So, day 23 and the letter W! Our options were:

Katy S – Where you at? How are your to-do-lists for life coming on?
Katy P – Who inspires you?
Fiona – Words – what are your favourite words? Both in English and in any other languages.

Katy to be truthful I have never had a ‘to do list’ like others do, or at least no discernable timeline (you know, degree, job, mortgage, house, husband…in whatever order that should be in). The only think I have ever really had on my list was travel, and we all know where I am with that! As for inspiration, I have NO inkling! Actually that’s not true, I have a vast list of people who inspire me, but not in the way you’d anticipate. Most of list comprises of ‘for the love of God don’t do what they did! which wouldn’t make the most stimulating blog.

So, words it is!

We were chattering about this at lunch the other day. Some folks understood instantaneously how you can take more of a fondness to some words than others. Others were of the attitude that a word is a word, how can you ‘like it’ more than another? I am in the former group. Some words sit better on the tongue, others have negative undertones which make them disagreeable (like moist…ugh!). I’ve already shared some of my favourite Welsh words, so today I’ll stick to English, which I quite like as a language really; we are spoiled for choice with several words for everything. For example are you sat on a chair right now? Or maybe a seat? Is it a couch or a sofa? Then we have words which seem too ostentatiouly flamboyant for their own good, like these

Have you ever read ‘The Chaos’ by Dr. Gerard Nolst Trenité? I blogged about it once. It’s a brilliant poem illustrating the English language and just how complex it is. If you have time I suggest you have a read.

Yet, for all its complexity and numerous linguistic synonyms, English is not all encompassing. Here are some words I believe have been omitted from our language;

Esprit de l’escalier (French) – Literally translated as “The spirit of the staircase”, which refers to all the things you realise you should have said after a heated conversation has ended
Wabi-Sabi (Japanese) – Basically means “a way of living that focuses on finding beauty within the imperfections of life and accepting peacefully the natural cycle of growth and decay.”
Hyggelig (Danish) - Literally translated would rely on your ability to word that feeling that comes from sitting in your cosiest place with your best friends and favourite food or beverage. It’s like cosy, but so much more!
Pena Ajena (Spanish) – With the Bristish love of cringe worthy situations we should definitely adopt this word! It describes how embarrassing it feels to watch someone else be humiliated.
Tartle (Scottish) – To hesitate while introducing someone due to having forgotten his/her name
Iktsuarpok (Inuit) – To go outside to check if anyone is coming

There are more, but I can’t find it on Pinterest (too many pins!).

This isn’t really relevant to my ‘favourite words’ but this was one of my favourite poems growing up:

The Word Party

(Richard Edwards)

Loving words clutch crimson roses,
Rude words sniff and pick their noses,
Sly words come dressed up as foxes,
Short words stand on cardboard boxes,
Common words tell jokes and gabble,
Complicated words play Scrabble,
Swear words stamp around and shout,
Hard words stare each other out,
Foreign words look lost and shrug,
Careless words trip on the rug,
Long words slouch with stooping shoulders,
Code words carry secret folders,
Silly words flick rubber bands,
Hyphenated words hold hands,
Strong words show off, bending metal,
Sweet words call each other ‘petal’,
Small words yawn and suck their thumbs,
Till at last the morning comes.
Kind words give out farewell posies.
Snap! The dictionary closes.

Have you heard of words we don’t have in English that you particularly like? Or are there any English words you’re particularly partial too, or dislike intently? You are only limited by your own vocabulary…come on readers, teach me something!

1. Had a really nice last morning with Nan, just kind of pootling about Grimsby. Sometimes you don’t need to do much to enjoy someone’s company.
2. Popped into the SU on my way back from up north! Got to see some of the old gang, catch up on the goss and say goodbye before my travels.
3. Saying hello turned into going out for dinner! Was really good to catch up with the old gang over burgers and Oreo milkshake!

A few pages in I discovered a poem, of all things!! Having giggled away at it I thought I might share it with you…

Boots
by Colin Forrester

There once was an old fellow named Antony Clair
And he was famous everywhere,
A conjuror of great renown
for he used to play with his boots

As he was walking down the street
he met a maiden, fair and petite
who thought it would be a very great treat
to see a man play with his boots

As he was slinging them around and around
down they came with a heck of a bound
right upon the head of her hound
who was watching him play with his boots

The maiden was with grief distraught
she swore she’d take the case to court
and have the man properly taught
how not to play with his boots

So seeing a policeman passing by
she shouted loudly ‘hi hi hi!
My poor little doggy has been hit in the eye
by a man who plays with his boots!’

They took him to the magistrate
and lodged him in the cell of state
and left him there to contemplate
how not to play with his boots

The case was tried without delay
In fact it was the very next day
The magistrate said he didn’t see why
a man should play with his boots!

Now Ant has gone to rest
of all conjures he was the best
for he slung them round with a special zest
these wonderful, marvellous boots!

I hope it made you laugh as much as it did me!!!