5 things – 23 February 2020

In full disclosure, this hasn’t been the easiest of weeks and I suspect next week to be just as difficult – if not more so. Having said that, here we go – five of the things that have made me smile, think or wonder over the last week…

Weirdly, there’s a bit of a Scottish/Gaelic theme to these. #soznotsoz as my daughter would say. Or, given that I’m still faffing about with some Scottish Gaelic on Duolingo maybe that should be Chan eil Duilich…

1.What’s in a name?

After saying last week that I had no idea how my name would be spelled in Scottish given that there is no J in the alphabet, Natalie suggested that if Chevaune, a female name in (Irish) Gaelic means “The gracious God”, and Joanne means “God is gracious in English”, maybe Joanne is the equivalent of Chevaune.

That did, of course, send me down the google rabbit-hole. There were plenty of alternate spellings in Irish Gaelic (Siobhan, Shevaun, Shavonne) but the closest I found in Scottish Gaelic was Seonag, Seònaid and Siùbhan.

Just something else for the useless book of knowledge.

2. Outlander

It’s back for Season 5…which gives me the opportunity to post a random photo of Sam Heughan aka Jamie Fraser. This one is especially for you Leanne…

3. This completely hilarious video from BBC Scotland

Voice recognition technology in a lift…in Scotland?

Check it out here.

4. The album challenge

My cousin Sue had challenged me on Facebook to post 10 album covers that greatly influenced my taste in music. Ten covers in 10 days without explanation or reviews.

These were mine – in no particular order:

I had a lot of problems deciding which ones to include; I imagine that if you asked me the same question in 6 months my answer would be different again.

5. This Granola

It smells (and tastes) of orange and is seriously the yummiest granola I think I’ve ever had. Sure, it’s not super healthy, hello, it’s full of honey, but you don’t need much of it and it’s just perfect with Greek yoghurt and berries.

I’ll post the recipe next week, but it comes from the Fortnum & Mason cookbook my bestie bought me for Christmas and it’s now the only granola I’m permitted to make.

In case you missed it…

On the blog last week:

Okay, how was your week? What albums would be on your list?

Author: Jo

Author, baker, sunrise chaser

38 thoughts

  1. I hope next week is easier and not more difficult for you.

    I loved Abba growing up. Even now I occasionally play Abba while cleaning and somehow the cleaning gets done quicker and definitely more enjoyably.

    Ingrid

  2. Hi Jo, sorry to hear that life is a little difficult at the moment but always happy to read your 5 things. So you had me interested in the Scottish version of ‘Susan’ looked it up and it is Siùsaidh [Pronounced: shoosee} LOL:) I’ve just had some oats with yogurt and cinnamon so looking forward to your granola recipe. Take care, Jo and hope life improves soon. #lifethisweek

  4. I think music can be a big help when you’re having a bad week – even if it’s just to sing along in the car or dance in the shower. I also think the book of useless knowledge is your go to when people are being boring at dinner parties. Pick the weirdest fact you know and try to engage a stranger that looks equally bored with the conversation

    1. My thiking exactly…I have a theory that it’s all held is a separate part of the brain where you also keep song lyrics.

  5. Hi Jo – thank you for the morning eye candy – there’s nothing like a little bit of Jamie to get my day started with a smile. He (and Claire) were both fantastically well cast for the characters in the book – something you don’t often see. I haven’t watched all the Series because for some reason I preferred to read it rather than watch it (maybe the ‘grittier’ stuff was too confronting on the screen??)

    2. I have to admit to fast forwarding through the grittier stuff – it was confronting to read and more so on screen.

  6. Oh I had been meaning to watch that video 🙂 I hate lifts without buttons in them, they freak me out. I hope your weeks get easier soon.

  7. I’m sorry to hear it’s been a bit of a difficult week. That said, I love that you can still find things to laugh and smile about. I love your sunrise photos. That BBC video of the lift was something I saw a month or so and it was the funniest thing I’d seen in a long time!

  8. Sorry to hear it’s been a difficult week, Jo. I hope you had some fun going down the rabbit hole for names…My fault to lead you there 🙂 Look forward to your granola recipe. #lifethisweek

  9. Sorry to hear this week has been tough but I’m sure that granola made it a bit sweeter. It looks delish! And how funny is that Scottish lift video? It has me in stitches every time. Hope the week ahead is a lot more promising!

  10. Hi Joanne, Great observation for Natalie. Hilarious video! Looking forward to the granola recipe. Hope your weeks improve, Joanne. For me, present for the miracle of watching my grandson’s birth. Grateful!

  11. When I was anorexic in high school, my pediatrician told my mom to get me anything I wanted to eat just to get me started eating again. The first meal after my doctor’s appointment and diagnosis was a Big Mac, fries and a chocolate milk shake. Then, the next day for breakfast, I tried some of the Quaker Oats granola my mom had at home. LOVED it. Promptly began eating it everyday by the whopping big bowls full and gained weight. At first to my chagrin but later, when I was in a better place mentally, and emotionally, I was glad for the weight gain. Delicious granola.

    The video was good fun. I could listen to different accents all day. Might not understand a lot but it seems Scots and Irish and English and Aussies all have such lyrical ways of speaking.

  14. HI, Jo (or should I say ‘Siubhan’?)
    It’s incredible to me that you can write such a great post despite having not the best of weeks. Sending warm vibes your way for a much better week coming up.

    1. Thanks…I need as much good vibes as I can get at the moment! My mother-in-law is in hospital in Canberra and being 1500kms away is tough, but we’re here now for a few days.

  17. Sorry about the previous week…hope things are better but if you have been in Sydney…maybe still not so good??

    Our neighbours when I was growing up called their daughter Shevaun. Lovely name.

    Lorna who is this week’s Woman of Courage is Scottish and I love her accent.

    Thank you for linking up for Life This Week. Next week’s optional prompt is Taking Stock. Using words of your own or ones from other bloggers as prompts is cool. Hope to see you there: 2 March 2020. Denyse.

  18. So interesting about your name. Although I’m a 100% Indian I’ve always been fascinated by Gaelic!
    I thoroughly enjoyed the video. I hope you are having a better week!

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