The naming of my boat is causing me some problems. Originally I was to call it
'No Problem', but there are no less than six
'No Problems' on the cut. This is a problem. My next thought was to call it 'No Problem in another language. At present I am living in Saudi Arabia and arabic for No Problem is
Maffi Mushkila. Hence my screen name.
However after living in Riyadh for nearly three years I am not sure I want to have such a prominent reminder of my time here. Yes it has been fun at times but most of the time it's been frustrating (but that's a whole different blog).
I could call it just
Maffi, most people that know me on the system know me as Maffi. Maffi means no and I thought that was a bit negative. Yes is more positive and in arabic is '
Aywa'.
I had toyed with
Fi Mish Mish, 'not this year' due to the fact that my boat seemed a long way off.
What in my life would I be able to live with, what would be a name that would mean something to me and to others.
Sgt Pepper (I'm a great Beatles fan) hmmmmmmm. But there again Sgt Pepper already exists in Narrow Boat form, think again.
I have for many years been a fan of the late
John Denver. I could live with that. John was a great supporter of the environment, was involved in a Presidential commission on world hunger. Was one of the first to use his celebrity to bring world hunger to the public forum, long before Live Aid. John started the
Windstar foundation in the USA, a sort of international college of the environment. Running Windstar cost him personally $2 million a year, just as well at one time he was the highest paid performer in America.
His talents as a singer and song writer is how most people will know him. He had a tonal quality to his voice that could bring tears to the eyes of angels. That a simple '
Country Boy' could have such a great range is a testament to his commitment to give his public the best he could.
Boats by their very nature are feminine. Would a mans name really be appropriate? I dislike names which are an amalgamation of Mr & Mrs boat owner. These seem to me any way to display a lack of real thought.
I had thought of
ABWAN A Boat Without A Name, I offered it to someone else but it was declined, that could be a forerunner.
I still haven't come up with a suitable name, but I have a few weeks yet before it is necessary.