Magnon's Meanderings

Sunday, 29 March 2026

Given Names, then and now.

Just prior to upping-sticks and moving to France, I was teaching at the prestigious Prep' School, Windlesham House (above).

Recently I was looking at their Wiki site (to glean some info) and took a look at the list of some of the better known 'old boys'.

Amongst the more recent ones, whose names people might recognise, were Sir Michael Hordern, Duncan Goodhew, Chris Whitty, and Guy Ritchie. All with perfectly normal Christian names.

However, going back a bit, I came across Christian names that were much more adventurous. Imagine naming your son one of these....

Ichabod, Debonnaire, Roden, Saumarez, Lepel, Leveson, Colthurst, Hay, Osmond, Bentley, or Sutton. All more like Surnames than Given Names.

Just like the naming of Dogs, one needs to be able to shout a given name without either you or the Dog/Person feeling embarrassed. The name also needs to be short, sharp, and clear.

Imagine shouting to your son "Debonnaire (or Ichabod), come here; it's lunch time"; rather than "Billy, come here... etc". Whilst giving your sons (and daughters) interesting names, one needs to remember that they should be practical.

There was a recent trend for giving children the names of where they were conceived, so we could have had Bolton Brown, or Frinton-on-Sea Smith, or even Torremolinos Thomas. Not a good trend.

Wines were also popular for a while, and lots of girls were tragically named 'Chardonnay'; we even knew one called 'Chablis'.

So, when you're choosing a name, make sure the poor child won't be constantly embarrassed by shortening it into something obscene, or that it isn't a well-known Italian word for 'Ugly old Cow'.

Saturday, 28 March 2026

Muckle Flugga

The UK has some pretty rustic outposts, as well as a few very sophisticated, cosier locations.

One of the former (a lump of offshore rock, with a lighthouse), MUST, at some time or other, have been the subject of a national COMPETITION, to find the most appropriate name for an inhospitable island.

The island, which is part of The Shetlands, off the north coast of Scotland, is just about the most remote and barren place you could imagine, and one has to pity the poor builders who were sent there to build its Lighthouse.

Anyway, someone obviously won the 'Name The Rock Competition', and the lucky winner came up with the very appealing name of MUCKLE FLUGGA. A name, I'm sure you'll agree, that has a certain 'ring' about it.

The name is perfect; I couldn't have thought of anything better. And if you're thinking of holidaying in the area, contact someone who's bound to be called 'Hamish', who keeps the key. Accommodation is free, but you will need to sign a disclaimer against death, frostbite, boredom, and all forms of rock-inflicted injuries.

I can still hear my mother saying "Cro, if you don't behave yourself, I'll send you to Muckle Fugga".

"Oh...... NO!

Friday, 27 March 2026

Idyllic England.

This picture (below) is exactly how I remember rural life when I was small. We lived on the edge of a small Surrey Village, and our large garden backed onto open countryside. We also had our own Chickens, Ducks, and Bantams, as well as a large Veg' garden, and plenty of Fruit and Nut trees. So I'm no stranger to bucolic life.

Country life isn't all that different today. The Tractors are definitely bigger, and Hay Bales have changed shape, but otherwise life is much the same. Fields are ploughed, seeds sown, and crops harvested. Cows are still Milked, Pigs fattened, and Sheep sheared. Fields look much as they did over half a century ago, and their surrounding hedges continue to be trimmed. Rooks still nest in noisy gangs high in the Oak trees, and Rabbits run wild amongst the Wheat and Barley.

One of the few noticeable differences these days is the absence of Haystacks. When I was small, beautifully crafted Haystacks would always be topped with hay-sculpted animals and birds. Pheasants were a favourite. Serious competitions were held for 'Best Haystacks'.

The other major difference is that the Farmers themselves now all have glum faces, but the cause of that is beyond their control.

I would have quite enjoyed life as a Farmer. I did once contemplate buying a farm in Wales It had a lovely old stone farmhouse, loads of stone-built barns, etc, and about 20 acres of good level land. My only problem was that at 25 yeas old, I knew nothing about farming, so I bought a similar stone-built farm in S W France instead, which had just one Hectare of land; not all of which was level.

I grew Wheat and Maize, and I harvested an annual crop of Chestnuts from a small area of ancient grafted trees. And as I had been taught as a child, I grew all my own vegs, and had a run-full of Hens.

Farming runs in my distant family, as I imagine it does in almost everyone's families. I think I would have made a good 'arable' Farmer. No Cows or Sheep or Pigs; just acres of Leeks, Spuds, and Onions.

Now I shall never know.

Thursday, 26 March 2026

Joe Lycett.

You'll like this.

Funny AND informative is unusual. But here is comic Joe Lycett offering both.

Enjoy (I did).

Wednesday, 25 March 2026

Maxi-Luddites

It doesn't take a genius to understand that all of our Agriculture, and our infrastructure and domestic Construction industries, rely heavily on machinery that use fossil fuels; mostly Diesel. Without that fuel everything would grind to a staggering halt. I have yet to see any Tesla Tractors, Diggers, or Bulldozers around.

Luckily we have plenty of Oil and Gas reserves in The North Sea, but our LUDDITE Minister of Energy Security and Net Zero, the fragrant Ed Milybloodyidiot (above), wants to ban all fossil fuels, and use the light breeze and whatever sunshine we get instead. He refuses to allow our major Oil Co's to drill for our own fuel reserves (of which we have plenty); so we buy from Norway and elsewhere at greatly inflated prices instead. OK, being 99% 'eco' is a pleasantly endearing Woke idea, but we do need to be practical as well.

The most disturbing effect of their Net Zero policies will be on Agriculture. This bizarre government has already caused chaos by stopping farms being handed from Father to Son/Daughter by the imposition of crippling Inheritance Taxes; most farms will now have to be sold to pay huge tax demands. That, and the lack of Diesel Oil for their tractors, will soon bring UK farming to near STANDSTILL. How come that everybody seems to understand this, other than our current bunch of blinkered politicians?

It is no secret that the world's major manufacturers and suppliers of Milifool's beloved Wind turbines and Solar panels are CHINESE. For some strange reason, our politicians prefer to support THEIR economy rather than our own. No wonder that Starmer was visiting China recently. Will we soon be eating Chinese Spuds and Brussels Sprouts?

And it's not only that. The next time you visit your supermarket, take a look at all the parked cars, and see the number that are either Chinese (EV's) or Japanese. Why is it that even our own citizens prefer to support THEIR economies rather than buying European?

All answers on a postcard please to The Luddites of No 10 Downing St, London.

Tuesday, 24 March 2026

Avian 'des res'.

I am 'now' successfully feeding our local birds (mostly Sparrows) at the front of the house, but I'm having less success at the back.

I installed this very well built and solid bird box about 4 years ago, and although it is in a secure position, it has yet to have any residents. I haven't even seen any birds having a tour of inspection.

It has a good watertight roof, the inside is clean and 'cosy', and it is situated away from prying Cats or Foxes. In other words (to me) it seems ideal for a blossoming family of Blue or Great Tits.

I suppose I could hang a seed-filled feeder nearby to attract them, but that may prove to be counter-productive.

Anyway, I've given it a clean, installed a 'Vacant' sign, and am crossing my fingers.

For heaven's sake; it even has Roses around the door (or it will have). What more could they possibly want!

Monday, 23 March 2026

An Essential Change to the Law!

On Saturday morning, I was waiting at a traffic light, when a man pulled-up behind me wearing the EXACT type of large pale-grey hoodie as this woman is wearing below.

Originally I simply thought he looked a bit of a plonker, as it was a lovely warm sunny day. But then I noticed him looking sideways both right and left.

As his head moved, I noticed that the hoodie DIDN'T. Meaning that he couldn't see anything out to either side.

Personally I wouldn't be seen dead wearing a hoodie, let alone wearing one on a warm day in a car. It's no different to a horse wearing blinkers.

So, here is an open letter to Lord Hermer KL, the UK's Attorney General....

"Dear Sir; I would be grateful if you would recommend an immediate ban on the wearing of 'hoodies' by all bike, car, and lorry drivers. It is a danger to other road-users, and other than looking ridiculous, it is also totally unnecessary. May I also recommend an 'on-the-spot-fine' of £500 (or more). Thank you; Cro".