For many differing reasons, Architecture has been a hot topic Chez 6000 this week. And so when I saw this cartoon:
It’s a different approach, sure. And not to be a boar (sorry), but while I think that there is certainly merit in daring design materials like this, I’d still prefer to see some sort of solidity here.
Has the fourth little pig learned nothing – bad or good – from his three siblings?
A while back, I did a post on the most popular town names in each country in Europe. During that post, we discovered that basically everywhere in Europe is named “New Village” (in their various native languages).
Well, here’s another European place name map from the same people – it’s called … ok, it’s actually got a title on the image:
A quick count makes that 8 in Norway, 6 in Sweden, and one each in Denmark and France.
And look, there’s a reason for this apparent laziness (most of the time, at least).
Å (pronounced Å), is the old Norse word for a small river. And that’s why you can see places named Å all over Scandinavia. Many small rivers, see?
Likewise, Ö (pronouced Ö) is ta Swedish world for “Island”. And as any fule kno, Sweden has the most islands of any country in the world (267,570 to be exact), which does make it a bit interesting that there is only one place called Ö. It has 90 inhabitants.
And, oh. It isn’t on an island.
Though, as beagle-eyed readers might have spotted, it is just up the road from Johannisberg.
Wow.
Finally, there’s Y (presumably pronounced EE) in France. And I know what you’re thinking…
Y did they call it that?
Is it because pourquoi was too long?
Well, they named it that because – apparently – it’s the shape that the roads make in the village.
Mmm. I suppose it depends on how strong your medication is.
Mine is clearly not strong enough.
Tomorrow, 2-letter places names! Yes, this is going to be a series* until we get all the way up to that place in New Zealand.
Auckland?
No: Taumatawhakatangihangakoauauotamateaturipukakapikimaungahoronukupokaiwhenuakitanatahu.
Bless you.
Eish.
* it’s not.
It’s been a hot day.
Another hot day.
Mrs 6000 is partying up a storm at The Met.
Little Miss 6000 has been thrifting in Hippieville, man.
And the Boy Wonder has been doing Dodgeball stuff in the sunshine.
Me? I stayed home and kept the beagle company. Working through some jobs while I did so.
All the jobs are done, and I feel the need to sit down and watch a football match or two.
One thing I never saw in the UK was Ibises. Well, only in the zoo.
But we have a few types here in Cape Town, and this is (probably) the most common. Step forward Bostrychia hagedash – the Hadeda Ibis. One of the few local birds which has the same name in English and Afrikaans (see also Bokmakierie and Hamerkop), it’s named for its call. Honestly then, it should be the Raap-Raap Greer Ibis, but let’s not get picky.
These may be rather dull and drab, with a well-earned reputation for being very noisy, but they’re also curious, gentle birds and I love them. And their Linnean name (see above) sounds just like something out of a well-known book and film series about a school of witchcraft and wizardry.
We’ve got a few more that have come into our area over the last couple of months, and I would much rather have them here than damned Egyptian Geese or (more) Guineafowl.
So, yes: more of this please (just not at 6am on the weekends, thank you very much).
Wow. Look at that.
It’s the 23rd January 2025, and that means it’s exactly a whole 21 years since I upped sticks and moved from Oxford to Cape Town. A whole 6000 miles from civilisation… (if you can call Oxford that).
Since then, several (or maybe even more) things have happened, including marriage, kids, a beagle, a couple of houses, a cottage and maybe the odd Castle Milk Stout here and there.
Nothing special planned today to celebrate – maybe just an early night, given the lack of sleep this week.
But hey: here’s to the next 21.