A diversion on Welsh names

It is a law in Wales that everyone must have their names shortened if they possibly can be shortened.

My father-in-law Basil could not be Basil. He was always known as Baz.

Carol’s mum, Margaret was never known as Margaret but Mags.

Her brother Gareth was Gags. Alun (pronounced “Alin”) had to be Al of course.

Her sister Susan naturally became Sue.

Carol hovered between being called Car (by her Mum) or Caz but never Carole-with-an-e if you ever wanted to stay in her good books.

There is a family story that her Bampa (grandfather) got so bored with trying to remember all the names of anyone that he simply called them Dick. Whether male or female. Indeed, when I first met her way back in the 70s, her sister Sue also called her Dick most of the time.

I tried not to be confused.