What am I doing in such exalted company?
Jane, interesting isn't it, in 1968 when I was temporarily confined to a mental health establishment, they told me that I should naturally stop consuming the illegally smoked substance that was commonly used at they time but increase tobacco consumption to help steady my nerves given that I refused medication. I actually rarely touched cigarettes myself, had perhaps only had a few whilst at school and so hated incredibly smoke filled rooms myself that I rarely did myself. Within a year I was up to 40 Gauloise a day. One of the doctors recommended only that a Virginia tobacco might be (wait for this) a little more patriotic than foreign cigarettes!
And Ox-onion is a very large vegetable that really does make Ron cry, which is exactly why he is filling up (his eyes with tears) right now.
Hi Carol...
I had Testicular Cancer in my twenties, as a direct result of wearing those highly fashionable tight 'loons'... if that was a lifestyle choice then so be it.
Have to agree with you Emily in terms of medics general beliefs...for years there has been an agreed consensus regarding cancer. Not that people deserve it, but that there is always a reason, be it genes, lifestyle choices, geography (its known that you are at more risk living in parts of the UK west country because many properties are built over radio active rock, Radon), plus a miriad of other possibilities. Solid proof in some instances, smoking for instance has been proven...not all the others have.
As an Oxonion I can say that this word relates to the inhabitants of Oxford, and those who have studied at the Uni.. also as an adjective "Oxonian dialect".
Oxfordian relates to the Upper Jurassic period, and also the theory that Earl of Oxford Edward de Vere was the originator of the works normally attributed to the great Bard.
Oxfordien (ne) is French. I have lived in Oxford most of my life, and miss it dearly.... in fact I'm filling up right now.
Exon is French as in Exon Provence
I suppose that's lets the Aussies in with the National delight of VEGEMITE!
Hey that wipes out a family tradition! Or should that be 'wipes-on'?
Ah, I should have guessed.
Go on - what's an Exon?
Rule 24,608,804,202:
Oxon will always be used as the plural of Oxo, Oxos are the lines of a game of noughts and crosses.
LOL
I do not have a Masters because I went from BA to doctoral studies direct and after all of these years have no idea either.
Like it - actually it was late 1950's. God am I really that old?
Probably about the only things that were not in Latin if that was pre-mid 70s ;-)
Sorry about that Brian - another of the increasing number of 'Senior Moments'.
I went to both Cambridge and Oxford.
Quite frequently actually when I was a van driver for Dulux Paints! The only 'pieces of paper' I got from either were parking tickets.
Twas I, not David. Refers to the Latinised Universitas Oxoniensis and Cantabrigensis, so that being immatriculated into the university from which she holds a degree Catharine is an Oxoniensian and the other because I hung about on the Fens for a bit over 40 years and gathered bits of paper... Whatever. If the French think their 'big schools' are something then either of the English ones for steeped in tradition ad nauseam with one being worse than the other. For all of that it is still the world's top rated ressearch university in most league tables. Rule No 1. is, before declaring the superiority of French academica, take a good long dekko at the world league tables and probably then stay mum!
Pardon my ignorance David - but what is an Oxon and a Cantab? Someting to do with Oxford and Cambridge?
Sorry I was under the impression that the subject in hand was meant to be lighthearted.
I stand corrected, and will revert to abject misery and defeat, and place myself in the appropriate corner.
You are confusing two totally separate subjects. I thought your idea of striping off to show any problems we have collected along the way in our life, was in distinctly poor taste.
I have been working to stop the French misinterpreting EU regulations and refusing British pensioners the right to return to UK for medical treatment which they need and are unable to find In France.
This is an extremely serious matter which may affect any UK pensioner living in France and, if you choose to make fun of it, it says more about you than it does about me.
Did the same one without mentioning cottage pie or hachis parmentier with some guests who tucked in and scoffed the lot. I had actually made two because our two knock it back like food was about to disappear from the universe and they all but fought with the two visiting children over finishing it. I also did it with fisherman's pie. The fact of the matter is that I make both for my wife and children who got a taste before we came here and ask for those things from time to time and get it when it is my turn to cook.
On the other hand, I made and immediately cooked pasta for a couple who watched fascinated, having never seen it made before, and then told me the ingredients were wrong because it tasted different to the stuff from the supermarket. BUT, could I get a better or worse verdict out of them? Your guess is right, without even knowing what you will say.
With you entirely. When something is called 'le crumble' and then everybody says you have no idea, my instinct is to say 'fine, but change the name of that which is NOT crumble'.
I think it so fortunate that apart from a few cakes, desserts and a couple of dishes like kidgeree, I never eat 'British' food anyway, nor have I for around 40 now anyway.