Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


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The Boatswain’s call – aka – the Bosun’s Pipe

E BOATSWAIN’S CALL
Gun, keel, buoy, shackle
all parts of a Bosun’s pipe
for calling All Hands


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12th Night

12th NIGHT

Epiphany eve

Last of the twelve Christmas nights

Three wise men arrive


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Other words explained 2. – Musette

MUSETTE

A bagpipe from France

Bellows blown, tone like oboe

baroque at its best


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Unusual U.K. place names 30. – Wychbold Salwarpe

WYCHBOLD SALWARPE, Worcestershire

Salwarpe called Salop

Battlefield and  Spadesbourne

where the rivers join


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Unusual U.K. place names29. _ Droitwich Spa

DROITWICH (SPA), Worcestershire

Famous for its salt

Romans named it Salinae

On River Salwarpe


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Other words explained 1. – Recorder

RECORDER

Internal duct flute*

in the group of instruments

well known as Woodwinds

* Internal Duct flute: A flute with a whistle also referred to as “fipple mouthed”


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Hogmanay

Lang may your lum reek

First-footing New Year greeting.

Wi’ other folks coal.

Note: Tradition in Scotland says that good fortune will come to you by the first visitor after midnight at New Year. The visitor should be a tall, dark and handsome stranger bearing a gift for the family. A small lump of  coal.

Translation: Long may your chimney smoke/smell (i.e.) have a fire for warmth; all the better with other people’s coal.

 

 


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Unusual U.K. place names28. – Pucklechurch

PUCKLECHURCH, Gloucestershire

Bronze-age round barrow

Saxon royal villa site

Kingdom of Wessex


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Unusual U.K. place names27. – Wickwar

WICKWAR, Gloucestershire

Name from Winchen means

dairy farm, owned by Norman*

la Warre family

  • John la Warre given Winchen by King John and mentioned in the Domesday book in 1086. Still owned by Roger la Warre in 1285.

 


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Obscure words explained 69. – shilly shally

SHILLY SHALLY

What is to be done

I am vacillitating

I can not decide