback of Notre Dame,’ but his life is enmeshed with the bells of the cathedral of Notre Dame.

A different sort of bells, which make no clanging noise, are ‘The Bells The Bells’ in Gogarth, North Wales. ‘The Bells The Bells’ is a steep, exposed cliff rising from the sea, on the small Holy Island off the west coast of Anglesey. The rock is quartzite.

                                              Image source

It constitutes an extreme climbing route, considered one of the most difficult and dangerous climbs in Britain. It was first climbed in 1980 by John Redhead, and is rarely climbed because of its severity. A fall could be fatal so planning the climb is supremely important.

I have never climbed, but have read several books by mountaineers. They are more than exciting enough and I am constantly amazed at the skill and audacity of climbers and perturbed by their drive. They climb because the mountains exist, defying and challenging puny humans to overcome them. 

Trousseau?

 

Trousseau?

Image source

Once upon a time, many moons ago, a young lady who was courting might turn her thoughts to assembling her trousseau. Trousseau derives from the French trousse, which means a bundle

A collection of linen, household goods, clothing and valuables like jewellery or silver would be stored in a ‘bottom drawer’ in the UK (a hope chest in USA or glory box in Australia.) It was the equivalent in some ways of a dowry, an indication of how much material wealth a woman would bring to a marriage – the richer the bride’s family, the more valuable the contents of the trousseau.

The custom persisted until the middle of the twentieth century, when it had evolved from dowry-like contents to items suitable for setting up home with the lucky suitor.

Anyway, what brought this to mind was the bottom drawer in the chest of drawers in my bedroom. It is the place where odd socks go to hibernate. When a pair of socks is called for because the housekeeper hasn’t performed her duties efficiently and there are no longer any matched socks left in the Master’s top drawer, it is to the bottom drawer one hastens. Surely there must be a pair there?

Depending on who is conducting the search, singles may find their appropriate partners, or be approximately paired with something similar. That is, if I am looking, the married pairs will match exactly. If Barry is searching, ‘They’ll do,’ he’ll say as two mismatched socks are thrust together. That drives me mad. I know it doesn’t matter, ‘Who cares? Who’s looking?’ but it matters to me and that is why my bottom drawer is full of odd socks. They’re not mine – I don’t wear socks.

The funny thing is that people can now buy deliberately mismatched socks, if they feel so inclined. They do look as though they belong together, strangely, unlike the pairs concocted from my bottom drawer.

Mismatched socks are a symbol for World Down Syndrome Day, on 21^st March. They represent the third copy of chromosome 21 which those with Down’s Syndrome possess.

Trousseau has two other meanings, one medical (Trousseau’s sign)  and one connected with wine, where it refers to a red wine grape, also known as Bastardo or Merenzao.

Peacekeeper

 

Peacekeeper

The brothers were having a spat. Jellicoe started it, as he often does. When he lost interest, Herschel began a new offensive and fur started to fly. Normally, they stop when I tell them, ‘No squabbling!’ but today they ignored me.

 Then Roxy stepped between them with a sharp ’grump’ and they nonchalantly turned away, their body language clearly indicating that they weren’t doing anything of great import and why was she making a fuss, anyway?

All the quadrupeds then had treats, dried chicken for the felines and carrots for the canines.

Roxy could teach the powers that be a thing or two about exercising law and order, with no damage to body or mind. She is gentle and kindly but will not stand any nonsense. She is the matriarch.

Nuuk

 

Nuuk

                Nuuk, largest city and capital of Greenland.

This image appeared on my screen on Tuesday morning, and I thought it was so pretty and quite apposite.

Nuuk is the capital and largest city in Greenland, which is an autonomous territory of the Kingdom of Denmark. It is one of the smallest capital cities in the world.

One third of the country’s people, numbering 20,113 in January 2025, lives in Nuuk. About 90% of the population is Inuit, and the culture and history are celebrated perhaps more than in any other indigenous city world-wide.

Greenland is the world’s largest island and is a land of mountains and fjords. It experiences long, snowy winters and short, cool summers. The landscape reflects this, in that there are few trees.

It has been associated with Norway and Denmark for a thousand years, both politically and culturally. Although it recognises both Danish and English, among other northern European languages, its official language is Greenlandic.

Education and healthcare are free, and it is a socially progressive country, affording widespread rights to LGBTQ citizens. There is more information here.

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Image courtesy Wikimedia Commons

Humdinger

 

Humdinger

Sometimes my fingers take on an independent life and type something quite other than I intended. For example, while looking up ‘humdinger’ I inadvertently typed, humdinbgerf. It was quite a pleasing word, I felt, and Bing agreed, saying, That’s quite a word you’ve invented there — humdinbgerf has a fun, bouncy rhythm to it. It feels like it could mean anything from a mythical creature to the sound your brain makes when it’s overloaded.

I typed again and this time created hjumdinger, to which Bing responded with, hjumdinger has a totally different vibe from your earlier invention — it feels sharper, almost like a word that announces itself.

It could easily be:

·         a quirky gadget (“Pass me the hjumdinger, the screws are tiny”)

·         a celebratory exclamation (“Well that’s a real hjumdinger of a win”)

·         or even a creature that lives in the corner of a fantasy tavern, judging everyone silently

In addition to mistyping, there’s the accidental striking of the CAPS KEY AND THE CHAOS THAT CREATES.

Occasionally, one of the cats, usually Jellicoe, walks across the keyboard, exercising his inner creativity. This becomes more pronounced the closer it gets to one of his mealtimes.

 

 

 

A ‘Wake Up!’ call

2026

Neil,from ‘Yorkshire Pudding,’ left a comment on a blog post of mine from seventeen years ago, 24^th February, 2009, to be precise. I struggled out of my semi-comatose state to visit his blog, where I enjoyed reading about the licentious goings-on at the Laughing Horse Awards and was astonished to discover that I had been unexpectedly honoured. Neil took the words right out of my keyboard when he quoted me saying, “never in my wildest dreams did I expect to receive such a prestigious accolade.”

So, thank you, Neil. I am indeed flattered. What you may not have realised is that I have been struggling to break free of an encroaching lassitude and wondering if I should continue to blog.

The last few years have been difficult, for several reasons, though now there is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel. I am only too aware that many others have far worse matters to contend with. My life, in general, has been blessed, and I remain thankful for good health and a loving and supportive husband and family.

A few hours days of introspection made me realise that I still want the outlet blogging gives me and so I shall continue. Bad luck, all!

Well, it has been a humdinger of a start to a new year. Do people still say ‘humdinger?’  Apparently, it’s a late 19^th century American colloquialism. Bing (not Crosby) informs me that “Humdinger” is an Americanism from the late 1800s, most likely formed by blending two earlier slang words — hummer (something energetic or excellent) and dinger (something outstanding). The earliest known printed use is from 1883 in a Montana newspaper.”  So now I know, and will probably forget.

Anyway, 2026 promises to be interesting. The President of the United States continues to disengage from reality and wreck his country’s international relationships. There are many amusing memes and cartoons, but there is an underlying fear of what the future holds. Those who know are busy analysing and forecasting.

                                     This, from Debby at ‘Life’s Funny Like That,’ made me laugh so much, and gave me hope that common sense will prevail and prevent the world hurling itself into a maelstrom of disaster.

Belatedly, Happy New Year, everyone. May all your troubles be little ones and all your pleasures be prodigious.

 

 

Merry Christmas

 

Merry Christmas

and  a

Healthy

and Peaceful

2026

‘See’ you all after Christmas!