I am bored.

I am wound up.

I spent a significant portion of my time last night making weird noises and banging my head on the sofa.

Tonight I have wine.

Bye x

Language.
Why are we, the taxpayers of this nation, paying for documents to be translated into a veritable multitude of languages?

During a recent email conversation I found myself thinking how absurd the concept is. That is, when you delve deeply into the subject. I could have mentioned it in the email, but instead I wanted to explore the topic here. I will not go into great detail (alas, I have not the energy) but I will outline my case.

Now then, lets start with some praise. Helping new-comers to this country to know what is going on is a noble sentiment. Very friendly, very, well, probably very British too. But then where is the encouragement to learn the language of the realm (English)?

Surely by rendering it unnecessary to learn a language then you won't (unless you particularly want to, of course). Surely being able to converse with your adopted society is a prerequisite for becoming part of that society?

So, assuming (for the sake of brevity) that it is good to unite the realm under one language, why is the Welsh language given such attention? I don't mean to single out the Welsh, but it is they who appear to have put in the most effort to keep the language in use. The Scottish, for example do not, to the best of my knowledge, have bilingual signs (though they do have non English speaking areas like Wales).

I can understand wanting to save a dying language (another noble sentiment) but surely using a different language is accentuating the differences between the members of the realm? Shouldn't we be trying to unite these members since we are supposedly one great nation? Or do we want something like the Australian Commonwealth model?

But where do we stop? Where do we draw the line between keeping a language alive (which, from an academic point of view, can only enrich our appreciation of the world) and creating subdivisions within a united country?

In fact, where do we stop subdividing? England itself was not one united kingdom until late in the 9th century. Given that the Welsh language can be traced back to the original Celtic inhabitants of the land, and so can Scottish, then surely the English version of the Celtic tongue is the one the English should be learning?

But there is a problem with this. Nobody knows what the English Celtic languages were like (with slight exceptions that I would love to go into, but here is a link instead). It truly is dead. So we are forced to move forward in time. To the next language spoken. That of the Anglo-Saxons. After all, it was from these Germanic settlers that we get the name England in the first place.

So perhaps we should take on our local dialects of anglo-saxon (the sounds of which, by the way, are still evident today)? For me, it would be Mercian. Taking on sounds from the Viking north and the Germanic east. Read more here.

With all of the links I have had to include, I hope you can see why i can't go into that much detail. There is just so much and I do not have the energy or inclination to do it right now. However, any debate would be greatly appreciated.

Take care :-)

The Post That Was to be Called "The Right Thing to do is Rarely the Easiest".

Words seem to be flowing quite well today.

I have no huge rant about politics. I will, however, point you in the direction of WebCameron. Alas, I fear that this is yet another attempt to pretend that the people actually matter in politics. I'm not so naive as to think that I can be pleased all of the time. Difficult decisions have to be made and you're not going to please everybody all of the time.

In my shorter than average time on this earth I have witnessed things improve. I have also witnessed things get worse. I shan't bore you with the detail.

Well nobody seems to have mentioned the bank holiday weekend when I had guests. Yes, you read correctly, guests. They were well mannered, tidy and good company. I must admit to a feeling of sorrow when they left. Well, I say sorrow. I think they may have been quite glad after stopping up late to watch the complete Genesis of the Daleks episode.

The meal over in the "big city" was nice though. Talking of which, I have another one to go to tomorrow. Should be fun. I doubt I'll be stopping out late. I'm busy on Saturday too. I'm helping a friend move some things.

Talking of Saturdays (see how smooth my links are?!) I am contemplating joining a community project. It isn't my community (which kind of ruins the point) but at least I know that they will know me. Therefore they won't be quite as ready to think I'm some teenage hooligan. It's only a bit of gardening, but it'll get me out of the house.

Talking of gardening (see - you'd think this was planned!) I have to sort out the back garden. It's starting to look a bit wild. So I have bought a fork (the large gardening variety, not the eating variety) to dig up weeds and the like. Should be good!

Anyway, it's getting later and later as I email and write blogs, and email and email and email. So I'm wondering if I'll ever get to do the washing up! (Washing up being required prior to the commencement of cooking).

So goodbye people. Stay safe, stay happy, stay beautiful.

It Takes More To Amuse A Girl Like Me.
Hang on, I'm not a girl. Bugger.

Well it is indeed Wednesday. Thursday is tomorrow. I was meant to go to a seminar today but I didn't. So I've had a good day getting things done instead.

I have just cleaned my car's front and back windows. My hands now smell of the cleaner.

Yesterday I had minced beef, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, olives (green olives), and curry powder for tea. It was nice. I kept some for lunch today. That was nice also.

Today I have 90% movement back in my limbs after Saturday.

Might do a cottage pie type affair tonight for tea. Only with sweet potato instead of the usual variety. Again, I'll save some for lunch tomorrow.

After the essay I wrote in my last post, this one seems rather feeble.

I finally managed to attend choir practice last night. It was good to be back. We were given a new song to learn. It's a really nice song.

Something I have been contemplating is recording me singing these songs and then making them available online. Trouble is I don't want to 'dirty' myself by going to myspace but being an audio feature, I don't think YouTube is appropriate. Unless I make some sort of music video. We'll see. I have to upgrade my OS first and I still am in two minds as to what to do.

If I convert to Linux will I still be able to play my games? Cos I like my games. They are, after all, the primary use of this computer. Though I am looking to expand my PC's role. So the next upgrade is going to be a big one I think. I'll have to save some pennies first - and that aint looking likely!

Well, I'm off. I've been watching Dr Who and Snooker online. Ideal has finished now I think (I'll check in a bit).

How lazy am I today?! I can't even be bothered to go and research my ramblings.

t'ra