Categories: uncategorized
Date: 11 July 2006 09:57:30
I was diverted on my way to work today. Diversions are good if they are the kind that distract your mind and help you forget that ‘Monday morning' feeling (which I experience on a Tuesday due to my extra long weekend and short working week). This was not that kind of diversion. This was the kind that involves walking down back roads I've never, in the twelve years I've been in this city, ever walked down before. This was the kind of diversion that was necessary due to the numerous ‘FFORDD AR GAU' signs I came across. The roads were closed to even us humble walkers. And my journey took an extra FIVE WHOLE MINUTES. And I was already late.
I've noticed recently how it's becoming more natural for me to (try to) read the ‘other' language on the signs rather than just the English. It's all to do with bringing up Little Sprout bilingual. I may not speak much but I'm gradually understanding more. ‘NODI' actually seemed to make a bit of sense yesterday when we watched it... or maybe that's because there's not really a lot not to get when the story is about a runaway train driven by TEDI.
Interestingly (to me, anyway) I learnt yesterday that a JCB is still a JCB in Welsh. I can't remember what the initials stand for. But it wasn't the same as the English. Geek that I am, I know what JCB stands for. The initials actually come from Joseph Cyril Bamford who started making the construction vehicles. This is just one of the three VERY IMPORTANT FACTS that I know about JCBs. The other two facts are that Nizlopi made an excellent single about JCBs with the BEST VIDEO EVER and that Jason Bird wanted to be a JCB digger when he was nine years old.
Jason Bird was a boy in my class at school. He is the only boy whose surname I remember. I may have spent ever break time playing with Austin and errr... I can't even remember the other boys' first name! But it's Jason's name that sticks in my mind. Because he was so obsessed with diggers. And because he was so upset that his middle name began with something other than C.
As I passed the JCBs this morning I wondered what Jason is doing now. Did he ever change is middle name, as he said he would? Did he become a JCB driver, assuming that he eventually accepted the fact at this was likely to be the next best thing to becoming the digger itself? Or have his ambitions changed in the 21 years since we were in the same class at school? I'll never know. But I know I'll never forget his name... after all, he was the first VIF that I knew about JCBs.