The Pedant's Revolt

[Angela Woodford]

An exciting Saturday!

My son Henry has completed five weeks of his initial Army training, and my current husband and I were summoned to Family Day at the barracks to visit and take out the SUT (Soldier Under Training) for the day.

Hey, how I have missed the boy about the place - tripping over the kicked-off shoes, large as canoes - following the trail of mugs, plates and crisp packets - inhaling the delicious aroma of his bedroom whilst attempting to find a piece of floor on which to crouch for the dubious privilege of fishing out the most worn undergarments for cleansing!

I was welling up and sniffing into a paper hanky within two miles of the barracks, as I clutched the carefully packed squidgy chocolate cake that I hoped would be received with Henry's customary enthusiasm. After an official greeting from Sargeant Edwards we were all allowed to mill into the living quarters to find our precious offspring. and there, doing "stand-by-your-bed", was Private Woodford, tall, handsome and splendid in combats, looking incredibly fit and well. So far he has loved the whole challenging set-up; has thrived on the arduous routine and holds various top marks in firing some ferocious weapon from a) lunging? b) sitting? and c) standing on one leg with crossed fingers. Or whatever.

And now (at last) we come to the Pedantic bit. All over the walls were lists and reminders of what the soldier should do in various perilous situations! I studied carefully an entire wall display on what to do when Engaging With The Enemy.

"SUPRESS THE ENEMY!"

Well, honestly. I felt the black felt-tip leap in my bag with its customary corrective zeal. The black felt-tip which has served me so well at noticeboards, on menus, and, above all, upon greengrocers' labelling attempts.

But I just couldn't do it.

It was my turn to have my careworn hand mangled in the crushing grasps of Sergeant Edwards and Corporal Milligan. My mouth opened to say "Just one point, gentlemen... there are two "p"s in "SUPPRESS"". But I just couldn't say it. My mouth opened and closed. Would I be condemning my son to fury, ridicule and some terrible corrective revenge? I heard myself babbling ".... very proud... most impressed.... doing well?....". Oh, alas for my spelling pedantry!

"SUPRESS". It's tormenting me still.

[Jo]

At times like that I usually console myself with the thought that I would rather they knew how to do it than spell it

[Liz Jay]

Hmmmmm....

At the dog show today, held at the splendid purpose-built MyPetStop faclity at Leeds, I noticed a new sign, neatly lettered up to be visible from afar...

"ECXCERCISE AREA"

Alternately winced and giggled all the way home.

And yet they have no problem with hydrotherapy, vaccination, and even Hungarian Viszla at that establishment

Liz

[lonelymom]

An exciting Saturday!

My son Henry has completed five weeks of his initial Army training, and my current husband and I were summoned to Family Day at the barracks to visit and take out the SUT (Soldier Under Training) for the day.

Did I read this right? Does he know you're thinking of swapping him?

[CHAZ]

Have you seen Englishangels new avatar. What a great, new haircut, All the long brown hair cropped for a new look.
SUPER!!!!

When did this change as I'm sure last week there was a duifferent photo????

[J.R.]

Have you seen Englishangels new avatar. What a great, new haircut, All the long brown hair cropped for a new look.
SUPER!!!!

When did this change as I'm sure last week there was a duifferent photo????

I WAS going to comment on Mary's new avatar.

Copywrite H.M.P. Holloway, perchance ?

[englishangel]

Thank you Chaz, actually just tied back, not cropped, though that may come soon. I am not someone who likes to look the same for long.

Leave it to JR to bring me down to earth with a bump after your kind comment.

[NEILL THE NOTORIOUS]

Angela--- God bless you for keeping your Felt Tip bagged -- and your mouth shut !
Remember that Sergeants are only one step from Divinity-- and embarassment is JUST NOT DONE !
If you ever tell your Soldier Son about this, he will agree !
My Children tell me I have now passed the stage of -- "Long-'aired young Layabout, wish I'd 'ad 'im in my Regiment -- made a man of 'im !"
As a 2/ Lt. the most important words I learned were ----- "Carry on Sergeant " !

[englishangel]

The latest ad from KFC where the guy is painting the room and paints a candelabrum on the wall while his girlfriend goes out for a KFC posh nosh.

"The new KFC panini" (showing one of the sandsiches)

"Try our paninis"

Panini is PLURAL you ignorami, panino is the singular.

[Jo]

The latest ad from KFC where the guy is painting the room and paints a candelabrum on the wall while his girlfriend goes out for a KFC posh nosh.

"The new KFC panini" (showing one of the sandsiches)

"Try our paninis"

Panini is PLURAL you ignorami, panino is the singular.

Hurrah - I thought I was fighting a one-person battle against "paninis"

[englishangel]

You, I and all the Italian speakers in the country.

[J.R.]

I don't speak eye-tye.

Is a single one a panina ?

[kerrensimmonds]

Quick, JR. Get behind the parapet. Mary has already said it's 'panino'.....

[J.R.]

..........but they do tend to change their minds, like their allegiences, at the drop of a sombrero.

(SORRY - Wrong country !)

[kerrensimmonds]

I must say I wondered if panini are ascribed a gender. For instance panino for a male one, and panina for a female one...
Now I'm getting frivolous/provocative.

Sorry Mary...