Fifth Word: Companion

Companion: c.1300, from O.Fr. compagnon "fellow, mate, friend, partner" (12c.), from L.L. companionem (nom. companio), lit. "bread fellow, messmate," from L. com- "with" (see com-) +panis "bread." Found first in 6c. Frankish Lex Salica, and probably a translation of a Germanic word (cf. Gothic gahlaiba "messmate," from hlaib "loaf of bread"). 


Perhaps fittingly, Alex makes delicious cheese scones and we frequently eat them together. I guess he makes a good "companion." Hardy-har. 


This past Saturday was Alex's and my first anniversary. We celebrated our companionship by sleeping in late, going to the farmer's market near our flat, eating a yummy Italian lunch and going to the National Gallery for the Impressionist Gardens exhibit. While standing in line for tickets a women was leaving with her family and asked Alex and me if we wanted two free tickets that she had! We told her it was our anniversary so it was a great gift. We saved 20 pounds! The exhibit was nice but crowded since it was the last weekend it was showing. Saturday night we went to The Grain Store restaurant, courtesy of my family, for delicious food and wine. I got venison saddle and Alex got rump and shoulder of lamb. 


Sunday, we took a morning train up to Inverness, about a 4 hour ride north. The fall colors were beautiful! The train passed through valleys and gorges with a river running beside for most of the trip. The further north we got, the more barren the land became. Scotland had been clear-cut for timber earlier in its history and because of the short days and eroded soil regrowth was basically non-existent. The bleak and barren landscape was beautiful in a sad sort of way. 


Inverness was not what I expected. I expected a metropolis sort of city...much more commercialized and modern (don't know why I thought this). Inverness was a charming little town with a great river running through. We took pleasant walks along the banks with the fall-colored trees guiding us on. We missed the bus to Loch Ness but Inverness was cute enough to occupy our day. It was wonderful just being outside and feeling fall. 


As this post's theme is "companion," I'd  like to give a special shout-out to my sister, Sarah, who has found her companion in life, Mike. Congrats on your engagement!


Say What?


gorgeous: used to describe tasty food. So far, I haven't heard it used to describe anything other than food.

Pictures from this week:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2112612&id=15303278&l=1d77be7889