Jon's Blog started 7th October 2007!

Tell us about life with your BX, or indeed life in general!
Post Reply
ellevie
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 657
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:10 pm
Location: Southampton

Post by ellevie »

The French name for undertaker is “croque-mort” which literally means “deceased-cruncher”.
The name derives from the ancient custom of crunching the toes of the deceased with the teeth to make certain that they were really dead.
Strange but true.
David

BX19TRS 118K E Reg 1992-2008
BX19TRS auto abs 96k F Reg
BX19TXD 150k K Reg
User avatar
Philip Chidlow
Over 2k
Posts: 11594
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
x 25

Post by Philip Chidlow »

So I guess (only a guess :lol: ) a French car breakers is a "croque-voiture"...
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
ellevie
Forum Treasurer
Posts: 657
Joined: Sat Jan 21, 2006 9:10 pm
Location: Southampton

Post by ellevie »

Well spotted :lol:

There's a more modern expression for undertakers called "pompes-funebre".
pompe= pump (also pomp as in ceremonious).
funebre=funeral.

This link provides a somewhat doubtful explanation of how this expression came about.
http://www.niouzes.org/sci-linguistique ... ebres.html

A loose translation follows,
QUOTE
In olden times, to make sure that somebody was quite deceased, the custom required that a person charged with this undertaking violently bite one of the toes of the victim (generally the big toe). If nothing occurred, the person was declared dead. It is thus from this that the name croque-mort (deceased-cruncher) comes. This office of undertaker, like that of the executioner, was passed down from father to son since time immemorial.

However, one day, there came a catastrophe: the last undertaker, although having had many children, had no son. His elder daughter therefore took up the office. But the first victim whom she had to treat was a man who had had a serious disease. Gangrene had partly consumed him and he had amputated both legs up to the thighs. The girl examined the situation and thus bit, with tenderness and precaution, the first lower member she could find.

It was at that time, and precisely in these circumstances, that we passed from the expression of croque-mort to that of funeral-pumpers.
UNQUOTE
David

BX19TRS 118K E Reg 1992-2008
BX19TRS auto abs 96k F Reg
BX19TXD 150k K Reg
User avatar
docchevron
The Immoderate half of the admin team
Posts: 7524
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: A Bucket of Fish
x 7
Contact:

Post by docchevron »

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

Almost makes dying and having your legs amputated worthwhile....

If she was fit anyhow..

I love stories like this, fantastic stuff.
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!

Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
M

Post by M »

Your wiring game is strong.

Better than when I laid a fairly standard lenghth of artic grade 13A cable to my shed for a light and socket - did it in a rush and always thought " I will shield that bugger soon and put it in some conduit"
Only I didnt and the rabbit ate through it :oops:

Crispy fried bunny. :(
User avatar
docchevron
The Immoderate half of the admin team
Posts: 7524
Joined: Sun Jun 04, 2006 7:03 pm
Location: A Bucket of Fish
x 7
Contact:

Post by docchevron »

Nice work dude!

You'll have yours finished before mine at this rate....

If you need owt else for it then after this weekends car scrapping party I shall be having another one in the coming weeks featuring the remains of a 16v.

Oh, have another Flexi clip in stock now aswell!
Smokes lots, because enough's enough already!

Far too many BX's, a bus, an ambulance a few trucks, not enough time and never enough cash...
User avatar
toddao
BXpat
Posts: 2833
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2007 5:01 pm
Location: The Hegau

Post by toddao »

That's looking good Jon. Maybe stick all the bits together to present them to the rabble in a field near Huntingdon in July :D

Darth Vadar wrote
Your wiring game is strong.
:D :D I find myself contemplating the leccy situation in my area too. Fusebox is 1950s kwality. Part of the 'German Economic Miracle' of the post -war era.
Complete re-wiring is coming. I hope I can make my 'wiring game strong' :D
Todd


this yellow writing is really hard to read
User avatar
Philip Chidlow
Over 2k
Posts: 11594
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
x 25

Post by Philip Chidlow »

Are they clear backed or white?
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
M

Post by M »

jonkw wrote:Designed to be stuck on the outside of things I guess!!
Image
et voila-vent
User avatar
Philip Chidlow
Over 2k
Posts: 11594
Joined: Fri Oct 07, 2005 1:08 pm
Location: Chelmsford, Essex
x 25

Post by Philip Chidlow »

vol-au-vent?



Image
• 1992 Citroen BX TZD Turbo Hurricane
• 2006 Xsara Picasso 1.6 16v
Post Reply