Pitter-Patter

I went to collect a book I ordered from town this morning. It arrived via Collissimo last week and as there was no one here to sign for it I had to collect it from the post office. They keep parcels for up to 15 days which is a bit unfortunate if you happen to have just gone on a three week holiday (I should be so lucky...) After this, goodness knows what happens to them. Perhaps they feed them to the sorting machines.

On the way there I passed a splendid and ancient cherry tree covered in white blossom. It chimed with the high-mounded clouds passing in the distance behind it and there was a bird sitting inside, singing its heart out, intoxicated by the perfume of blossom no doubt.

And talking of chiming, I passed the place where my daughter used to go to creche. It's a french-run institution called 'Petit Pas' and I started wondering, when I saw the sign, if this is where the word 'pitter-patter' derives from. I've searched the internet but can't find any reference to the origin of this word, although there are plenty of references to "the pitter-patter of tiny feet" which may suggest it is the correct derivation as 'petit pas' is French for 'little footsteps'.

There's a whole list of what are called 'jingle-jangle' words here. If you like lists you might also like to check out Vitamin Q which is compiled by the Scottish poet Roddy Lumsden. He hasn't posted many lists for a while, but I notice he's recently started posting again.