Fa – the Green Dragon

A Place for the Odd Musings of an Expat Bristolian


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Unusual U.K. place names 58. – Godmanchester

GODMANCHESTER, Cambridgeshire

Durovigtum

Settled by Celts and Saxons.

An old Roman town


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Unusual U.K. place names 51. – Stow cum Quy

STOW CUM QUY, Cambridgeshire

Stow means a high place

Quy  from Cowey, cow island

cum Latin for with

 


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Unusual U.K. place names 49. – Ilchester

ILCHESTER, Somersetshire

Rome’s name Lindinis*

Saxon name Givelcestre

Fort on Yeo river

  • Sometimes Lendinis


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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


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Unusual U.K. place names 47. – Old Sarum

OLD SARUM, Wiltshire

Iron age hill fort

Hunters then farmers lived here

Settled since B.C.


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

LYDFORD FAIR PLACE, Somersetshire

In the Mendip Hills

Leisurely and Moderate

Great routes for runners


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Unusual U. K. Place names – Middle Wallop

MIDDLE WALLOP, Hampshire

Of three villages

old name Waella and Hop

Spring water valley

 


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Unusual U.K. place names 31 – Bungay

BUNGAY, Suffolkshire

Called Bucincga Haye

after Bonna, Saxon chief

Now a market town

Note: Met a fellow from Bungay yesterday so I decided to write this piece.

 


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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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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.