I love that word folderol. I thought it was Shakespearean, but apparently it isn’t. When I looked it up, I was surprised that it didn’t come into use until long after Shakespeare was dead (source.) And here I was convinced that I remembered it from the silly songs sung by the Fool in Shakespeares’s King Lear. So while the fool was in fact singing a lot of folderol, albeit with some truth buried under the silliness, he wasn’t actually using the word. Huh. Live and learn, my friends.
And speaking of folderol and foolishness, when I quickly double-checked Shakespeare’s date of death, my search engine featured this AI photo of the bard. A photo. And not the usual First Folio engraving with which most of us are familiar. What in the name of all that’s silly and fake is happening? I clicked on the photo. And the resultant site went on to give further details about Will Shakespeare.
Apparently he was 5’7″ and his net worth was 1 million dollars. I kid you not. The writers of the site, and I use the term ‘writers’ ironically, also confuse the fact that his exact birthdate is unknown and has been estimated because of his baptism date, which is known (source.) And say instead that his exact death date is unknown, which it isn’t. Sigh. If I were still teaching I’d use this site as an example of why one should always check one’s sources. ALWAYS.
So. I’ve been enjoying the moon rising all week, friends. Mostly because I’ve been sitting, or lying, and reading in our sunroom in the late afternoon. My favourite reading time. And because we only have a light dusting of snow, the view of the moon rising and reflecting on the frozen river is pretty great. I seem to be inordinately fond of taking photos of things and their reflections.
I’ve also been walking this week. By myself, and one day with friends followed by coffee at a local coffee shop. Over coffee we talked about how our little village has changed in the past few years. For the better, I think. Oh, I know there is more traffic and less parking. Mostly because new housing developments have cropped up on the village outskirts. But Hubby and I like to cycle between and through all these developments on the new joined up cycling/walking paths. And the bigger population has contributed to the establishment of a couple of great coffee shops on Main Street, a few new restaurants, and some summer food vans and ice cream places.
All of this makes me happy. Now when I head into the village for my first summer pedicure, I always linger in town for a coffee and a stroll. Or I meet friends in the village for coffee or dinner, instead of driving into the city. Manotick seems to be a much more liveable village these days. One where we can stay and do stuff, instead of always going into Ottawa.
But the highlight of this week for Hubby and me was the family dinner we hosted. My sister-in-law, Jane, and my niece, Susie, were in town from Winnipeg and Toronto respectively. We were so pleased to see them and we had a lovely evening. So lovely, in fact, that none of us minded that I’d severely overcooked the vegetables. In my defence, I was distracted. And by distracted, I mean talking. Ha. We talked a lot. And laughed, and laughed some more. And we even ate.
My niece is a talented dancer with a long career in the arts who is now forging a new arts-adjacent, as they say, career path in her fifties. I’m very excited for her. And my sister-in-law always has interesting irons in the fire. Artsy irons, usually. She has long participated in the arts in Winnipeg, both in local theatre and choirs and whatnot. She and a friend even used to take part in the Winnipeg Fringe Festival.
Hubby and I are so very fond of them both.
You probably don’t know this but I didn’t meet my half-brother Alan, Susie’s father and Jane’s husband, until I was almost forty. The reason why we never met is a long story, and one I’ll tell you about at another time. I will say that we did finally meet when Alan was in Ottawa for his work one day in 1995. And having recently acquired my address and phone number from our aunt, our father’s brother’s wife, he saw that he was driving past the highway exit to Manotick. On the spur of the moment he took the exit, and rang me from a pay phone in the village.
To say that I was surprised is a gross understatement. As is saying that when he arrived, about five minutes later, I was nervous, excited, and very flappy, like my mum used to say. What an evening that was. He stayed for dinner, and we talked and talked and talked. It’s hard to believe that one can feel such a strong connection so immediately with a person one has never met, but that’s how it was for me.
I was still excited the next day at work when I related my evening to a friend and colleague. “And, and,” I said, “He has a Phys. Ed. degree, he loves to fish, and has been playing old-timer hockey with the same team for twenty years.” “Are you sure he’s not Stu’s brother?” my friend chortled.
Hubby, my nephew David, his girlfriend, Alan, me.
Photo taken by Jane.
We had a good laugh the other night at dinner about when Susie and I first met back in the nineties. Susie had just moved to Ottawa to be part of a modern dance troupe and, having been given my number by her father, she called and we arranged to meet for lunch. At the restaurant, the waitress approached our table, looking from one to the other of us. I should add that we were both blonde at the time. Anyway, the waitress said, “I have a phone call for a Susie Burpee.” And I quipped, “I’m afraid you’re going to have to be more specific.” Of course, I knew it was for Susie, because no one in Ottawa called me Susie. Now if we’d been in Fredericton, we’d have been in trouble. Ha.
This story lead us, the other night, to a discussion of names and nicknames. Specifically my name and nicknames.
Alan and Jane have always called me Susan. I don’t know how that came about. Most of my family call me Susie, as they have since I was a child. My cousins and my nieces and nephews call me Susie because that’s what their parents, my siblings and aunts and uncles, have always called me. My childhood school friends all call me Susan because that’s what the teachers called me. But my high school and university friends, and my work colleagues call me Sue. That started when a high school friend in grade eleven began to call me Sue. I didn’t call myself Sue until much later when I think I just capitulated to the most common usage. Ha. Hubby calls me Suz. Sometimes my step-father Lloyd would call me Suz, but mostly I got Snooze. I know. I answer to most anything, it seems.
So that’s been my week. Reading, walking, lots of talking, and some fun and folderol. I had intended to write about our trip from Spain to France through the Pyrenees, but I ran out of time. Hopefully that post is coming soon.
And now, my fine friends, it’s time to go. Time to close the big livingroom blinds. Light the fire in the woodstove. And bring up the drawbridge, as the Friendly Giant used to say.
Hubby is making me a treat for dinner. Hotdogs. What can I say? I’m a cheap date. Ha. And I have to make the salad and open the wine to breath, so I’d better end here.
What wine would you say goes best with hotdogs? I’m thinking Malbec. I’m not sure how it works with the flavour of Hubby’s Lady Ashburnham pickles, though. We’ll see, I guess.
Now, it’s your turn. What fun and folderol have you been up to this first week of December?
36 thoughts on “December Fun and Folderol”
I’m afraid,we’ll have in the future a lot more informations,photos and articles like the one you’ve picked about Shakespeare
Manotick was,before I’ve met you,always connected with J. London for me, from my childhood. It is lovely and I’m sure that it is nice to have both the beautiful nature and lovely coffee shops (at least for me)
Fascinating photos of the moon and the river!
Such an interesting and emotional family story (with a happy ending)
December seems always hectic to me-a lot of chores (it seems that all institutions find something that’s left to be done just before Christmas. I hate it!) and a lot of meetings with friends ,both with those who live here and more with the ones who arrive for the holidays
Dottoressa
Manotick has reached that lovely place where it is still really easy to get out in nature and easy to get back to the coffee shops and restaurants. Actually downtown Ottawa is similar for those who live there… it’s just a long way from here. I’m envisioning that lovely shopping/coffee district in Zagreb in the snow. Sigh. Pop in for a MaxMara cashmere sweater, and then off to lunch. 🙂
Your wintertime photos are beautiful . I’m sure we all envy you that view from your reading room . I’ve been reading the JM Hall books about the ladies in the garden centre cafe & really enjoying them . I’m familiar with most of the places mentioned in the books & can easily picture them . Meet ups with my old workmates are sometimes in garden centre cafes but we don’t discuss local murders . Not much of that actually goes on round here . I met two of my sisters this week for our pre Christmas gift swap . There was supposed to be some shopping too but we divided our time between the coffee shop & the restaurant- just talking . I won’t see them over Christmas as we are hiring a cottage in the little town of Ludlow again . We enjoyed it so much last year . Our Christmas’s were always we sisters together , which was great but the gatherings would be just too much now . Their kids have partners , kids of their own & various combinations of in laws etc . It’s exhausting & all revolves very much round the little ones , so we have started a new tradition . Like you & Stu we are very happy just the two of us doing our own thing .
Wendy,I love the JM Hall books,I was not so sure at the beginning, but now I can’t wait a new one
Have a wonderful time in Ludlow! Peaceful holidays are the best,I cherish making new traditions
D.
I agree D , I wasn’t sure at first but the characters have developed really well . Mr Hall gets a very ‘ Yorkshire ‘ feel in his stories too . I see there’s a new Peter Grainger coming along but it’s top price right now . I hope your Christmas is a good one & peaceful too . Peace is better than excitement these days 😁
Wendy
I just reserved some JM Hall books at our library. 🙂
Christmas for two in Ludlow sounds wonderful, Wendy. Do you have a restaurant Christmas lunch?
Well no we don’t . There are some excellent eating places in the town but our favourites for veggie food are not open on Xmas day . Traditional Xmas lunch is not much use to us – & top price for a poor veggie alternative doesn’t appeal . So we cook one of our favourite meals that doesn’t involve too much work . Plus we have one of my sisters’ xmas puddings for afters . We won’t go hungry .
I’d forgotten that you guys are vegetarians. I had a traditional pub roast lunch in my mind. Speaking of good veggie meals, have you guys even been to the vegetarian restaurant in Bath just around the corner from the cathedral… I think it’s called the Acorn? I’m not sure it’s even there anymore, but Elizabeth I went there when we were in Bath and my oh my it was delicious. Sp we went back a second night and neither of us were vegetarians.
Quels beaux paysages !
Je ne peux même pas m’imaginer ce que peut être le froid, sans doute glacial ,la neige qui tombe et la sensation de béatitude que l’ on doit ressentir devant son feu de bois.
En Provence ,c’ est encore l’ automne. Les feuilles changent de couleur et tombent.Les paysages sont roux et or.
Je travaille encore au jardin ,je plante rosiers et vivaces …
Ce sera vraiment l’ hiver vers le mois de février qui est le mois le plus froid de l’ année
Les manteaux lourds sont encore dans les placards…
Mais il fait exceptionnellement gris et pluvieux,chose rare ici.
Nous passerons les Fêtes a deux …Par choix …
Il est difficile avec l’âge de faire le lien entre toutes les générations en invitant tout le monde a la maison pour Noël.
J’ai décrété qu’après 75 ans ,c’ étaient aux jeunes de prendre la relève.
Mon choix a ete très controversé….
Tant pis ..
Il faut qu’ ils apprennent à se passer de moi …
Donc ,plus de problèmes de menu,d’ achats ,de préparation des chambres….
Je vais lire ,paresser ,rêvasser ,potasser les catalogues de plantes et de graines.
Rêver de printemps….hihihi et non plus de farce de dinde >.
Sounds lovely, Celia. By February we will be truly tired of winter and looking at two more months of it.
Thank you for your story writing. I so enjoy all you write.
You warm my heart. Thank you again.
Joan from South Carolina, USA
Thanks for the kind words, Joan. 🙂
Hi Sue
We are finally getting winter and cold weather in Alberta. I just returned from seeing the film Hamnet which you might enjoy given your comments about Shakespeare. You took some beautiful pictures. Would you let me use the last one4:53 as I would like to paint it. I would acknowledge that it is your photo if I did paint it. You can have a look at my other paintings on my website. I anm anlways looking for good winter pictures to paint. Enjoy the rest of the season.
By all means use that photo, Bonita. Good luck with the painting.
P.S. Can’t wait to see the Hamnet movie. Loved the book so much.
How funny, we dined on hot dogs last night as well. It’s a rare treat saved for those evenings when neither of us has the energy for anything else. Ours was served with carrot sticks and no wine, but I like the idea of that Malbec.
I am reporting back that Malbec goes well with hotdogs and toasted buns. 🙂
Here’s a hey nonny from England and perhaps a daffy-down-dilly as well. Interestingly I now find myself being called Anne all the time; in 1978 I started calling myself Annie in preference to my given name but it seems that people prefer Anne now, and am not sure how I feel about it. I certainly haven’t asked them to do it. Another strange result of moving back.
I much prefer Annie, Annie. 🙂
Folderol and Fiddlededee! 😉
🙂
What a lovely winter, holiday story. Your pictures are glorious. Thinking of enlarging one and hanging it on my wall. We had a dusting of snow on cars and grass this past week. Panic was palpable. Schools closed, businesses opened 1 to 2 hours later, etc. but it sure gave a warm, cozy atmosphere to all.
Love your blog and the info on Shakespeare. Thanks so much. Claire from Baltimore, MD, USA
“Panic was palpable” gave me a good chuckle, Claire.
Ah, families and their names for us! A fellow Susan, I was called Susie Q by my dad when he was joking around, but mostly Susan by my family. I took hold of my own destiny in high school and started calling myself Sue, which did not go over well with my English mother. She still calls me Susan! Ah well. Thanks for your post!
So many Sues about. As we can attest to from that “Sue moment” on the sidewalk in Toronto in June. Ha.
Sue, I so enjoy your writing style and I always read your stories more than once. There is depth and layers that I might miss reading only one time. Reading the thoughtful comments also prompts me to have another look. Though your professional life is behind you, you’re definitely still teaching.
And the pictures! 😊
Thanks so much, Cathy. 🙂
Enjoyed this bit of folderol…🤗.
Are you glad that you are not grading essays at this AI moment? My son and his wife are doing just that. They are both high school English teachers and the challenge is immense…and then when a protective parent steps in, it’s gets even more challenging. They both teach at a very progressive private school in Washington state.
Good to read your family news and see the beautiful views of your river. We are still in the high 60’s here in Southern California. During the American Thanksgiving week, I was in New York and enjoyed the chill and charm of a “historic village” about an hour outside the city. It was in the 40’s there. I enjoyed it all.
Looking forward to hear more of your last trip. You and Hubby really know how to travel.
Stay warm and enjoy that river view…
I had dinner the other night with two former colleagues, one of whom is still teaching. I do NOT miss all the marking. We were beginning to have real plagiarism problems a few years before I retired, so much so that we stopped assigning take-home essays to our senior students, and implemented in-class essay tests instead. Students were allowed to bring hand-written jot notes and their text to use for quotes to the class and it seemed to work fairly well. At least we had no copy and paste submissions anymore.
Thanks! Not certain what procedures they have put into place, but I’m passing that onto my son!
I just finished By Any Other Name by Jodi Picoult. I wonder what you would think of it!
Your photos are beautiful.
From a retired elementary school teacher in NH.
Suzanne
Susie
Suz
Thanks, Suzanne. I’ve never read Jodi Picoult. Maybe I should give her a try.
I was Kitten Kat according to my dad. My mother frequently would call us by whatever name popped into her head at the time. For some odd reason, she referred to me as Richard frequently. She had a preference for boys but was only blessed with two sons. We three gurls who followed were appreciated by her more in her later years. As far as recent activities….I’m trying to to stay ahead of the holidays. Gift buying, wrapping, baking and enjoying the time with my grands. It passes so fast! Love the views from your home. Something about living on the water is so soothing!
Yes, living on the water is great. I’d miss it so much if we moved.
What beautiful photos of your piece of river! The river looks like glass.
I was in Queensland for the first week of December enjoying lots of coffees and catch up chat with my son and daughter in law and loads of cuddles and fun withe our three grandchildren which included trips to the beach, parks and the pool. The youngest is four and endlessly entertaining.
This week we are in Perth, WA with our daughter and her much older children, the eldest being 21. We managed to time our visit to coincide with the younger one’s 15th birthday and will be here for Xmas as well. The temp was 32C here today so a bit different from your icy view.
So for me December has been all about family.
It will be a bit lonely for you when you get back home to NZ. Or maybe just restful??
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