Hoddyman Dod

Regular readers of this blog will be aware that my train of thought

tends to wander off down some of the less trodden paths of life

bordering, at times, upon the realms of pure fantasy.  Well today,

you'll be pleased to hear, is no exception.  I'm into toes but not in

an unsavory, fetishey sort of a way because all I'm concerned with

is their names.

Over the years, and much to the delight of my youngest grand-daughter

with whom I once shared this information, I've managed to name some

but not all of my toes.  The smallest on each foot rejoice, purely because

of their shape, in the name of tortoise toes.  The two either side of the big

toes are not only Celtic because they are longer than any other but also

known as diver toes because of their uncanny resemblance to diver's

helmets.  And no Camilla, there's nothing remotely rude in that.

Hairey horse "toes"

The big toes are the King and Queen just because I say so and the third

and fourth on my right foot are horse toes because they were squashed

flat by a prancey equine way back in my youth.  The remainder are

anonymous as they lack the shape, character or misfortune to justify

a name of their own.

Happy feet, I've got those happy feet!

I was a peace with the status quo until today.  Whilst researching the

origins of "hoddyman dod" (a word found in the old Norfolk dialect)

I came across a charming little "telling" rhyme used by generations of

East Anglian mothers to give identity and titles to their ickle cherub's

tiny pink toe-toes on their tiny pink tootsie wootsies.

Fearless Hoddyman Dod meets the Marsh Snapper

I should just mention, for what it is worth and in case you were wondering,

that a "dodman" or "hoddyman dod" is the vernacular word for the

common, or garden, snail.  To continue, here comes the Norfolk toe jingle:

Peedy Weedy

Pally Ludy

Lady Whistle

Lody Wassel and

Great Big Hoddyman Dod!

The famous Orkney "toe" stones

However I then discovered that in Orkney folklore they have a finger verse

which goes:  Toomikin, Loomikin, Langman, Lickpot and Peedieman.

Whilst in Norway their fingers are called: Tommeltott, Slinkepott, Langeman,

Gullebran and lille Petter Spilleman.

Norwegian "toe warmers"

Norwegian toes are also named:  Lilletaa (little), Tatilla, Tillaros,

Apalfru (Lady of the Apples) and Store stygge skrubbehester i skogen

(big, ugly horsey thing in the forest).  Whilst on Orkney their weird, horsey

thing is the fourth toe and "old madam" is the big one.  What do you call yours?

Acle Marshes - a dangerous walk after "tea time"

And finally, today's Norfolk dialect word of the week just has to be "mirackled"

as in "I think I've mirackled messel."  (I think I have done myself a mischief by

falling into a dyke due to one too many "cups of tea".)  We make a powerful brew

here in Acle where the marshes kiss the sky, and we've got an awful lot of dykes

too so "Mind how yer go now bor!"