Long Live the Empire!

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In the 12th century, when Barbarossa was the Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire he built a Palace in Kaiserslautern. He had eleven children from his second marriage, and at least one illegitimate daughter. But the people of Kaiserslautern know better: he had many, many illegitimate children and he passed on his red beard to all his male descendants. To this day, the men of Kaiserslautern check for red strands in their beards – a sure sign that they are the progeny of the great emperor.

No need to mention that my husband is a native of Kaiserslautern and yes, before it turned white he had a fair share of red hairs in his beard. No need to mention but I did anyway.

FOWC with Fandango: Empire

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On Purpose or not?

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Those windows remined me of the origins of the city centre of Johannesburg in South Africa. When you look at the map you can see that there is wriggle in the otherwise straight grid of streets. Apparently the city centre was built from two opposing sides. On one side, a German engineer planned the streets and had it built. On the other side, an English engineer did the same. When they met they realised that metric and imperial measurements didn’t quite align. What possibly had started out as a decimal point difference had turned into a few metres or yards.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Misalign

Good Advice Is Good Advice

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I remember an interview with Meryl Streep quite a few years ago where she was asked about advice she had received from her mother. She mentioned two pieces of advice. I only remember one of them. Her mother apparently told her: “Never go upstairs empty handed.”

As somebody who’s grown up in a house with three levels I concur.

FOWC with Fandango: Advice

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What Should It Be?

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Pink or blue? Green or grey? German or French (or possibly Italian)? Truck or mini? Ford or Fiat?

I don’t mind. Next question: What flavour? Apparently, there are 39 flavours of ice cream. But how when there is only vanilla, strawberry and chocolate? I suppose there could be 39 flavours of ice cream if you mixed them up. Vanilla and chocolate. Strawberry and chocolate. Strawberry and vanilla. …” (with apologies to Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett).

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Flavor

Just Trundling Along

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If you read some of what I’ve written you might be aware that I’m also known as Knicker Elastic in certain circles, i.e. the Hash House Harriers. As it so happens, when I was hashing in Saudi there was a harriette (i.e. a female hasher) with the the name of Trundle.

So I give you: Trundle and Knicker Elastic, somewhere in the vicinity of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

Ragtag Daily Prompt: Trundle