ABC Wednesday Y is for Yan, Tan, Tethera

Yan, tan, tethera is a counting rhyme used by shepherds in different parts of England to count sheep. There are dialectic variations but the rhyming pattern remains consistent.

The Lincolshire version for numbers 1 to 20 runs Yan, Tan, Tethera, Pethera, Pimp, Sethera, Lethera, Hovera, Covera, Dik, Yan-a-dik, Tan-a-dik, Tethera-dik, Pethera-dik, Bumfit, Yan-a-bumfit, Tan-a-bumfit, Tethera-bumfit, Pethera-bumfit, Figgot.  It’s pleasing to feel these words roll off the tongue and good to know that English dialects and accents have not been completely homogenised.


You can read more about the origins and differences here.

I wonder how the shepherds involved in the following clip counted their many sheep?

Thank You to the Youthful Denise Nesbitt and her energetic team as they Yomp through the alphabet to host this weekly meme. Please click here to see more Ys.

SkyWatch Friday Season 4 Episode 14 Red sky at night . . .

Red sky at night, shepherd's delight . . .
Berkshire shepherds must have been thrilled when they saw these skies on Monday evening.

Thank you to the Skywatch team for organising and hosting this meme.

To see more skies around the globe please click here

iPod

I've just watched three really good podcasts from 'bestofyoutube.com'

Episode 419 was 'Parrot Tricks' and featured a delightful and intelligent green parrot with a striking red beak. The next most entertaining one, Episode 421, was the 'Rapping Flight Attendant' from South West Airlines and if you've ever sat, numb with boredom, while the flight attendant goes through the standard instructions, you'll appreciate this.

By far the best, for this watcher anyway, was Episode 420 by 'Baaa-Studs 2009' presenting 'Extreme Shepherding' in 'Extreme Sheep LED Art'. It's an amazing, clever video involving white sheep, black sheep, sheep dogs, LED lights, wonderful choreography, music and, above all, some very skilled shepherds. Heart-warming and thoroughly enjoyable entertainment!