O 22, here we come! Instead of Happy New Year in your language, and because I learnt the word for ‘Good’ in many languages, I will try a way of wishing different people in Europe: French, Swedish, Finnish, Italian, Spanish, Greek, Irish, Polish, Russian; East Africa Swahili; Australia Wongatha, Ngarluma, Kaurna; PNG Tok Pisin, Motu; and Asia Bahasa Malay to have a Good 2022! Bon 2022, Bra 2022, Hyvä 2022, Buono 2022, Bueno 2022, Kalos 2022, Go maith 2022, Dobry 2022, Horosho 2022; Nzuri 2022; Palya 2022, Marni 2022, Waba 2022; Gutpela 2022, 2022 Namo; Baik 2022. [Comments are welcome]
Blogs
Z for Zazie

The heroine from the film 'Zazie dans le Metro' Appealed to me because she showed irreverence Against the authorities- an activity I cultivate. Coined in the days of the Absurdist Theatre, The era of my studies, to later climax Into the 1968 French revolution. With the cheek of a non-urban youth She embarks on a visit to Paris Embarrassing her uncle who, Though eccentric, found her Hard to restrain. Zazie performed aerobic jumps Over the metro barriers, Her cussing shocked His friends’ gang. Travel Man and IT Crowd’s Actor, Ayoade, confessed this film Changed his life. It did mine too.
Y for Yo-Yoing

She’s always lived in the small town on a highway. It has one set of traffic lights and little action. For one year she stands near the lights, spinning the yo-yo up, then down. As time goes, she has difficulty when cars approach The move called ‘sleeping yo-yo’ works best When there are no vehicles about. So she changes her tactic During the frequent gaps in the traffic She reels off a song as she performs, Playing ‘round the world’ motions When lights go red, she steps out humming in rhythm with her yo-yo until the lights go to green.
X for Xenophilia
1 2
I wave. ‘Hello, Heroes in comedy
guys! I’m back. or drama, baddies
Sorry, I missed perhaps goodies?
the last class, The discussion
I was sick!’ pauses. I say
They greet me. ‘We’ve looked
All in a circle. at films only.
The tutor starts. what about
Pleasant topic. the theatre?’
3 4
Nearest to me The discussion starts.
a student turns – And it involves me.
a look of interest! That’s unusual
‘Excellent point! What’s new? Topic,
Did you ponder tone, team or accent?
a play by chance?’ Could be the latter…
He has actually The foreign accent ?
heard my words! It sometimes is !
W for Water
The boat engine creeks signalling an imminent lock. A stillness follows allowing moments of discreet reflexion. This lull precedes a to-ing and fro-ing, a rhythm inapt to this boat’s magic allure when it floats over the expansive Rhine with no lock in sight, revealing to us all several picture postcard peaceful scenes. Early this morning the river managed to keep us well afloat. Castles emerged atop lush green forests while rows of houses came into view like decorated and gilded gems. Enchanted by this floating vision, I dream beyond the end of time and, breakfast, oh, dear I've missed it!
V for Vision
Arriving atop, I sit down. As I look up I take in a remarkable
dreamlike vision. Nestled against the river bank are three
pretty red roofed and yellow-fronted houses. Further back
there is a forest and on the side some lush green bushes.
Picture perfect. I take in the beauty of it, but soon
decide something ‘s missing. Not light nor extra
colour or features! I think it’s people.
The elements all make a lot of sense
Yet to create atmosphere you need
people. I long for the warmth
of human vision, touch
and talk. These make
life’s experience
complete.
U for Umbrella Words
The assistant can hardly see me. She waves pointing towards the bread 'Did you want the loaf sliced?' I nod, becoming aware of people queuing behind me, and quickly add 'And can I have two of these cakes please?’ ‘These are not cakes, they are gateaux’, she says. I shake my head in assent but I dare not point to the tempting curly pastry with shiny raisins in it. She’ll perhaps say that it isn’t a snail but an escargot. The next day if I wanted to buy an umbrella, would I call it a parasol or a parapluie?
T for Talking
You talk; some hear, some don’t. They have heard the words but not taken them in. There is no response. You shout. They turn around and ask: ‘What do you mean? You know they’ve heard you. You repeat the utterance so they don’t misunderstand. Later you start to talk again, but those people who listen rarely reply, you start walking around, flipping a hand up in the air as if you had nothing to say finally there is need for less shouting instead you stammer: ‘Just talking to myself’ shrugging your shoulders and flipping your hand in the air.
S – SOUNDS ON
His parents were not surprised when he first produced a podcast that became very popular. Being the youngest child, he often felt whenever his siblings left the house without him. He resented being left behind and complained to be pushed aside, as if he was unimportant. Around that time his parents noticed that he had developed some astonishing sound making techniques. He made nonsensical and blabbering noises. He created such racket and clangour that they needed to give him their undivided attention to appease his so-called solitude. His family had discovered early how much he needed to be heard.
R for Realism
This occurs when you don’t have anything on your mind. You've stopped worrying about every thing around you. you forget you left the washing out, you don’t bother to put a heater on because you can stay warm under the bed covers. There is no doctor to visit Catch up with a friend for coffee? Can wait for another day. Check the letter box? Nobody writes any more. Some vacuuming? You swept under the table the day before. Lunch? Sit up and watch TV with a sandwich and a fruit. Water? There’s always a bottle at hand on your bedside.
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