Discussion Groups / English Usage / January 2010

Count us out, we don't get it at all.  And hence don't like it.  But a
Welsh colleague quotes bits and pieces of it all the time with great
approbation and a general sense of hilarity.  Since we like him, we
tolerate the quotes and smile wanly when he does this.

S in B

I believe that's the third series, which is also, in an honourable
tradition of British sitcoms giving up on a high, the last.  You are
only five weeks behind us - the final episode (The Wedding) will be
broadcast this week.

I think I read that the US version is under development.  Now the crux
of G&D is the contrast of the two cultures - both bluecollar, but very
different.  Hang about, let's Google... right:

"Corden, 29, told The Times: "It's really exciting. The idea is that
Gavin will come from New Jersey, which has the same relation to New
York as Essex does to London.

"Stacey will be from South Carolina. They meet in Times Square. I hope
they keep the British names but they may have to change them." "

http://tinyurl.com/cbaky6
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/tv_and
_radio/article3495129.ece

Hmm.  I think that would be a story about a boy from New Jersey falling
in love with a girl from South Carolina, and that's a different story.
What you reckon?

DC, whose Dad used to take him to Barry Island beach as a sprog.
--

I studied mechanical drawing in high school and in engineering
school in the days when we used T-squares and drawing sets, and I am
only reporting the terminology I learned. "Pair of compasses" sounds
like antique usage to me.

Ironic? Moi?

Here's a nice example from a temperance hymnbook, courtesy of Ggle Books
(I'm pleased to see that for some scanned volumes you can now click a
button for plain text and also cut and paste)

--------------------------------------------------
AND ARE YE SURE THE NEWS IS TRUE.
Tune.—" There's nae luck about the house"
*' AND are ye sure the news is true,
And are ye sure he's sign'd ?
I can't believe the joyful tale,
And leave my fears behind.
If John has sign'd and drinks no more,
The happiest wife am I
That ever swept a cottage hearth,
Or sung a lullaby !

For there's nae luck about the house,
There's nae luck at a'
And ganes the comfort o' the house,
Since he to drink did fa'!
Whose eye so kind, whose hand so strong,
Whose love so true will shine,
If he have bent his heart and hand
The total pledge to sign.
But what puts breaking in my head ?
I trust he'll taste no more;
Be still, be still, my beating heart,
Hark! hark! he's at the door !

For there's nae luck about the house,
There's been nae luck at a',
And ganes the comfort o' the house,
Since he to drink did fa'!
And blessings on the helping hands
That send him back to me,
Haste, haste, ye little ones, and run,
Your father's face to see.
And are you sure, my John, you've sign'd ?
And are you sure 'tis past?
Then mine's the happiest, brightest home
Ont emp'rance shores at last!

There's been nae luck about the house,
But now 'tis comfort a'!
And heaven preserve my ain gudeman,
That he may never fa'
----------------------------------------------

I wonder what the tune is.

Another snippet is mystifying:    

"Be still, my beating heart, be still," she murmured, as she pressed her
hand against one of Ridley's thirty-nine cent corsets. ...

It's supposed to come from "Builder and wood-worker", 1882, but sounds
more like one of Peasemarsh's posts.

Ah.  Yes. Well spotted there, Jerry [turns up collar, whistles softly
and gazes at ceiling].

That's the one.

Ah, yes, of course, I'd forgotten Donne's young mistress' name.

DC

--

...Yet not undone when all was said, Anne Donne.