As I sup my cuppa, I’m reflecting on the fact that our cherished hosts down under are already gearing up for the arrival of 2013, while our westernmost colleague has barely finished with yesterday! While, not to be outdone in this race for the future, my internet account is already showing my debits for 2nd January. But hey! that’s another year, another krone!
Augustine, Beckett, Cæsar, Diogenes, Einstein…….
Now listen carefully. Your job is to find three more in the series. When you reach Z, start again but NO repeats. Yes, it gets harder after a couple of days. 🙂
Well it is either a few days early or four hundred years too late, anyway here is my old friend Nicholas Breton on Christmas.
Christmas Day
by Nicholas Breton
(c1554-1626)
It is now Christmas and not a Cup of drinke must passe without a carol, the Beastes, Fowle and Fish, come to a general execution, and the Corne is ground to dust for the Bakehouse, and the Pastry: Cards and Dice purge many a purse, and the youth shew their agility in shooing of the wild Mare: now good cheere and welcome, and God be with you, and I thanke you and against the new yeare, provide for the presents: the Lord of Mis-rule is no meane man for his time, and the ghests of the high Table must lack no wine: the lusty bloods must look about them like men, and piping and dancing puts away much melancholy: stolne Venison is sweet, and a fat Coney is worth money: Pit-falles are now set for small Birdes, and a Woodcocke hangs himself in a gynne: a good fire heats all the house, and a full Almes-basket makes the beggars Prayers: the Maskers and the Mummers make the merry sport: but if they lose their money, their Drumme goes dead: Swearers and Swaggerers are sent away to the Ale-house, and vnruly wenches goe in danger of judgement: Musicians now make their instruments speake out, and a good song is worth the hearing. In summe, it is a holy time a duty in Christians, for the remembrance of Christ, and custome among friends, for the maintenance of good fellowship: In briefe, I thus conclude of it. I hold it a memory of the Heavens love, and the worlds peace, the myrth of the honest, and the meeting of the friendly.
Farewell.
RIP Dave Brubeck http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2012/dec/05/jazz-dave-brubeck
Let’s be thankful it is almost over, unendurable politicking here.
We do have a couple of minor items left to deal with
That strange book Fantasticks, by Nicholas Breton (1554-1626) is something of a favorite. Not many people know about it, but those who do seem to like the archaic language and ritual cadence of it.
It is out of print, so since October I’ve been copying bits out, beginning with the section on the months, this is the third. There are a few chapters on special days, Christmas, Easter etc. so there may be a bonus post a bit later this month.
But for now here is December.
The pro-Independence Convergència i Unió (CiU) party fared badly at the Catalan election yesterday. Losing twelve seats it failed to win an absolute majority in the Catalan parliament. Spain’s Prime Minister, Mariano Rajoy, eager to keep the whole of Spain intact, toasted this ole result with the claim that “this was a slap in the face for Catalan independence”.
Rajoy’s dancing in the end zone might be short lived. Almost two thirds of the seats went to parties that back a referendum on independence. The CiU could join forces with minority parties to form a coalition that keeps the momentum for change on the agenda. Continue reading “Catalunya Rising”
Like it or loathe it, you can’t ignore it. The first nisser (elves to you) are now multiplying around the supermarkets to herald the season of ill-temper and untold misery for millions. As one small victim put it so succinctly: “dear santa, larst yere you wos a mean bogger.” But I bring good tidings. Yours truly, Janus Agonensis, is setting up in competition with the ageing Arctic benefactor. After all, two heads are better than one and my delivery service is syndicated to low-tax Amazon. So all you have to do is to tell me your deepest desires – which will be fulfilled, subject to your signed agreement to the terms and conditions detailed in a special app available from Boots and all good garden centres, price $49.95. Thank you for your attention and have a nice day. Welcome to the Agonalia! (see Wiki for assistance as required).
I used to enjoy the two fat ladies’ cookery programmes – mostly for their clipped vowels and social comments which had their roots in feudal practices long forgotten by normal folk. Unfortunately one behemoth flew too close to the flames and passed on to that Aga-equipped kitchen in the sky, leaving Clarissa bereft of her long-time playmate.
Backside’s a shameless name-dropper, so when he saw today’s headline about Princess Margaret (a lunch companion many incarnations ago) he insisted I should mention that the good lady was famous for putting it about a bit (and not just the smoke from her ever-present cigarette holder). So maybe we shouldn’t be surprised that a chap in Jersey claims to be her secret son. Continue reading “That naughty little sister”
Boadicea's Chariot 
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