>In US we have an expression when we win -- we walk away with "all the marbles."
Bully on the block always does. (emoticon of some sort, I really am hampered not having access to those thingies)
>I hear Elgin pronounced with a hard g in the BBC programs that are received here ... Prior to the proliferation of BBC programs received I had always heard it pronounced EL-jin.
I was thoroughly corrected by my veddy British (Cambridge man) uncle when I pronounced the name El-jinn. I find El-Ginn a bit pompous, so I just call those lovely, lovely treasures the Parthenon Marbles. Which they are. And, BTW, thank god the Brits did lift them when they did! May have saved them from a worse fate than being blown up. And, now the Marbles should definitely be given back.
As to those collectibles? I've always had a quabble with "-tibles." Gullectibles suits fine. I will adopt the term post haste.
