Bicycle Boys & French Lettres

 Some of you may not believe this, but in my current attempt to learn French I've encountered an embarrassing difficulty. Chris and I are tutored by Liz, at home, and this Monday I just could not use fils and fille correctly. So Chris came up with this labelled pictogram on the kitchen white board. As a method it has several flaws the major of which is that I have real problems recognising what any pictogram is supposed to represent (witness my utter confusion in British motorway service areas as I drive the van studiously past the pictogram attempting to sign for 'caravans').  And personally I do not meet many 'girls' who  wear A line frocks, assuming such a thing exists. However, after five days of looking and reading and saying, it is beginning to work. 

 Walking past The Border Bookshop in Todmorden (61a Halifax Rd) I noticed this issue of The Boys' Realm, stuck awkwardly at the bottom of the window. It's a story of the 1908 London Olympics in which a Wiggins-like hero  snatches victory from Johnny foreigner!!! What super inspiration for young lads as they girt themselves up for August 1914. 
If only one could recall those Edwardian summers ...