Random thoughts

[DaleCooper]

Haha. I was there for summer once. It was on a Thursday afternoon I think, the kids rescued a starfish from a seagull on the beach.

There's a song for just that occasion: Seasons In The Sun by Terry Jacks.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cd_Fdly3rX8

We had joy, we had fun, we had seasons in the sun.
But the stars we could reach
were just starfish on the beach

 

[GusB]

Drizzle that soaks to the skin within minutes, dull and dreary skies. Typical Scottish summer here.

I've planned my holiday to begin on the first day when the kids go back to school. The weather is guaranteed to be good then. It was when I was at school.

 

[Cowley]

Bye bye.

Well I think he meant it.
Does anyone want to go around and see if there's lots of full milk bottles on his doorstep?

 

[DaleCooper]

Well I think he meant it.
Does anyone want to go around and see if there's lots of full milk bottles on his doorstep?

Not much point, it will have gone off by now.

 

[Cowley]

Not much point, it will have gone off by now.

I hope he just went on holiday.

 

[A Challenge]

Why do I say 'the High Street' but with any other road name just 'Oxford Street'?

 

[DaleCooper]

Why do I say 'the High Street' but with any other road name just 'Oxford Street'?

It must be confusing if you call all other roads "Oxford Street".

Q: How do I get to the station?

A: Go down Oxford Street, at the traffic lights turn left into Oxford Street then take the second road on the right (that's Oxford Street) and carry on until you reach Oxford Street, just be careful you don't turn into Oxford Street by mistake.

 

[Strat-tastic]

It must be confusing if you call all other roads "Oxford Street".

Q: How do I get to the station?

A: Go down Oxford Street, at the traffic lights turn left into Oxford Street then take the second road on the right (that's Oxford Street) and carry on until you reach Oxford Street, just be careful you don't turn into Oxford Street by mistake.

You missed the bit with the High Street.

 

[DaleCooper]

You missed the bit with the High Street.

I said it was confusing.

Another thing about High Streets, all the ones I know are on the same level as all the other (Oxford) streets.

 

[co-tr-paul]

In Cornwall, most High Streets are called Fore Street. Can never find the other three.

 

[A Challenge]

It must be confusing if you call all other roads "Oxford Street".

Q: How do I get to the station?

A: Go down Oxford Street, at the traffic lights turn left into Oxford Street then take the second road on the right (that's Oxford Street) and carry on until you reach Oxford Street, just be careful you don't turn into Oxford Street by mistake.

Does anybody, in all seriousness, (though I suppose I should have asked here for that) know why though?

 

[najaB]

Does anybody, in all seriousness, (though I suppose I should have asked here for that) know why though?

Because it's a description rather than a name.

 

[A Challenge]

Because it's a description rather than a name.

You say that, and I think you should be correct, but roads can be just called 'High Street', not XXXX High Street (I've learnt after the Oxford Street debacle), although it would be clearer if they weren't, like London Road, which would benefit from a place clarification, like the stations at London Road (Brighton) and London Road (Guildford).

 

[DaleCooper]

Does anybody, in all seriousness, (though I suppose I should have asked here for that) know why though?

A related subject which may be of interest:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18233844

Ukraine or the Ukraine: Why do some country names have 'the'?

"The Ukraine" is incorrect both grammatically and politically, says Oksana Kyzyma of the Embassy of Ukraine in London.


"Ukraine is both the conventional short and long name of the country," she says. "This name is stated in the Ukrainian Declaration of Independence and Constitution."

There are many other country names that are habitually referred to with "the", such as Congo, Gambia, Yemen, Lebanon, Sudan, Netherlands, Philippines and Bahamas.


But according to several authoritative sources, such as the CIA World Factbook, the Times Comprehensive Atlas of the World and the US Department of State, only two countries, The Bahamas and The Gambia, should officially be referred to with the article.


The two Congos are officially Democratic Republic of the Congo and Republic of the Congo. And the longer, official name for Netherlands is Kingdom of the Netherlands.

 

[Strat-tastic]

So, what is a Gambia?

 

[DaleCooper]

So, what is a Gambia?

It's like a Zambia but with conductance instead of impedance which means it's all real rather than part imaginary.

 

[D365]

Does anyone here regularly wear Dr Martens shoes? With the sale starting to prove very popular (several shoes that I looked at over the weekend went out of stock this morning) I finally plumped for the Lyme Suedes. I was in need of some new casual shoes anyway so I'm hoping that these will wear as good as they look.

 

[TheEdge]

Paging Doctor Martens, Doctor Matens, please make you way to the random thought's thread, someone has found your shoes and wants a review.

 

[tsr]

I must admit I have never heard anyone refer to Lebanon or Yemen as "the Lebanon" or "the Yemen" (respectively, of course, or things just get too silly).

"The United Kingdom", on the other hand, is not on the list as either being prefixed with "The" or not. Sturgeon located in the UN.

 

[DaleCooper]

I must admit I have never heard anyone refer to Lebanon or Yemen as "the Lebanon" or "the Yemen" (respectively, of course, or things just get too silly).

"The United Kingdom", on the other hand, is not on the list as either being prefixed with "The" or not. Sturgeon located in the UN.

The Human League - The Lebanon

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x20nlp_human-league-the-lebanon_music

 

[RichmondCommu]

Does anyone here regularly wear Dr Martens shoes? With the sale starting to prove very popular (several shoes that I looked at over the weekend went out of stock this morning) I finally plumped for the Lyme Suedes. I was in need of some new casual shoes anyway so I'm hoping that these will wear as good as they look.

Our youngest daughter aged 21 wears lace up Dr Martens boots from time to time.

 

[RichmondCommu]

G'day everyone. Richmond Commuter has been in France today to pay my respects to a German soldier killed in WW2 and laid to rest at a place called La Cambe.

Herbert Werner was killed on the 18th June 1944 near St Jacques-de-Nehou and today would have been his birthday. My eldest son (Tim) is half German on his mums side and Herbert would have been his great grandfather. Herbert had two brothers and all were killed in action. For what its worth none of the brothers were members of the Nazi Party, they were just doing their duty.

Lots of tears today as Tim's grandma has strong memories of her dad (Herbert) even though he was killed when she was only three years old. As always I've been shown a great deal of kindness today even though Tim's mum and I never lived together. It's a long story in how not to plan a family.

We're all staying in France tonight for a meal to celebrate Herbert's birthday before we head home tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this.

 

[najaB]

For its worth none of the brothers were members of the Nazi Party, they were just doing their duty.

Sadly, the same is true of many a serviceperson killed in action - sent to die abroad 'for King and Country' too often means 'to satisfy the whims and fancies of politicians'.

Ruhe in Frieden, Herbert.

 

[Cowley]

G'day everyone. Richmond Commuter has been in France today to pay my respects to a German soldier killed in WW2 and laid to rest at a place called La Cambe.

Herbert Werner was killed on the 18th June 1944 near St Jacques-de-Nehou and today would have been his birthday. My eldest son (Tim) is half German on his mums side and Herbert would have been his great grandfather. Herbert had two brothers and all were killed in action. For what its worth none of the brothers were members of the Nazi Party, they were just doing their duty.

Lots of tears today as Tim's grandma has strong memories of her dad (Herbert) even though he was killed when she was only three years old. As always I've been shown a great deal of kindness today even though Tim's mum and I never lived together. It's a long story in how not to plan a family.

We're all staying in France tonight for a meal to celebrate Herbert's birthday before we head home tomorrow.

Thanks for reading this.

Beautiful. Thanks for posting it.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Sadly, the same is true of many a serviceperson killed in action - sent to die abroad 'for King and Country' too often means 'to satisfy the whims and fancies of politicians'.

Ruhe in Frieden, Herbert.

Many thanks Mr B.

At least we can pay our respects to Herbert. One of his brothers is entombed in an 'iron coffin' at the bottom of the North Atlantic and the other one was never returned by the Russians.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Beautiful. Thanks for posting it.

Thanks Mr C.

 

[Cowley]

Many thanks Mr B.

At least we can pay our respects to Herbert. One of his brothers is entombed in an 'iron coffin' at the bottom of the North Atlantic and the other one was never returned by the Russians.

What that generation (on all sides) went through is hard to comprehend, yet so compelling to hear about too.
I feel very lucky to have grown up in the times that I did and also very lucky to have listened first hand to stories from that generation who lived through it all.

 

[GusB]

Does anyone here regularly wear Dr Martens shoes? With the sale starting to prove very popular (several shoes that I looked at over the weekend went out of stock this morning) I finally plumped for the Lyme Suedes. I was in need of some new casual shoes anyway so I'm hoping that these will wear as good as they look.

I've not had a pair of Doc's since I was a kid. I've been more of a Cat man in recent years. I tend not to buy new boots too often, though; I usually have to endure about a month of pain before they're broken in properly.

 

[Cowley]

Tonight the road right outside is being resurfaced. Apparently it's going to be finished by morning rush hour. It's going to be a long night.

 

[RichmondCommu]

Tonight the road right outside is being resurfaced. Apparently it's going to be finished by morning rush hour. It's going to be a long night.

I'll be surprised if they are allowed to work past midnight.