Protected: Word of the week: eye-watering
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“The Curious Incident”: the joke and the favourite book
Have you read “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time” by Mark Haddon? There’s a strong chance that you have. It’s one of those books that you are likely to have read even if you only read occasionally. If you’re over 40 it’ll be up there with “Fever Pitch” (if you’re a… Continue reading “The Curious Incident”: the joke and the favourite book
The Pre-op Transsexual in PC World
I feel like a pre-op transsexual in PC World. Let me explain. Some years ago I was working on a large IT Project for a well-known public body here in London. It involved visiting staff in many departments across many locations. Early on in the project I was made aware by a colleague that someone… Continue reading The Pre-op Transsexual in PC World
Conversation Recall: “Astral Weeks”
There are two kinds of people in the world: those who know what “Astral Weeks” is, and those who don’t. For those in second category, it’s an album by Van Morrison, a legendary singer and songwriter whose career now spans over 50 years. For those who know what “Astral Weeks” is there are at least… Continue reading Conversation Recall: “Astral Weeks”
Word of the week: conflicted
“Conflicted” was really my Word of the Year for 2012, the year that “The Iron Lady” was released in the UK. It features Meryl Streep’s Oscar-wining performance as Margaret Thatcher. I am a fan of Meryl Streep but was resolutely not a fan of Margaret Thatcher. I had to see the movie, like every other… Continue reading Word of the week: conflicted
“She’s just like Kathy Bates in Misery”
Many years ago, before we had children (when we used to go out at night), my wife and I had dinner with friends who lived on the other side of London. They were discussing their recent experience of “flat-mates from hell” and they described one woman as “like Kathy Bates in Misery”. We smiled and… Continue reading “She’s just like Kathy Bates in Misery”
“The bunny boiler takes it to 11”
“The bunny boiler takes it to 11”. That phrase would have made no sense 30 years ago. It might not make much sense to you now. I’m interested in how new words and phrases make it into common usage. “Bunny boiler” has become a shorthand for the kind of person who seeks revenge after a… Continue reading “The bunny boiler takes it to 11”
Conversation Recall: Truman Capote and Oscar Moore
In his Oscar-winning performance as Truman Capote (in the movie “Capote”) Philip Seymour Hoffman says: “I have 94% recall of all conversation. I tested it myself.” I say, as a joke, but not always inaccurately, that I can go 1% better than that: I have 95% conversation recall. Friends comment on it. It’s not something… Continue reading Conversation Recall: Truman Capote and Oscar Moore
“What a coincidence!”
Our friend Martha is one of our favourite people, always a very welcome guest. One of our shared dislikes is people claiming that something is “an amazing coincidence” when really it isn’t. “Oh, you’re a Pisces – my mother-in-law is a Pisces, what a coincidence!” That sort of thing. There are 7 billion people on… Continue reading “What a coincidence!”
“Do you want to go large for 30p?”
Do you want to go large for 30p? Well, do you? This has become one of our catchphrases, after an experience at Heathrow Airport. My wife and I (before were married) were travelling to New York for a few days. This was in February 2000 and on this trip we visited the Twin Towers and… Continue reading “Do you want to go large for 30p?”
The Compartments 