Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


5 Comments

Did I miss something?

I am an immigrant to the USA. I came to the United States of America while employed by Lufthansa German Airlines. As it turned out, by the time my visa was approved I actually started to work for Air France when I arrived in the USA. This was because Air France needed a French speaking employee. It’s a long story so I’ll spare you the details.

One of the first actions I took on arrival was to register myself (required by law) for the draft. My draft number was 252. Later I received a letter to tell me that my draft status had changed due to prior service in NATO and that I was now head of family. The Vietnam war however, continued.

It took me a while to settle in to the American way of life. There were many wonderful things to get used to.

I should mention that did not opt to leave the U.K. for discontent, simply that I was sked if I would like to go where I could be helpful. I had previously worked in Hamburg for the same reason.

Now to the point f this posting; America was a Great Country, a world leader, a great participant in world affairs and a great contributor and supporter of Democracy and the fight against Communism, poor health and poverty.

So it was with some reason to wonder why Don the Con launched his presidential bid with the slogan to Make America great Again.

Looking back on the events of this past week clearly demonstrates that this was ot his goal. In fact, the opposite has happened during his presidency: the USA is the laughing stock of our former allies throughout Europe and Scandinavia in NATO. The USA is the talk and mirth at vodka drinking parties hosted by Vladimir Putin about how that managed to compromise a a future resident to the point of treason. Donald Trump is a disappointment! He is clear and present danger.

And yet I have friends who still say things like, Yes but what about Hilary Clinton’s emails and one who says, what about ANTIFA – anti first ammendment.

Gimme a break. Did I miss something?


7 Comments

Social Distancing

Six feet between us

Consider six feet under

It’s a no brainer


4 Comments

Krek waiters peak bristle

Another departure:  Some (many) years ago  a book was written, I’ll find the author’ s name one of these days. which spoke about the way people from Bristol speak.

One of the curiosities of the Bristol dialect is the propensity of Bristolians to add an “l” to a final “a” in place of a glottal stop. This curious fact has led me to this post in light of the pandemic now about us;  Has anybody from Bristol  heard the word Coronavirus pronounced “coronalvirus?

Note: The title of this post is the aforementioned title of the book. It translates as, The correct way to speak  Bristol.


Leave a comment

Obscure words explained 82 – abracadabra

I have written three versions of this word because it is very complicated to explain in 17 syllables.

ABRACADABRA – Ab’r achad ab’ra (Aramaic and/or Arabic origin

1.Concerning the bull

it’s  the one and only one

a name for the sun

2. Used by magicians

to perform their magic tricks

a magical spell

3. A magical spell

inscribed on an amulet

to cure deadly ills

For those readers with a mind to do so, I hope you ask yourself the question: is there such a thing as magic?  Sir James George Frazer in his book the Golden Bough thought so.

He explained that contagious and homeopathic magic (both generally referred to as sympathetic magic) were valid and practiced throughout the world in one form or another. This magic (these magics) basically formed the basis of our religions.

I have always wanted to throw the cat among the pigeons Ah yes! it’s a full moon.

 


2 Comments

Obscure words explained 74. – thersitical

THERSITICAL

Scurrilous, foul-mouthed

words have  beauty all their own.

I say, bite your tongue


6 Comments

Obscure words explained 81. quiddity

UIDDITY

\The whatness of stuff

The essential quality

Of what something is


3 Comments

A departure

As a departure from my usual scribblings about unusual U.K. place names and Obscure words, I thought it might be useful to write something about my philosophical point of view.
I suppose my motive is to be better understood by the casual reader. For those of you who follow my blog, I am grateful and for those of you who add personal insight through your comments, I am uplifted and inspired.
A cynic or was is a psychotherapist recently wrote that the reason people blog is that they want, desire, crave attention. I am not sure that I can accept this; since I view blogging to be more of a means to communicate intelligent information and dare, I say spark interaction with random people in the blogging universe.
We are I believe living in desperate times.
As a citizen and resident of the United States I fear for the country. Of which I am a naturalized citizen, but I now have doubts.
I am living in what is referred to as “my Autumn years”. I had great expectations but, sadly I am disillusioned. I find myself living in a country teetering on the edge of collapse because of a narcissistic corrupt president who does not understand the necessity to follow the rule of law and to act in a dignified manner when representing his country.
My alternatives are many but, the most natural would be to return to my homeland The United Kingdom of Great Britain. However, there is political upheaval there too; for which I have no comment as I  am ignorant of all the facts.
Suffice it to say, I” m in pain. I feel saddened and frustrated by the state of world affairs for which I have no solution and see no speedy resolution.
What has happened to reason? Why is it that people no longer seem to be thinking rationally?
Well, I’ll leave that up to you to answer. Thank you


Leave a comment

Unusual U.K. place names 46. – Lydford Fair Place

LYDFORD FAIR PLACE, Somersetshire

In the Mendip Hills

Leisurely and Moderate

Great routes for runners


1 Comment

Minnesota Northwoods – Wintertime

I am looking at

silhouette of leafless trees

against dawn’s pale sky