Saturday 31 August 2013

1053. Overheard on the London Underground (4)

'Ladies and gentlemen, we apologise for the delay, but there is a security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for the foreseeable future, so let's take our minds off it and pass some time together.  All together now:  "Ten green bottles hanging on the wall..." '

-oOo-

Friday 30 August 2013

1052. What we mean is what we don't say... (102)

What we say:  "I'll see you".

What we don't say:  Maybe.

What we mean:  I'm not sure I'll want to see you, or when, but saying that puts off the decision.

-oOo-

Thursday 29 August 2013

1051. Cuttings from British newspapers (5)

At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard and asked him to estimate the wind speed.  The latter replied that he was sorry but he didn't have a gauge.  However, if it was any help the wind has just blown his Land Rover off the cliff.

(Aberdeen Evening Express)

-oOo-

Tuesday 27 August 2013

1083. Overheard on the London underground/tube/subway (7)

Ladies and gentlemen, the beeping noise means 'the doors are closing, do not get on'.  It does NOT mean 'try to force your way onto the train and get your rucksack stuck'.  Please remember this in future.  Thank you."

Victoria Line tube driver, Victoria Station, about 10 a.m.


-oOo-

1049. Grumpy Old Quotes (28)

If God had meant us to walk around naked, he would never have invented the wicker chair.

Erma Bombeck. 
-oOo-

The series of Grumpy Old Quotes comes from "More Wrinklies' Wit & Wisdom", Compiled by Allison Vale and Alison Rattle, ISBN -13: 978-1-86200-331-6, published in 2006 by SevenOaks, which I thoroughly recommend.

Monday 26 August 2013

1048. Christmas spirit

Skinny bloke (22):  Wot you doin’ for Christmas den?
Skinnier bloke (20):   Nothin’ cause we’re Jewish, see
Skinny bloke:  So wossat gotta do with it?
Skinnier bloke:  Cos’ we don’t believe in Jesus.
Skinny bloke:  Wossat gotta do with it? In my house they’re all atheists, and we celebrate Santa Clause, not Jesus.
Gustavo’s comment:  There’s always a reason for raising a glass... 
-oOo-
(With thanks to Gustavo.  This was loosely translated from Gustavo's eavesdropping blog Blogudeces de la Vida Cotidiana)

Sunday 25 August 2013

1047. Kulula Airlines (29)

Kulula Airlines is a low cost airline operating in South Africa on domestic flights. Their novel approach is brightly coloured livery and to make everything humorous - either by the way they paint the outside of their planes or with their public address system. The word Kulula itself means "it's easy" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages.

Another flight attendant's comment on a less than perfect landing: "We ask you to please remain seated as Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."


-oOo-

Saturday 24 August 2013

1046. Welsh Idiosyncrasies - Nickname Series (115)

I worked with a man at the Celynen North pit who was called Dai One-Eater because he only had one tooth.

Norman Williams, Abercarn

-oOo-

Friday 23 August 2013

1045. At the traffic lights, Buenos Aires

Earnest lady, 49: See, first and foremost I’m honest with myself, then with others – and what I have to tell you is not to offend you because it’s true, and there’s no point in your taking offence, and anyway if I don’t tell you I’m offending myself

Gustavo's Comment:  What a pain – the lights changed and I had no excuse to continue my ear-wigging. She was a bit round-the-houses though, wasn’t she?

Loosely translated from a post on Blogudeces de la Vida Cotidiana, with thanks to Gustavo.

-oOo-

Wednesday 21 August 2013

1043. Overheard on the London Underground/Tube (3) - heading for Plaistow

Announcer: This is the next train to Plystow... or Plarstow. As you prefer, really. It's going there anyway. Alright, mind the doors, ladies and gentlemen, mind the doors... Or wait for the driver. He'll be ready in a minute. Yep, there we go. Mind the doors.


(He was still rambling as we pulled out of the station)


http://overheardlondon.livejournal.com
-oOo-
                             

Tuesday 20 August 2013

1042. What we mean is what we don't say ... (101)

What we sayI'll telephone you/e-mail you.

What we don't say:  Maybe...

What we mean:  Well I can't very well tell you I have no intention of contacting you, can I?

-oOo-

Sunday 18 August 2013

1041. Cuttings from British Newspapers (4)

A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster.  A coastguard spokesman commented, "This sort of thing is all too common".

The Times

-oOo-

Thursday 15 August 2013

1039. Grumpy Old Quotes (27)

She looked as if she had been poured into her clothes and had forgotten to say "when".

P.G. Wodehouse

-oOo-


The series of Grumpy Old Quotes comes from "More Wrinklies' Wit & Wisdom", Compiled by Allison Vale and Alison Rattle, ISBN -13: 978-1-86200-331-6, published in 2006 by SevenOaks, which I thoroughly recommend.

Wednesday 14 August 2013

1038. At the Ice-cream Parlour

Bruce’s friend (6):  This is my friend Bruce
Bruce’s friend’s mother (35):  Aha, yes, Bruce Wayne
Bruce: (6)  That’s right
Bruce’s friend’s mother:  You’re Batman then...
Bruce:  NO, I’m BRUCE WAYNE
Bruce friend’s mother:  But didn’t you know that Batman’s real name is Bruce Wayne?
Bruce:  No, I knew that Batman was called Batman.
Gustavo’s comment:  If your surname is Wayne you simply can’t call your poor kid Bruce – he’ll be teased for the rest of his life...
-oOo-

(With thanks to Gustavo.  This was loosely translated from Gustavo's eavesdropping blog Blogudeces de la Vida Cotidiana)

Tuesday 13 August 2013

1037. Kulula Airlines (28)

Kulula Airlines is a low cost airline operating in South Africa on domestic flights. Their novel approach is brightly coloured livery and to make everything humorous - either by the way they paint the outside of their planes or with their public address system. The word Kulula itself means "it's easy" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages.

Overheard on a Kulula flight into Cape Town , on a particularly windy and bumpy day: During the final approach, the Captain really had to fight it. After an extremely hard landing, the Flight Attendant said, "Ladies and Gentlemen, welcome to The Mother City . Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the Captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate."



-oOo-

Monday 12 August 2013

1036. Welsh Idiosyncrasies - Nickname Series (114)

I'm a girl from a Valleys village, and the man who digs the graves is called Brown-Boots cos he always has mud on his boots - I don't know his real name.

Melanie Sandel, Beford

-oOo-

Sunday 11 August 2013

1035. Out of the mouths of babes...

Little girl aged 7:  Mummy, where's Tri-ass?

Mother (uncertainly):  I don't know darling, who said it?

Little girl:  It's our teacher, when she can't find something she says "These things are sent to Tri-ass..."

-oOo-

Friday 9 August 2013

1033. Overheard on the London Underground/Tube (2)

"Ladies and gentlemen - your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering from E & B Syndrome, i.e., not knowing his elbow from his backside.  I'll let you know of any further information as soon as I'm given any."

-oOo-

Thursday 8 August 2013

1032. What we mean is what we don't say... (100)

What we sayHave a cup of tea to cool you down.

What we don't say:  You're boiling hot and I'm suggesting you have boiling water to drink...

What we mean:  I don't know what I mean.  But my ancestors believed it was refreshing, so I believe it too.  Drink up.

-oOo-

Wednesday 7 August 2013

1031. Cuttings from British newspapers (3)

Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van, because they cannot issue a description.  It's a Special Branch vehicle and they don't want the public to know what it looks like.

(The Guardian)

-oOo-

Tuesday 6 August 2013

1030. At doctor's surgery

Doctor (30):  And would you go to any old mechanic, or to one recommended to you?

Gustavo (40):  Well, no, I go to one recommended to me...

Doctor:  You see?  People look after their cars better than their own bodies.

Gustavo:  OK, but the car doesn't have medical insurance.

Doctor:  Yeah, but you can't get spare parts for bodies...

Gustavo:  I beg your pardon?  So what did I have two children for then?

Doctor:  Yes, you're right!!! (LOL)

Loosely translated from Blogudeces de la Vida Cotidiana, with many thanks to Gustavo.

-oOo-

Monday 5 August 2013

1029. Grumpy Old Quotes (26)

Dentures:  Two rows of artificial ivories that may be removed periodically to frighten one's grandchildren or provide accompaniment to Spanish music.

Anon
-oOo-

The series of Grumpy Old Quotes comes from "More Wrinklies' Wit & Wisdom", Compiled by Allison Vale and Alison Rattle, ISBN -13: 978-1-86200-331-6, published in 2006 by SevenOaks, which I thoroughly recommend.

Sunday 4 August 2013

1028. Masculine Wiles

Work colleague (female, 52):  ... so that’s how it works with men.  If they give you a pair of shoes it means they want to have sex with you.
Gustavo  (male, 45):  Aaaah – and if they give you a pack of condoms, does that mean they want to go for a walk?
(Gustavo’s comment:  I’m just been logical)

(With thanks to Gustavo.  This was VERY loosely translated from Gustavo's eavesdropping blog Blogudeces de la Vida Cotidiana)

-oOo-

Saturday 3 August 2013

1027. Kulula Airlines (27)

Kulula Airlines is a low cost airline operating in South Africa on domestic flights. Their novel approach is brightly coloured livery and to make everything humorous - either by the way they paint the outside of their planes or with their public address system. The word Kulula itself means "it's easy" in the Zulu and Xhosa languages.

Heard on Kulula 255 just after a very hard landing in Cape Town: The flight attendant came on the intercom and said, "That was quite a bump and I know what y'all are thinking. I'm here to tell you it wasn't the airline's fault, it wasn't the pilot's fault, it wasn't the flight attendant's fault, it was the asphalt."


-oOo-

Friday 2 August 2013

1026. Welsh Idiosyncrasies - Nickname Series (113)

Over the years I have come across many nicknames and have had a few myself. With so many Jones's, a baker would be known as Jones-the-Bread and the butcher would be known as Jones-the-Meat.

I recall a baker being known as Dai-the-Crust whilst somebody posh living nearby was Dai-Upper-Crust.

I used to work in the Customs office of the Swansea - Cork ferry and one of the regular Irish lorry drivers came into our office for his return journey to Ireland. He related an incident from the previous day when he was delivering in the Valleys and was looking for Bed & Breakfast. He called into a cafe where he had a cup of tea and made enquiries about lodgings in the area. Everybody were very helpful said Paddy and they all agreed that his best bet was Bed & Breakfast at Nellie Paynters. They gave him directions and he set off up the hill to what he believed was Nellie Paynters house. When a woman answered the door he asked if she was Nellie Paynter and did she do Bed & Breakfast. The woman replied that she did Bed & Breakfast but her name was Nellie Jones. The woman explained that her husband was a painter and decorater and hence the name Nellie-Painter.

-oOo-