Florijan Čehovin - Frjan
(1910–1993)
Florjan Čehovin – Frjan was a special village character but people loved him nonetheless. He was very childish, children loved him and he returned the love gladly.
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Frjan spent his life as a farm worker. He did all kinds of work, no matter how hard or exhausting. He lived alone in the Polhovi Homestead, leading to him living in a mess. However, he still gladly accepted visitors, always offering them everything he had. Most often, this was liquor and rarely wine. His glasses were always dirty however, which is why almost nobody liked to drink with him.
Frjan never went hungry because he was good at poaching. He knew all paths and trails, so he was never caught. He was not picky, often enjoying raw meat of his prey. He sometimes even liked to eat snake. He claimed that a dead animal was the most edible if it was buried for some time because all its diseases were transferred to the soil. He often dug out chickens or other farm animals that people buried due to disease. Many locals remember that Frjan once dug up a pig in Krajna vas and enjoyed it for some time, even though he did not have a fridge. Everybody knew that he was a real weatherperson, able to forecast weather for several days in advance. He enjoyed this and took forecasting to heart. If he ever missed a guess, children liked to tease him. He was always a part of the Teran Wine and Prosciutto Festival in Dutovlje, actively participating in each procession. He always enjoyed merrymaking with the locals and all who knew him. People liked taking pictures of him because of his bony figure and the expression on his face that showed that he lived a difficult life. Frjan was an unique figure of Dutovlje. Many locals still remember him as the village oddball and love to share interesting stories about him. |
Florjan Čehovin – Frjan died in 1993. Almost all the locals went to his funeral and said their goodbyes. However, his character still lives on because people still remember him as someone special. He was different, fair and kind, which touched on everyone who knew him.
Sources:
Naš Frjan, Branko Kjuder, Kraški tolmun 1/2010
Photographs:
Marjan Tavčar
Naš Frjan, Branko Kjuder, Kraški tolmun 1/2010
Photographs:
Marjan Tavčar