The Pedant's Revolt

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

In a certain Political Party -- to which I belong --- NO! not that one ! --- we have a newsletter, entitled "Focus".
When asked to deliver a few hundred of these, I refer to them as "Foci" , although, as a Microscopist there is only one Focus
I am elderly and confused --- No No Nurse -- NOT the SCREENS --- I don't want to die from "Painkillers" !

[englishangel]

http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tsunami

From "Recession"

[mvgrogan]

are you just waving to us?

[Fjgrogan]

I'm not sure if this comes under the heading of pedantry or not, but it is beginning to bug me that this forum doesn't yet seem to have caught up with British Summer Time. Is this a deliberate policy out of deference to our many overseas contributors, or is it just an oversight? And does anyone know how to change it anyway? I keep finding myself wondering who these sad souls are who have nothing better to do than post on this forum at 6am (obviously this doesn't apply to people in the farflung outposts like Thailand and Oz!)

[englishangel]

That is your personal time Frances, you have to change it in 'User Control Panel', top left just below the board index.

[Angela Woodford]

I keep finding myself wondering who these sad souls are who have nothing better to do than post on this forum at 6am

Ahem, dear Frances! What's wrong with waking early and feeling inspired?

[Fjgrogan]

Thank you, English Angel, I think I have sorted it - it took a while because the User Control Panel only shows when you are logged in, which I only do when I intend to post anything. Actually I am just a bit of a technical ignoramus!

Angela, nothing at all wrong with people leaping up early and feeling inspired - as long as it is other people! I used to think that 5 am was the best time of the day; I must be getting old!

[englishangel]

I am the other way round. when younger I was the world's best at staying in bed. Now if I am not up before 8 I thinkI have wasted the day. (and my back aches)

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

An American Cousin (A real one) of mine, once rang me at 3 am !
I asked him, if he was, as County Attorney for Orange County New York State, aware of "Time Zones " ?


I should have 'phoned him back at 3am ------ HIS time !

I didn't ----- Firms in the US, take a lot more notice of a letter with a US Attorney's letter heading --- if One has such a Relation --- Use Him !

[englishangel]

When we lived in the US my husband was at a meeting in London and at 1.00 am I got a phone call which I answered thinking it might be him. It was a company he was working with in Malaysia wanting to speak to him. I told them he was in London and they asked if they could have his number there. I said it was 6am in London which was 5 hours behind my time (hint. hint) and if they cared to leave a number I would get a message to him. Not one to take the hint, rather than just leave a number they gave me a really long message, which I then had to stay awake to deliver at 7am. (London time)

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

My Blessed and Angelic Wife (Put up with me for 33 years !) and I have a game with "Estateagentspeak"
eg; " Ripe for Development "--- a Wreck ---- "Compact" -----Small ------ "Bijou"---- Tiny ---"Rural Location"----- Isolated
"Period Features"---5ft 3in high Doors--- "Tudor" ----Black and white Frontage -- of whatever age.-----"Sea View"----From one corner of a bedroom, between houses and a school ----- That is actually one which we encountered !

Has anybody else got any of these gems ?

[Jo]

Not exactly estate agent speak, but my partner is partial to rather old fashioned pubs serving real ale. I have come to realise over the years that when he describes a pub as "genuine", he means a sh*theap, best avoided if I am accompanying him. He uses it on purpose now to describe a pub he thinks I wouldn't like

Some years ago, when my brother was married to the tackiest, stupidest woman in the universe (sorry, prejudices showing there.... ), my mother and I found we had accidentally evolved a shorthand expression for "isn't that the tawdriest bit of old tat you've ever seen in your life?" We kept finding ourselves saying "look at that - wouldn't A. like it?"

[Liz Jay]

Hi

There is of course a song about this....by Harvey Andrews on the "Somewhere in the Stars" CD.

Track 4: "The House Of Your Dreams"

Any more HA fans out there? We are admittedly a minority, but that's only because he remains uncharted territory to many, a couple of his songs are on YouTube and "Soldier" is worth a listen. Growing up an Army brat it is dear to my heart!

Love
Liz

[Ajarn Philip]

Some years ago, when my brother was married to the tackiest, stupidest woman in the universe (sorry, prejudices showing there.... ), my mother and I found we had accidentally evolved a shorthand expression for "isn't that the tawdriest bit of old tat you've ever seen in your life?" We kept finding ourselves saying "look at that - wouldn't A. like it?"

Thanks Jo - made my day!!!

[Mid A 15]

Hi

There is of course a song about this....by Harvey Andrews on the "Somewhere in the Stars" CD.

Track 4: "The House Of Your Dreams"

Any more HA fans out there? We are admittedly a minority, but that's only because he remains uncharted territory to many, a couple of his songs are on YouTube and "Soldier" is worth a listen. Growing up an Army brat it is dear to my heart!

Love
Liz

A blast from the past.

Yes I liked Harvey Andrews back in the day and once saw him perform live along with another singer called Derek Brimstone whom you may also have heard of.

I'll google the youtube site you mention in due course.