A Beginner’s Guide to the British Language….

[mozart]

I can’t resist this, it’s ALL so true:

 

 

And it reminds me of a few comments on LSP where work has been described as “quite good”. Now to me, being British, that means “it’s ok but could be better”, but I’m led to believe that it really means “that’s very good”. Anybody care to clarify? 

[dennismcc]

Love it, ever so true.

 

Cheers

 

Dennis

[LSP_Mike]

One issue, is that "quite good" can be "good", "very good", or as you mentioned, "can be a bit better".

The latter can get some modellers "wrapped around the axle", so to say. 

   We strive to improve, are our own worst critics, and ussually see all the flaws in our work. A tricky proposition having that pointed out by any but our closest friends.

  

[thierry laurent]

Brit people are the kings of understatement...😆 This is one of the reasons why I Iove them!

[mozart]

54 minutes ago, thierry laurent said:

Brit people are the kings of understatement...😆 This is one of the reasons why I Iove them!

Good job you didn’t say “Princes” Thierry…..bit of a sore point here right now! 

[Duncan Doenitz]

I remember a tale from WW2 where a British unit reported via radio that they were having a bit of difficulty. The American general considered that they had everything under control while the British unit were in fact being hammered by German artillery.

 

If Britain were hit by the recent Jamaican hurricane, we would say it was rather breezy.

[Duncan Doenitz]

1 hour ago, mozart said:

Good job you didn’t say “Princes” Thierry…..bit of a sore point here right now! 

 

Well, he has displayed a lack of good judgement on the odd occasion. The King and his immediate heir are the right sort of chaps, so the monarchy is in excellent hands. 

[Iain]

I'm reminded of this, for some reason:

 

 

Iain

[CRAZY IVAN5]

3 hours ago, thierry laurent said:

Brit people are the kings of understatement...😆 This is one of the reasons why I Iove them!

Understatement? THAT's an understatement in and of itself and I love it! Kind of reminds me of what my favorite uncle told his combat controller in Korea once, ' I got 4 MiGs CORNERED up here, did you think you send someone up to help me out?" Oh, he was flying an RB-26C at the time, a real classic [ the request AND him].

[Greif8]

When my wife and I were newlyweds we went to England for a week.  While in London I had planned to visit the Imperial War Museum and as it was supposedly fairly close to the hotel we were staying at we decided to walk and ask for directions as required, (these were the days before smartphones).  After asking for directions for the second time, my German wife turned and said, "Ernest, why are you looking so intently at the people who are answering your questions?".  I told her I had to pay close attention while they were talking as I was having trouble following what they were saying.  She looked surprised and said, "But they are speaking English!"  To which I replied, "Exactly, they are speaking English - not American."  I had a good laugh while thinking about Churchill's famous statement concerning two nations seperated by a common language.  My wife is still somewhat preplexed by it all!

 

Ernest

[Duncan Doenitz]

If I can be somewhat rude, depending on which side of the pond you find yourself. I was in Philadelphia with a bunch of friends and one American chum commented to their partner that they were going to smack their backside. I don't recall the detail but it was probably a response to a cheeky comment or reply to a question. All good fun. What was said in all innocence was "I'm going to lick your fanny".

 

The Brits in the room nearly choked with laughter.

[mozart]

Yes, that would certainly raise a few eyebrows over here! 

[D.B. Andrus]

Quite good.

[Christa]

Long years ago, an English motorcyclist, Birkenhead born and bred, known to me for forty years, was seeking a parking spot beside the harbour in Peel, Isle of Man. I'll call him Alf. As Alf approached the fish yard behind the smoke house, a flatbed lorry was emerging carrying a modest yacht. At the bow of the yacht stood a young gentleman who held the erect mast's forestay with one hand. His other hand was in his trouser pocket. With a seasoned biker's habit of caution, Alf made eye contact with the driver before proceeding onwards at a brisk walking pace.

 

A second later there was a loud bang behind Alf's motorcycle, a whizzing swishing sound overhead, blue sparks crackled and fizzed along the low metal fence bordering the pavement (sidewalk) to his left and finally a power pole carrying electricity service lines crashed across the road ahead.

 

Alf stopped and dismounted. He saw the cause of the first bang was a felled power pole across the road between himself and the flatbed lorry, yacht and two clearly badly shaken gentlemen. Years as a telephone engineer could account for Alf's rapid analysis of the problem; power poles set in concrete rot through at the surface of the concrete, in that case the pavement. Telephone poles are set in earth for that reason. The emerging yacht's mast had contacted the power lines, straining them and causing those two rotted power poles to snap off and fall.

 

My friend's narrow escape did not excite him. He lifted his visor and approached the lorry. Addressing the shocked and trembling driver through his open window, Alf said, 'That's more mess than you can wipe up with a damp flannel, mate.'

 

Then Alf remounted his motorcycle and rode to my house for a cup of tea.

[LSP_Mike]

Quite.