HODGEPODGE JANUARY 7

 1. What are three words you would use to describe your 2025 ? 

Always the same .... 

2. I ask this question every January, and I always get comments about how we shouldn't be banning words. This is fun and games so just play along : ) 

Every January 1st since 1976 Lake Superior University has published a list of words they'd like to see banished from the Queen's English. Words may be banished due to misuse, overuse, or just general uselessness (go here to read about how the words are chosen). Here's the list for 2026- 

67 • demure • cooked • massive • incentivize • full stop • perfect • gift/gifted  • my bad • reach out 

Which one (if any) do you use most often? Which one of these words/phrases would you most like to see banished from everyday speech and why? Is there a word you think should have made the list? 

perfect, gifted. The others, except maybe "cooked" I would use, the other words I don't use and I don't care. I speak an English which hopefully everybody understands.

Anyway who speaks Queen's English ? Maybe in Boston, certainly not in Texas ! And here in Europe everybody speaks a different English, depends where he learned it. Even in the UK there are not many people who speak a Queen's English. Now we should say King's English, because the Queen is in heaven or hell. 

3. What are your nightly rituals? Is that different from your 'ideal' nightly ritual? If so what's your ideal? 

My nightly rituals ? I go to bed, read a bit and then sleep. After two hours cat Rosie jumps on my stomach to tell me that she wants to eat. Then I fall asleep again for 3 h and Rosie is again hungry. I have tried to not get up but then she meows until I get up, even if it lasts two hours. I need my sleep, so I give in. I have no choice we live in one room ! 

My teroriste

4. January 6th is/was National Bean Day. Do you like beans? Which one is your favorite? Last thing you ate made with beans? 

We call January 6th Epiphany, or "Three Kings'Day". The Tradition is to buy or bake a King's Cake (Galette des Rois) with something hidden inside. Not a bean but a little figurine. The one who bites on the figurine, gets a crown and is the King or Queen of the day.

 Last time I ate beans was probably last year !

5. Are you easily embarrassed? Elaborate. 

No, not at all, I assume 

6. Insert your own random thought here. 

Brigitte Bardot was buried today. I watched the funeral, it was rather modest just as she wanted. The coffin was made of woven willow, decorated with many wildflowers I had never seen anything like it

I have always admired Brigitte Bardot. She paved the way to freedom for all women; she lived as she wanted, whether people liked it or not. I think back then, when I was about 13, many people didn't understand why I admired her so much. She was so beautiful, and that's why she was hounded like an animal by men and photographers. I can well understand that she had had more than enough of this life, which was like a prison, she couldn't go anywhere. She turned her back on that period of her life and dedicated herself entirely to animal welfare.

Tonight I'll read again about everything she accomplished.