Alex an Sows

The River Medway in the centre of Tonbridge, the Kingdom of Kent Taken by my wife, Philippa

If you've received your languages A Level results today, congratulations! You've unlocked another world. You've gained an edge in multiple fields. You can communicate, negotiate and elaborate across borders. You can make connections where others can't. Your options are endless.

What’s even more intriguing is that “barvel” also turns up in Newfoundland English, where it refers to the leather apron worn by cod fishermen. The Dictionary of Newfoundland English identifies Kent as one of the sources, as well as Cornwall. Maybe carried over there by Kentish fishermen too?

One of my favourite finds in Dr. Samuel Pegge’s “Alphabet of Kenticisms” is “barvel”: a Kent dialect word for a short leather apron worn by fishermen & washerwomen (a “slabbering-bib). It probably derives from Middle English “barm-fell” (leather apron), fell meaning ‘hide/skin.

Bees struggle in this weather 🥵 We find a lot of bees running out of fuel when perched on our sunflowers Use a water bottle & fine spray the flowers, fruit, seeds (what ever stage they are at) close to the bee, & they will hoover them up & regain strength

Totally fixated on John Harris’s 1719 maps of Kent. They don’t feel like county maps so much as the opening pages of the Hobbit or the world map before the first chapter of Game of Thrones. Every manor, marsh, river and hamlet seems about to conjure up an adventure to go on.

Gibraltar’s chief minister made ‘sinister’ interventions to protect friend from police

Thousands ‘turn world upside down’ celebrating midwinter solstice at Montol Festival #Cornwall #Kernow 🔗: https://www.falmouthpacket.co...

Merry Christmas everyone! Nadelik Lowen onen hag oll! Ayiz un raide bouan Noué! Bon Nadau a toti!

A silence settles on ancient woodland at sunset The birds, already singing in hushed tones, go quiet as the shadows lengthen Any noise at all now alerts the senses of every living thing. The atmosphere is somewhat electric It is my favourite time

Howlsavla Gwav Lowen ha Mantol Lowen dhywgh ynwedh! Happy Winter Solstice to you, and Happy Midwinter Festival as well! 🎄✨♥️

It’s that time of year and there are still some Hoodening events that can be found around East Kent, including this one in Whitstable on Monday…

Two words which were used in Kent and not in other parts of England at the time of the Domesday Book were units of measurement. A sulung = the amount of land which could be by four ox-pairs A yoke = equal to a quarter of a sulung. Kent had a different system of land tenure, abolished in 1925.

If you are ever in Kent, visit Canterbury Roman Museum. canterburymuseums.co.uk/canterbury-r...

Good Morning from the Kingdom of Kent

Pan en vy flogh, yth esa lyver pur dhidhanus (gans awtour ostralek a vri) a-dro dhe gath a wor redya... 😸

Dydh apposyans Godhalek o hedhyw. Martesen re ughelhwansek o dhe skrifa neppyth yn Kernewek an myttin ma… My a brenas lyver nowydh. Mes yn py yeth yw skrifys, orth dha vrys? #Kernewek #KevardhuEbronLas

I’ve just had the privilege of presenting my cousin Alex Purbrick’s short film, “Dreaming of Danu,” at the end of a course offered through the University of Vic, Catalonia, by the How Timely Training Portal. The film is narrated in Shaetlans, and I’ve subtitled it into Jèrriais. Enjoy.

Is this a golden age of sculptures of, and by, women? Licoricia of Winchester, Jewish business women (d. 1277) & her youngest son, Asser. Sculpture by Ian Rank-Broadley, Jewry Street, Winchester (Hampshire) installed in 2022. Photo: Pat Goodall / Art UK.

Superb maps of Oxford's medieval Jewish heritage: www.oxfordjewishheritage.co.uk/oxford-jewis...

Shetland islanders accuse Tom Daley’s Game of Wool of cultural appropriation

Des valconmèrs ch'est les cheins tchi paient eune fais à béthe à tout l'monde soundcloud.com/jerriais/des... "Valconmèrs" are those who stand a round of drinks to everyone #Jèrriais

Brazil sees growth in number of #indigenous #language speakers tvbrics.com/en/news/braz... via @tvbrics.com #Brazil #langsky

Hispanic voters returning to the Democrat fold....? Surprise surprise.

Vakeres Romanes? Today is Romani Language Day! Romani is an Indo-Aryan language of the Romani people. The largest Romani dialects are Vlax Romani, Balkan Romani, and Sinte Romani. Many Romanichal in the UK use Angloromani words and phrases in their daily conversations.

So pleased to get my book "Travels through the Spanish Civil War". @HurstPublishers publishers have done a wonderful job in producing it. Advanced copies available thru www.hurstpublishers.com/book/travels... with 25% off with code TRAVELS25. Otherwise 20 November in UK/Europe and 5 Jan for US, etc

Academics in Assyria in the 7th c BC complain that admin is preventing them from doing research and teaching

Looking at a dictionary of Burgenland romani and came across cognates with Angloromani from my area of West Kent (on the right) dikal - to see, look - dik - gadscho -non-gypsy male - gorger- mursch - man - mush sap - snake - sap tschor - thief - chor (to steal) dilino - stupid - dinlo

Did Mel Stride just say "This country is crying out for change"? Did he honestly just say that with a straight face? The absolute shamelessness of it! 🤣

The Gaelic language in education in Scotland. www.mercator-research.eu/en/regional-...

L’accent ch’ti est-il en train de disparaître ? www.nordlittoral.fr/266016/artic...

A new Welsh pharmacy network had been launched in a bid to increase the use of the Welsh language

J'aime ch'nna! New virtual pop band to boost the endangered language of Jersey, Jèrriais. jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2025/10...

My re dhallathas podkast yn Kernewek! I've started a podcast in Cornish! Just a bit of fun, where I read some of the texts I've written during my course, go over the vocab and read again so you get a bit of listening practice. Have a listen if you're interested. open.spotify.com/episode/27H4...

19 Oct 1651: The inhabitants of the Isle of Man rise against Charlotte Stanley [née de La Trémoille] Countess of Derby in the night #otd

Pur lowen ov vy! I'm proper chuffed my certificate has arrived, making my 3rd Grade Cornish exam pass with distinction a little more official! Now for 4th Grade!! #Kernewek #Cornish #languages

Iniciatativa pol Asturianu condemns the exclusion of the Asturian language from The Council and the Office of Official Languages. iniciativapolasturianu.org/lasturianu-e...

Llevolu'l Sumiciu Trasgu is similar to the lesser known 'el sumiciu' in Asturias, and like some other northern mischievous spirits and goblins, has its roots in Celtic mythology.

Update on the Cornish language collaboration with The Writers' Block.

🎶 Music and games – join in with parachute games, rhythm and movement to bring Cornwall’s creatures to life. 🗣️ Learn Cornish words – discover a sprinkle of the Cornish language woven into the storytelling. It’s free and fun for all ages, so come down to Kresen Kernow for some spooky fun!

Funding aims to inspire Manx language projects #BBC

Lochaber will be the epicentre of Gaelic language celebrations for the next nine days as the Royal National Mòd began yesterday

ELEN progress at UN as Spain adopts Universal Periodic Review recommendations for linguistic minorities. elen.ngo/2025/10/11/e...

It must be April somewhere in the world... www.bbc.com/news/article...

Right, enough is enough. This is the only flag I want to see. All the other flags are for flag shaggers. As a bonus, you get to see a beautiful white horse.

Badenoch: Let's build this country together. Rest of the country: You had 14 years to destroy it.

Book of Kells: exploring the evidence that points to Pictish origins in north-east Scotland. theconversation.com/book-of-kell...