'I'm always looking for the Hows and the Whys and the Whats,' said Muskrat, 'That is why I speak as I do. You've heard of Muskrat's Much-in-Little, of course?'
'No,' said the child. 'What is it?'
- The Mouse and his Child. Russell Hoban.

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Thursday, 13 May 2010

Ik Vil Uitwaaien



We have had weeks and weeks of still, dry weather. But yesterday was one of those warm buffeting, blowy type of days. It was turning all the leaves on the strawberry tree inside-out and giving the french doors a good shake. Lots of autumn leaves have taken the opportunity to let go of their twig-endhomes and scuttle across the road or shelter in twitching drifts in corners of the garden. And the banana palm grove is all tattered and bending over under the lashing of the gusts. I'm feeling all twitchy myself and unsettled. It's a great day for going for a walk just for the fun of being blown and flapped around - what the Dutch call "Uitwaaien". I think it's wonderful to have a word for 'to walk in windy weather for fun.'!


6 comments:

  1. Sistertex13.5.10

    Lovely. Here it is spring, raining, cool, wet and very spring green.

    How are you feeling of late? Much better I hope.

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  2. rhymeswithplague13.5.10

    Careful there -- you don't want to have a mid-air crash with Mary Poppins!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Yorkshire Pudding13.5.10

    ...Yes winds can be enervating. They really get the blood pulsing - even hurricanes and gales. Is that your own drawing?

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  4. Graham Edwards13.5.10

    Fun indeed. I'm surprised that we don't have such a word on Lewis. Oh. Sudeenly realised that I shouldn't be surprised. No one walks in the wind here for fun. We walk in the wind here because it's the norm. It's just what we do!

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  5. Alden Smith16.5.10

    I did some cycling in Holland in the wind, I wonder if by cobbling together some of my very basic Dutch that "Ik Vil Fiets Uitwaaien" means 'I will cycle in the wind for fun?' - Fiets being the Dutch word for bicycle.

    I remember one day in particular where the wind roared unrestrainted off the North Sea over that low country - exciting.

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  6. Kate16.5.10

    Sis - thank for your comment. I bet you are enjoying some green there. How long before it starts to sizzle? I am very well thank you.

    RWP - she is one of my heroines. I used to say "Spit spot!" when I was a full-time teacher.

    YP - No, it's not my own drawing. I should have acknowledged it. It is from a little book with a long title: 'The Meaning of Tingo and Other Extraordinary Words From Around the World.'
    Speaking of words, doesn't 'enervating' mean the opposite of 'getting your blood pulsing'?

    GB - I have a couple of friends who were raised in the Shetlands... They often talk about the wind.

    Alden - that was really a super trip you did! It was great to read about it on your blog.

    ReplyDelete

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