You Don't Know Me, Mr Cole

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Did you have this book? My brother and I had a couple of editions of 'Coles Funny Picture Book' - which was written and compiled by EW Cole and published in 1974. We used to pore over the pages for hours, curled up in the big worn out armchairs at our beach shack that overlooked a little cove called Tinderbox in Tasmania. Usually the weather was pretty dodgy in those parts - so holidays were all about playing cards, comics, board games and reading.

I really liked these pages with the long list of names and their meanings. I think it helped me to realise early on that what was written was not always set in stone or accurate . These pages taught me to ask questions. For instance, my name, Philippa, means 'Lover of Horses' according to Mr Cole. I am a lover, for sure, but not of horses. I don't even like unicorns.

For this reason, I always skimmed over my name crossly - and headed onto others, which for some reason I decided were MUCH more accurate. You know how earnest you can be about believing in things when you are a wee girl? Well that was me with the Cole's book. Even though it said 'Every Girls Name and It's Meaning' at the top of the page. And my sister's name wasn't there. Even though that made TWO inaccuracies de Cole - I still knew that this list was right in every other way. Because I really wanted it to be.

I also really wanted to be called Sophia (meaning wisdom). Or Miranda (meaning to be admired) or Violet (meaning... violet). Or Minnie (meaning little). I looked forward to changing my name by 'Deed Poll' - whatever that was - to something prettier some day (like Natalie, my cousin's name - also NOT on the list - so that's THREE black marks, Mr Cole).

I wondered at the parents who would call their child Brenda (meaning sword) or Pernel (meaning stone) or Una (meaning famine). It was amazing, as a seven year old, to note that Ann, Anna, Annabel, Annabella, Annaple, Anne, Annette, Annica, Annor and Annie could all mean 'grace'. Why not just call the poor girl Grace, I wondered? Oh that Cole's Funny Picture Book. It was full of mystery and information, I tell you.

So I give you the lists - so you can see if you are on them - or if you are another oversight by Mr Cole. And if you ARE up there in Funny-Book-Lights, you can see what you are all about, in case you don't know yet. Comment below if you are on there - and tell us what you mean!

xx Pip

BTW - If you look at the BOY list, you'll see Fingal (meaning white stranger) - we scoured the list when a stray, deaf, half blind white cat turned up on our doorstep when we lived in WA - he was named accordingly.

(Just as an aside, you'll be pleased to know that Googling 'Map of Tasmania does not reveal anything too... ummm... daring!)

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