Tag Archives: scribedoll
Words and Civilisation: My Friend ‘Cox’
I have just acquired a new friend or, perhaps I should say, a new incarnation of an old friend. My old one has retired to a well-earned rest, after ten years of inexhaustible patience and loyalty, his jacket a little … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged books, culture, dictionary, english, French, inspiration, katherine gregor, larousse, life, musings, opinion, oxford english dictionary, scribedoll
2 Comments
Odds & Ends: A Green Pillar Candle
I am warming my stiffened fingers on the green pillar candle on my desk. Forest green. I bought it from Robert Sayle’s. The flame is dancing on the sloped ceiling of my attic room. The East Anglian wind is … Continue reading
Posted in Odds & Ends
Tagged american accent.english accent, cambridge, katherine gregor, king's college, la boheme, life, music, musings, sarcasm, scribedoll, sound of music
20 Comments
Words and Civilisation: A Smidgeon of Français
Say sidewalk, elevator or garbage, and the English will wince in disgust and mutter the almost unspeakable. “That’s American,” they will remark before casting you out of Society for polluting the purity of Shakespeare’s tongue. Using French, however, suggests to … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged english, foreign languages, francais, French, katherine gregor, language, londoner's musings, pronunciation, scribedoll
3 Comments
Words and Civilisation: The Kiss X or the X Kiss?
Who was it, that first had the idea of putting an x by the signature, to symbolise a kiss?In every social missive we receive, be it an e-mail, a card, or a text message, our contact’s name is appended with … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged cheek, katherinegregor, kiss, scribedoll, signature, x
2 Comments
Double Standards: 7 Inconsistencies for the First Week of the Year
Saturday: The country is being squeezed by financial cuts. Child poverty is rising sharply. The rate of unemployment is high. The cost of living is escalating while salaries are dropping. Yet, last Saturday, a six-figure sum (I could not find … Continue reading
Posted in Double Standards
Tagged adoption, bank loans, carrion, crows, fares up, inconsistencies, katherine gregor, krylov, la fontaine, london transport, magpies, scribe doll, scribedoll, wasting food
1 Comment
Odds & Ends: New Year’s Eve
When I was nine years old, and we were living in Nice, I would sit by the window, in my pyjamas, and watch the neighbours leave home to go to various New Year’s Eve festivities. The men all wore black … Continue reading
Posted in Odds & Ends
Tagged 2012, baie des anges, black tie, firecrackers, formal dress, katherine gregor, new year's eve, new year's eve party, nice, resolutions, rome, scacciaguai, scribe doll, scribedoll
5 Comments
Odds & Ends: Christmas Eve (Claws Sheathed – Promise!)
My Russian-Armenian grandmother celebrated on Christmas Eve. That was when she served the special dinner, after which presents were unwrapped. Christmas Eve was also full of mystery and magic. It was when Gogol’s witch flew out on her broomstick, plucking … Continue reading
Posted in Odds & Ends
Tagged armenian, christmas, christmas eve, crows, fairy tales, gogol, grandmother, katherine gregor, king's college choir, magic, russian, scribe doll, scribedoll, squirrels
2 Comments
Words and Civilisation: Words of ‘Comfort’?!
You’ve just had a major disappointment, heartbreak or mishap; or you’re just having a bad time. You’re feeling low, sad, upset or angry. Whatever the reason, you’re basically in a lousy place, from which the view is – begging your … Continue reading
Posted in Words and Civilisation
Tagged baileys, comfort, friendship, heartbreak, katherine gregor, nutella, riht thing to say, scribe doll, scribedoll, wrong thing to say
3 Comments
Pet Hates: (Some) Christmas Cards
No, I am not one of those people who get grumpy, depressed or reclusive at this time of year. I love, and always have loved, Yuletide. No, I do not like to see tinsel and baubles adorning the shops in … Continue reading
Posted in Pet Hates
Tagged bing crosby, christmas cards, energy saving, katherine gregor, king's college choir, personalised, saving trees, scribedoll, yuletide
1 Comment
Pet Hates: The Devil’s Demand (or Direct Debit)
When I took out a contract with my existing mobile ‘phone company, I was told that I could have the package I wanted only on condition that I paid for it by direct debit. No, a standing order was not … Continue reading
Posted in Pet Hates
Tagged agreements, bills, contracts, direct debit, katherine gregor, musings, scribe doll, scribedoll, standingorder
2 Comments
Scribe Doll 