Musings of an aging fan

We were discussing the name "Taruithorn" on holiday.

Book of Lost Tales II, pp 292-3
"Next, Horsa (Hengest's brother) is associated with Oxenaford (Old English: Oxford), which is given the equivalents Q[enya] Taruktarna and Gnomish *Taruithorn."
"Kortirion, ancient dwelling of the fairies, came to be known in the tongue of the English as Warwick; Hengest dwelt there, while Horsa dwelt at Taruithorn (Oxford) and Heorrenda at Tavrobel (Great Haywood)."

p347
Taruithorn, Taruktarna (Oxford). GL gives tar 'horn' and tarog 'ox' (Qenya taruku-), Taruithron older Taruitharn 'Oxford'. Immediately following these words are tarn 'gate' and taru '(1) cross (2) crossing'. QL has taru 'horn' (see Dramborleg), tarukka 'horned', tarukko, tarunko 'bull', Taruktarna 'Oxford', and under root TARA tara- 'cross, go athwart', tarna 'crossing, passage'.

[Poll #1505575]

[Poll #1256364]

On Friday morning I got up early, had a hurried breakfast, and went outside to de-ice the car. Wonder of wonders, it wasn't iced up at all! Possibly even better, although the drive was snowy, it wasn't freezing as well, and the roads were clear; and there was none of the threatened freezing fog, just some mist.

I made good time to Oxford, and dropped my car at the B&B; on going in to tell them I had done so, they brought me in, gave me tea and toast, and rang a taxi for me. This got me to St Catz in good time. (Thinks: was tovaglia here?)

A useful course on spreadsheet modelling followed: indeed, parts were very useful. I now have an online exam to do, but it's a nice exam; optional, no time limit, no limit to the number of times you can take it.

Then back to the B&B, where I lost my credit cards. An exhaustive search (with Creatrix's help, when she turned up) revealed them tucked into the cuff of my coat! Then out to Gee's, for an excellent dinner.

Saturday morning saw an extensive breakfast, then we went into town. We wandered, shopped, tried to see the dodo but failed (the museum being closed), then wound up at the Turf. narahtbbs came soon after, followed by rustica, the_marquis and na_lon, overconvergent, dreiviertel, megamole bringing pellegrina, chainmailmaiden and parrot_knight. Burton Bridge Damson Porter, Everard's Pitch Dark, and food followed, until the company dispersed to shop, transport banquet goods, check-in to hotels, or watch the rugby.

Then to the banquet, but this will probably need to wait for a second post.