In the last few days, I’ve been hankering for an English version of the expression Feliz salida y entrada, which the Spanish use in the days leading up to New Year. It just doesn’t really have an equivalent in English.
When you speak two languages, the second one changes your world view and gives you access to all kinds of expressions and ideas that you didn’t realise existed when you were limited to your mother tongue.
Continue reading “success and enchantment”
Well, that’s Christmas over for another year.
Or perhaps not. I suppose that here in the UK the holidays linger on through until tomorrow, although no one really seems to know what Boxing Day is or why we celebrate it, except that it’s the day the Boxing Day sales start and therefore an excuse to rush out and spend yet more money.
Continue reading “all over”
Well it’s Sunday and it’s Christmas Eve and there seem to be more cars racing down the road outside than ever do during rush hour.
In the supermarket yesterday everyone was dashing around with trolleys piled high. The couple ahead of me in the check out line spent over £500 and I’m sure they weren’t the only ones, though perhaps they were unusual inasmuch as they didn’t shop on line and they paid in cash. I’ve no doubt the shops are just as busy today, too, with everyone desperate to buy last-minute presents and terrified they might not have enough sprouts after all.
Continue reading “no rush”
This weekend sees the last full moon of the year and, once more, the papers are full of articles about supermoons.
I was wondering why no-one ever bothered about such things when I was a child, and then I happened upon this page on the time and date website, which says the term wasn’t coined until 1979, when astronomer Richard Nolle first used it.
Continue reading “what’s in a name?”
Autumn comes,
breathing grey mist through city streets;
he stamps in puddles
then laughs with sudden sunshine.
don't confuse the narrator 