“Ruritania” – ‘allusively. A state or country seen as a setting for romantic adventure and intrigue; a petty state. More generally: any imaginary or hypothetical country’ (OED). The mini-windows of Harrods are full of different takes on Ruritania, but all sharing a common theme of a silhouetted exotic palace in front of which are gold trees festooned with faberge eggs and, obviously, not cluttered with price tags. For the most part, these palaces all resonate of Arabian nights, but there is the odd Germanic looking one that could be based in Vulgaria. The egg theme runs through all the windows including one where Humpty-Dumpty sits regally on his wall surrounded by hens and silver eggs. I’m tempted to sneak up there early tomorrow morning and stick a poster on the window: Humpty Dumpty sat on the wall, Humpty Dumpty had a great fall, all the King’s horses and all the King’s men said “f**k it, it’s only an egg. Apologies for not accrediting this version of a well-known nursery rhyme but I’ve googled it and can’t find it. I think these days, that constitutes making an effort to find the author…
Day #100 of a 365 project, where the daily pic is informed by the OED word of the day.