Yes, you never will know what is going to pop up next –
another type of series … short and sweet perhaps?! (Must remember this sentence!) …
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| 'miles ahead' |
I spotted that Usain had been to Waldensia Primary School in
the Caribbean – strange name for a school in (what was British) Jamaica … and
where had I heard that name before?
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| Waldensia's pupils singing their Olympic Dream song |
In case
you’re checking those little cells, it’s that man: the Usain Bolt – regarded as
the fastest man ever timed – that Usain … or bolting Bolt at all running
championships – Olympics et al …
Wracking my brains … but during my sojourn without the
internet I had been reading “A Time of Gifts” by Patrick Leigh Fermor … I
really needed the internet to reference so many words and places …
… the book has an amazing array of words that are no longer in
general use, but obviously were a hundred years ago … Fermor’s book takes us
along with him, aged 18 (1933), on a journey from England and London in the
1920s and 1930s to Istanbul …
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| The places he visited along his route (to the Czech - Hungarian border) are all marked - he wandered off up to Prague ... ... the only major deviation from the river route |
… starting at Rotterdam … I have only read the first book … up
to where he reaches Hungary … oh! by the
way he walked, and had very little money … but carried and wrote a diary en route ...
He follows the Rhine upstream … and generally wherever he
finds solace he stays for the night. He
has a great background of knowledge … architecture, art, genealogy, quirks of
history and language … he passes these thoughts on – just my type!
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| A Time of Gifts by Patrick Leigh Fermor |
It is fascinating as a book, amazing story … and then the
history of 500 or more years … we’ve been studying the Reformation period for
history in our University of the Third Age class – and have covered many
aspects of this period … the Hapsburgs, Luther, Calvin, Knox, geography, etc,
etc ...
Then the names of things – each country often names its
rivers, forests, area etc with its own name … ie. Vltava and the Moldau (Czech
and German names for ‘their’ river) …
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| Waldenstein Palace entrance |
I have digressed from Usain Bolt and Waldensia School … in
Fermor’s book he mentioned General Wallenstein (1583 – 1634), or von Waldstein,
as a military leader in the 30 year war, and politician in the services of the Holy Roman Emperor
Ferdinand II … hence I was able to draw a link … well to my memory if nothing
else!
The Waldstein Palace (Valdstejn Castle) was owned by the
Wallenstein family, despite falling into disrepair … but as the ravages of
Europe through the centuries occurred – the Waldsteins became Germanized,
expelled from Czechoslovakia and their possessions seized, moved to Salzburg
and Vienna – where some remain, but others returned to Bohemia.
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| Vltava River running through Prague |
Bohemia will get a mention during August … another connection
from Fermor’s book …
But with Usain St. Leo Bolt just about to go to the Rio
Olympics having easily won the 200m at the Anniversary Games here in London –
celebrating the London Olympics 2012 … I had to mention Waldensia – and that
connect the dots link …
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| 'Lightning Bolt stand' |
Also St Leo – I wonder if the St is pronounced Sinjun … as we
do here for St in a name … then that linked to hilarity … we know who that
belongs to?!
I popped off to look this aspect up … and found this in Behind the Name forum:
“Now I
mention just for hilarity's sake, if you've ever seen "A View To A
Kill," one of James Bond's aliases is 'St. John Smith.' When someone calls
him [SAYNT-jon SMITH] he corrects with the riotously English pronunciation
[Sin-jin SMYTHE].”
Wonders will never cease … well that’s me and the first Bran
Tub posting … allowing me to lucky dip ideas together …
My Bran Tub idea – hasn’t shortened this post … but looks like
the lucky dip concept will continue on …
Hilary Melton-Butcher
Positive Letters Inspirational Stories
