Dear All,
I thought that I'd start a 'Did You know' Post, partly following on from other Posts, and partly as a Bit Of Fun.
Some of our Phases seem, at first glance, 'Odd' to say the least. Take 'As Sure As Eggs Is Eggs'.... Originally this was a Mathmatical Phrase- 'As Sure As "X" Is "X"', and refered to graphs, and Constants. It was Charles Dickens who 'Bastardised' it, I believe in Little Dorrit (I can't be sure here). Apparently 'everyone', simply Prefered, this version.
'To Set The Thames On Fire' another interesting one.... In days past 'Threshing', separating Wheat from Sheath (the husk), was done manually. A type of sieve, know as a 'Temps', was used for this. Young, and hard working, young men used to boast that ''They Had worked So hard, that they had set their 'Temps On Fire'''.
The Difference between 'Being Fired' and 'Getting The Sack'. In days gone by.... Trades Men used to carry a 'Sack' containing their Tools Of The Trade. If a particular employer, say a Thatcher, ran out of work he would return the 'Sack' to the Tradesman- such that he could find employment elswhere. If however the Tradesman had commited an 'Offence', perhaps Theft or other misdemeanour (especially if he had taken a 'fancy' to the Bosses daughter....) then his 'Sack' would be put on the Fire- such that he 'lost' his Tools.
The Tradition of 'Fish on Fridays' relates to the Jewish Faith, I believe. In the Bible, and the Torah, It Satates- something like- Fish Being Put In The Seas. (the day itself being Fri (y) Day. IF someone knows Better please do share.
The Idea of Christmas, being in December, is from the Early Church. Originally around the Winter Solstice, there were 'Lavish Celebrations'- lasting many days. The Christians, seeing these 'Heathens', behaving so 'Badly' put their 'Christ Mass Festival' around the same time. The Bible itself dosen't actually 'give' the Birth Date of Christ though, it seems likely, it was in the Warmer Months.
The actual 'Story Of The Bounty' is, quite complex, but let me Try to make some sense of it. Second Leftenant (I don't know if that's right... sorry) Bligh was given the Capataincy of HMS Bounty. Bligh was a Very Experienced Seaman- after he was set 'Adrift', probably in the Middle of nowhere, he managed to return to Endland- in one go- not 'losing' a single man. Flethcher Christian, on the other hand was a 'Fresh Out of Navel College' recriut, with NO 'Sea experience' at all. Couple, this with some months at sea, a Crew 'seeing' a Difference between Bligh and Christian....
The 'Very Bad Crimes', allegedly committed by Bligh, probably DIDN'T happen- though Bligh does admit to 'Imposing' a Strict Routine after such a long Shore Leave. The Story DID make a, very good, Movie though!
Jack The Ripper I'm NOT going into, there are just too many Conflicting Stories. Sweeny Todd... I'm NOT sure ever Really Existed, rather like Dracula....The Book was written my Bram Stoker- maybe Based on some Folklore Stories? Certainly the Transilvanian Tourist Industry is very glad of it.....
The most famous Detective, of all time, Doesn't exist..... Sherlock Holmes. Ian Flemming wrote 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'. King Alfred Never burnt the cakes, IF they were burnt, it wasn't him. Robin of Loxley did exist and his 'Lands' were taken by King John.
Well anyway, that's enough 'Drivel', from Me, over to you....
AndrewT
May 2021 Reading Rabbits 🐇📖
Today's powerwalk - first set of photos