30th October - -

-- and the month creeps towards its end – but its highlight gets nearer with Halloween almost upon us – except here it isn’t Halloween – but Hop tu Naa – and we don’t carve pumpkins but what the Manx call turnips – (but are most likely more familiar to you all as swedes.)  to make Jack-o-Lanterns. They are smaller than pumpkins of course – but make super lanterns – small enough to carry with a tea light inside, which is what the children do as they parade through the village singing the Hop Tu Naa song and I know there will be special events taking place at Cregneash on Saturday making them. I wish I still had children young enough to take along to join in the fun. It is likely to be very popular so it would be unfair of me to take up places that children should have but it would have been nice to be involved at least once, for such a longstanding Manx tradition. Its linked to the deep Gaelic roots that are still surprisingly close to the surface amongst the Manx born – and even Comeovers like me feel their pull.

Hop-tu-Naa in Manx/English

Shoh shenn oie Houiney; Hop-tu-naa
This is old Hollantide night; Hop-tu-naa
T'an eayst soilshean; Trol-la-laa.
The moon shines bright; Trol-la-laa.
Kellagh ny kiarkyn; Hop-tu-naa.
Cock of the hens; Hop-tu-naa
Shibber ny gauin; Trol-la-laa.
Supper of the heifer; Trol-la-laa.
'Cre'n gauin marr mayd ? Hop-tu-naa.
Which heifer shall we kill? Hop-tu-naa
Yn gauin veg vreac. Trol-la-laa.
The little speckled heifer. Trol-la-laa.
Yn chione kerroo, Hop-tu-naa.
The fore-quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Ver mayd 'sy phot diu; Trol-la-laa.
We'll put in the pot for you. Trol-la-laa.
Yn kerroo veg cooyl, Hop-tu-naa.
The little hind quarter, Hop-tu-naa
Cur dooin, cur dooin. Trol-la-laa.
Give to us, give to us. Trol-la-laa.
Hayst mee yn anvroie, Hop-tu-naa.
I tasted the broth, Hop-tu-naa
Scoald mee my hengey, Trol-la-laa.
I scalded my tongue, Trol-la-laa.
Ro'e mee gys y chibber, Hop-tu-naa.
I ran to the well, Hop-tu-naa
As diu mee my haie, Trol-la-laa.
And drank my fill; Trol-la-laa.
Er my raad thie, Hop-tu-naa.
On my way back, Hop-tu-naa
Veeit mee kayt-vuitsh; Trol-la-laa.
I met a witch cat; Trol-la-laa.
Va yn chayt-scryssey, Hop-tu-naa.
The cat began to grin, Hop-tu-naa
As ren mee roie ersooyl. Trol-la-laa.
And I ran away. Trol-la-laa.
Cre'n raad ren oo roie Hop-tu-naa.
Where did you run to? Hop-tu-naa
Roie mee gys Albin. Trol-la-laa.
I ran to Scotland. Trol-la-laa.
Cred v'ad jannoo ayns shen ? Hop-til-naa
What were they doing there? Hop-til-naa
Fuinney bonnagyn as rostey sthalgyn. Trol-la-laa.
Baking bannocks and roasting collops. Trol-la-laa.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.
Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa
(Loayrt)

My ta shiu goll dy chur red erbee dooin, cur dooin tappee eh,

Ny vees mayd ersooyl liorish soilshey yn cayst

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.

(Spoken)

If you are going to give us anything, give it us soon,

Or we'll be away by the light of the moon.

Hop-tu-naa, Trol-la-laa.

For anyone interested – Hop-tu-naa is older than Halloween – see here
please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.
Gura mie ayd, J x

October

A golden day today - -October is creeping to an end and today has given me one of those beautiful autumn days full of "sunshine after the rain" - it tempted me outside with my camera so off I went down the glen - my favourite walk of course - so much so that is known as "mum's walk" in our house!

I can make it last as long as I want it  to - from a quick 20 minutes when I am short of time, to a whole afternoon walking along the coast path. I am so fortunate to have the paths on my doorstep as it were - not only is the scenery totally uplifting (whatever the weather) but I get to see so much wildlife from the tiniest of creatures to the one of the largest. I do so love my island home!!

Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by :)

Gura mie ayd J X

A wet start - -

- - to my day today and the quiet day of yesterday has been replaced with wind & rain - a very autumnal day in fact since all the colours of the season are intensified by the dampness. It is a wee bit brighter outside than earlier so I might just get out for a breath of fresh air if I am lucky - I'm keeping my eye on the window anyway!

I have had a productive morning craftwise as I have finished my little box I started covering yesterday and cut all the papers to size for our Allday Crop in November.
It's my turn to run the classes for this one and I am hoping our ladies like what we have chosen for the projects. I can't take credit for the designs as I know I have seen several similar projects out there already on the net - but the instructions are mine - in step by step "Yellow Brick Roads" (you know - one brick at a time - Follow the Yellow Brick Road - from The Wizard of Oz! ). I can't share the mini album yet - but this is one I made in the summer when I was creating my instructions.
It's really brightened up - so I am off for a brief walk along the beach before the rain returns from the west - thanks for dropping in :)
Please feel free to leave a little comment if you stop by.

Gura mie ayd, J x

First lessons - -

- - the Blogging Blueprint landed in my inbox today from Shimelle's class - and true to form the clarity of her words and tips makes everything so easy to understand. She is a gifted teacher in my opinion - and as one of her regular online students I think I am a lucky lady to have her inspire me the way she does. Already I learned something I hadn't managed to find out for myself - so hope to improve both my blogs as a result of the class.

Its half term here - so I actually have a few days off - Hurrah! It does mean I can do a bit of crafting I hope - the trouble is time just seems to slip through my fingers like water!!
I guess I can live in hope though.
Thanks for stopping by.
Gura mie ayd, J x

Blogging for Scrapbookers

is a new class I just signed up for with Shimelle! Hopefully it will help me get nack on track blogging again!
I can live in hope I guess -