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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692 |
An audio tape that has eased my commute for a day or two is ‘A Month in the Country’ by JL Carr, admirably read by Michael Williams, late husband of Judy Dench. The book was a Booker Prize winner that deserved it but I only wanted to mention the use of a word that I haven’t heard since … I don’t when.
Charabanc:
NOUN: Chiefly British. A large bus, typically used for sightseeing.
ETYMOLOGY: From French char à bancs : char, coach, carriage (from Old French, cart; see chariot) + à, with (from Latin ad, toward; see ad–) + bancs, benches, pl. of banc (from Old French; see bank3).
The word brings back a vanished world of day-trippers off to the nearest seaside resort for a good time. Such trips were often ‘works outings’, organised and paid for by factory managers and families were usually included in the invitation. There would usually be more than one charabac involved in the trip and the drivers, encouraged by their passengers, would vie with one another to get there first.
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
Posts: 3,065 |
I'm sure you'll be glad to hear the tradition of the works outing is still alive and well here in Indonesia. We went to Bali for our last one, about a month ago.
Bingley
Bingley
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Man! That beats Skegness!
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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Funny you should say that. Skegness was the second choice, but they decided it was too far to go just for a long weekend.  Bingley
Bingley
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Yeah. No grass skirts either. Bloody Marys available though. Maybe that's a bit tangential!
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Joined: Mar 2002
Posts: 1,692
Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Here's a URL with picture of charabanc
Great 'photo Dr Bill. I've only seen them in museums. They were driven so recklessly, spurred on by the passengers, that it was a common site to see them canted over in the ditch at the roadside waiting for a couple of dray horses to pull them out!
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Joined: Apr 2000
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Carpal Tunnel
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Carpal Tunnel
Joined: Apr 2000
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Bali has Bloody Marys as well, should you wish to indulge. No grass skirts. Lots of sarongs.
Bingley
Bingley
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Mar 2002
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Bali has Bloody Marys as well
Mmm. I was thinking of South Pacific, Bali Hai and Bloody Mary, mother of the France Nuyen character, Liat.
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Joined: Jun 2002
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
Joined: Jun 2002
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Man! That beats Skegness!
Anywhere, including Blackpool on a wet bank holiday, beats Skegness. The most souless place in all of Britain!
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