Discussion:
OT: Gandhi limerick
(too old to reply)
BrritSki
2019-10-28 13:47:08 UTC
Permalink
From today's Times:

"Gandhi’s saintly and ascetic aura was challenged in his lifetime. Other
Indians were often critical, especially of his quasi-religious fads. “It
costs a lot to keep Gandhi in poverty,” joked the politician-poet
Sarojini Naidu. When Gandhi insisted on travelling third class, the
whole carriage had to be requisitioned for his retinue. When he sailed
to Britain for talks with the government he was accompanied by his
English disciple Madeleine Slade and also by his nanny-goat, whose milk
was essential to his strict diet. The combination gave rise to the
limerick:
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
He said to the maid:
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”

LOL
Penny
2019-10-28 14:36:46 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 28 Oct 2019 13:47:08 +0000, BrritSki <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...
Post by BrritSki
"Gandhi’s saintly and ascetic aura was challenged in his lifetime. Other
Indians were often critical, especially of his quasi-religious fads. “It
costs a lot to keep Gandhi in poverty,” joked the politician-poet
Sarojini Naidu. When Gandhi insisted on travelling third class, the
whole carriage had to be requisitioned for his retinue. When he sailed
to Britain for talks with the government he was accompanied by his
English disciple Madeleine Slade and also by his nanny-goat, whose milk
was essential to his strict diet. The combination gave rise to the
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
Hm, AIUI, one of his self-flagellatory habits was to invite young naked
women to share is bed in order *not* to have sex with them - to test his
own self-control.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/01/gandhi-celibacy-test-naked-women
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
John Ashby
2019-10-28 16:12:42 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
scrawled in the dust...
Post by BrritSki
"Gandhi’s saintly and ascetic aura was challenged in his lifetime. Other
Indians were often critical, especially of his quasi-religious fads. “It
costs a lot to keep Gandhi in poverty,” joked the politician-poet
Sarojini Naidu. When Gandhi insisted on travelling third class, the
whole carriage had to be requisitioned for his retinue. When he sailed
to Britain for talks with the government he was accompanied by his
English disciple Madeleine Slade and also by his nanny-goat, whose milk
was essential to his strict diet. The combination gave rise to the
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
Hm, AIUI, one of his self-flagellatory habits was to invite young naked
women to share is bed in order *not* to have sex with them - to test his
own self-control.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2018/oct/01/gandhi-celibacy-test-naked-women
And that, Your Honour, concludes the case for the Defence.

john
Sid Nuncius
2019-10-28 17:53:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
"Gandhi’s saintly and ascetic aura was challenged in his lifetime. Other
Indians were often critical, especially of his quasi-religious fads. “It
costs a lot to keep Gandhi in poverty,” joked the politician-poet
Sarojini Naidu. When Gandhi insisted on travelling third class, the
whole carriage had to be requisitioned for his retinue. When he sailed
to Britain for talks with the government he was accompanied by his
English disciple Madeleine Slade and also by his nanny-goat, whose milk
was essential to his strict diet. The combination gave rise to the
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Yep, it's funny...but it doesn't scan properly. Sorry, but it's a pet
peeve of mine that people write limericks (especially for competitions
etc) without any real sense of the rhythm of the thing, which is a large
part of the pleasure. IMO, it should read something like:
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
He said to the maid:
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.

I'll get me goat...er...coat! Coat! I meant coat![1]

[1]Probably time we had the old joke about the cloakroom attendant
called Mahatma Coat. And the one about his colleague Angus McCoatup.
Or maybe not.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Penny
2019-10-28 18:39:01 UTC
Permalink
On Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:53:27 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by BrritSki
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Yep, it's funny...but it doesn't scan properly. Sorry, but it's a pet
peeve of mine that people write limericks (especially for competitions
etc) without any real sense of the rhythm of the thing, which is a large
part of the pleasure.
+1
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
*Much* better!
Post by Sid Nuncius
I'll get me goat...er...coat! Coat! I meant coat![1]
:)
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
BrritSki
2019-10-28 18:57:32 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Mon, 28 Oct 2019 17:53:27 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by BrritSki
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Yep, it's funny...but it doesn't scan properly. Sorry, but it's a pet
peeve of mine that people write limericks (especially for competitions
etc) without any real sense of the rhythm of the thing, which is a large
part of the pleasure.
+1
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
*Much* better!
<lw>
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-10-28 20:16:22 UTC
Permalink
In message <***@mid.individual.net>, Sid Nuncius
<***@hotmail.co.uk> writes:
[]
Post by Sid Nuncius
Yep, it's funny...but it doesn't scan properly. Sorry, but it's a pet
peeve of mine that people write limericks (especially for competitions
etc) without any real sense of the rhythm of the thing, which is a
Totally (or, for US readers, Toadally) agree.
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
Much better! (Though either add "So" to the start of the third line
[better I think], or remove "and" from the fourth.)
Post by Sid Nuncius
I'll get me goat...er...coat! Coat! I meant coat![1]
[1]Probably time we had the old joke about the cloakroom attendant
called Mahatma Coat. And the one about his colleague Angus McCoatup.
Or maybe not.
No, definitely yes! (I think I'd heard the first*, but not the second.)
* Reminds me of a somewhat un-PC mnemonic from school, to do with
geometry, of the aged servant pursuing his master who had forgotten it:
"oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So there.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Electricians do it 'till it Hz.
Sid Nuncius
2019-10-29 06:15:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
Much better! (Though either add "So" to the start of the third line
[better I think], or remove "and" from the fourth.)
I think the fourth line needs the "and". The two lines don't have to
match exactly and the extra unstressed syllable improves the rhythm, IMO
(which is why I put it there). I think it stands as it is, but adding
your "So" would work just as well.

On reflection, the second line would work a little better as
"Who woke in the night feeling randy"
because the stress sits more naturally on "woke" than on "up."

I think I need to get a grip. It's only a humorous limerick, for
heavens' sake.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2019-10-29 09:05:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
Much better! (Though either add "So" to the start of the third line
[better I think], or remove "and" from the fourth.)
I think the fourth line needs the "and". The two lines don't have to
match exactly and the extra unstressed syllable improves the rhythm, IMO
(which is why I put it there). I think it stands as it is, but adding
your "So" would work just as well.
On reflection, the second line would work a little better as
"Who woke in the night feeling randy"
because the stress sits more naturally on "woke" than on "up."
I think I need to get a grip. It's only a humorous limerick, for
heavens' sake.
It may be ‘only a humorous limerick’ to you Sir but...
--
Toodle Pip
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-10-29 22:03:03 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Sid Nuncius
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
Much better! (Though either add "So" to the start of the third line
[better I think], or remove "and" from the fourth.)
I think the fourth line needs the "and". The two lines don't have to
match exactly and the extra unstressed syllable improves the rhythm,
Agreed.
Post by Sid Nuncius
IMO (which is why I put it there). I think it stands as it is, but
adding your "So" would work just as well.
On reflection, the second line would work a little better as
"Who woke in the night feeling randy"
because the stress sits more naturally on "woke" than on "up."
And again.
Post by Sid Nuncius
I think I need to get a grip. It's only a humorous limerick, for
heavens' sake.
Not at all! Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?), even
hymns, but poems too.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

782.55 - The Number of The Beast (including VAT)
Penny
2019-10-30 17:59:57 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
so much better than
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee mi-igh-tier yet.

Of course no one else has ever done it so it now grates even more than it
did before :(
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-10-30 18:47:07 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
Post by Penny
so much better than
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee mi-igh-tier yet.
Of course no one else has ever done it so it now grates even more than it
did before :(
You remind me of one of those swap programmes, in which a school
conductor (I can't remember the exact details; thinking back I presume
he was the music master) was given a professional orchestra to conduct.
He did ask privately one or two of the musicians what they thought would
really make a difference - well, I can't remember _exactly_ what he
asked them, but anyway, both of them said end the rehearsal early.

Whether because of that I don't know, but he not only didn't finish the
rehearsal early, he made the orchestra rehearse something they probably
never had rehearsed before, but play at every concert - the national
anthem! I thought, good on him.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Have the courage to be ordinary - people make themselves so desperately unhappy
trying to be clever and totally original. (Robbie Coltrane, RT 8-14 Nov. 1997.)
Nick Odell
2019-10-30 22:56:52 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
Post by Penny
so much better than
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee mi-igh-tier yet.
Of course no one else has ever done it so it now grates even more than it
did before :(
You remind me of one of those swap programmes, in which a school
conductor (I can't remember the exact details; thinking back I presume
he was the music master) was given a professional orchestra to conduct.
He did ask privately one or two of the musicians what they thought would
really make a difference - well, I can't remember _exactly_ what he
asked them, but anyway, both of them said end the rehearsal early.
Whether because of that I don't know, but he not only didn't finish the
rehearsal early, he made the orchestra rehearse something they probably
never had rehearsed before, but play at every concert - the national
anthem! I thought, good on him.
https://tinyurl.com/yyquf8hk

Nick
Penny
2019-10-31 10:03:54 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Jenny M Benson
2019-10-31 10:55:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sunghttp://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
I resent that! It was nothing to do with me.
--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/
Kate B
2019-11-01 11:09:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
<clears throat>

A singer speaks: It's not a question of 'enough notes', but of musical
stress and ease of singing.

It's in unison, so you need to take account of the lower voices as well
as the sopranos and tenors. Those phrases lie quite high for the lower
voices, with an Eflat the top note on 'migh', a long D, a shorter C and
then back up to the D or down to the Bflat. Singing as much as possible
on the open vowels of 'ah' and 'eh' is going to be much less stressful
and sound much nicer than trying to articulate a 'tee' sound.

More importantly, there's the word/note stress: 'migh-ti-er' is
technically a three syllable word consisting of one stressed syllable at
the beginning and then two unstressed syllables, mostly vowels. You
would never say 'migh-TI-er'. The other stresses one needs to take into
account are the natural strong/weak beats in every bar (in 4/4, these
are Strong, Weak, Less Strong, Weak. There's probably a mnemonic for
that but I forgot it years ago).

That short note on 'migh' is a kind of appoggiatura, ie a shorter
accented note that leans into the next longer unaccented one. The
pattern is repeated several times in the song on words like 'born', and
'made'. You absolutely must avoid emphasising the long note (or the
second note in 'born' or 'made'), because they lie across the weak beat
of the bar. If you put the 'ty' of 'mighti-er' onto the long note, it
will just emphasise a weak syllable with a weak beat and skew the phrase.

In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
--
Kate B
London
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-11-01 12:17:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
[]
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
<clears throat>
A singer speaks: It's not a question of 'enough notes', but of musical
stress and ease of singing.
[Very learned discourse snipped]
Post by Kate B
of the bar. If you put the 'ty' of 'mighti-er' onto the long note, it
will just emphasise a weak syllable with a weak beat and skew the phrase.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
If modified into a triplet, i. e. all three syllables the same length
(well, the -er longer, or ending in a rest), I think it'd be fine.
(Still stress on "Migh", three notes descending.) And I'd say it's
slightly better than the normal (Mi-i, cher).
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

As the man said when confronted by a large dinner salad, "This isn't food.
This is what food eats."
Kate B
2019-11-01 16:37:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
[]
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the
promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
 My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several
scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
<clears throat>
A singer speaks: It's not a question of 'enough notes', but of musical
stress and ease of singing.
[Very learned discourse snipped]
Post by Kate B
of the bar. If you put the 'ty' of 'mighti-er' onto the long note, it
will just emphasise a weak syllable with a weak beat and skew the phrase.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
If modified into a triplet, i. e. all three syllables the same length
(well, the -er longer, or ending in a rest), I think it'd be fine.
(Still stress on "Migh", three notes descending.) And I'd say it's
slightly better than the normal (Mi-i, cher).
Just sing that to yourself, JPG. A long 'er' would give that very
unimportant syllable too much weight, and a break - a rest- would make
no sense at all.
--
Kate B
London
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-11-02 01:27:15 UTC
Permalink
[]
Post by Kate B
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
If modified into a triplet, i. e. all three syllables the same length
(well, the -er longer, or ending in a rest), I think it'd be fine.
(Still stress on "Migh", three notes descending.) And I'd say it's
slightly better than the normal (Mi-i, cher).
Just sing that to yourself, JPG. A long 'er' would give that very
unimportant syllable too much weight, and a break - a rest- would make
no sense at all.
I sort of see what you're getting at (though I still think tripleting
[is that a word?] would mitigate somewhat).

It's partly that I don't like "cher", which it often becomes. There are
other examples of similar, which of course I can't think of for now.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

After I'm dead I'd rather have people ask why I have no monument than why I
have one. -Cato the Elder, statesman, soldier, and writer (234-149 BCE)
Kate B
2019-11-02 11:04:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]
Post by Kate B
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
If modified into a triplet, i. e. all three syllables the same length
(well, the -er longer, or ending in a rest), I think it'd be fine.
(Still stress on "Migh", three notes descending.) And I'd say it's
slightly better than the normal (Mi-i, cher).
Just sing that to yourself, JPG. A long 'er' would give that very
unimportant syllable too much weight, and a break - a rest- would make
no sense at all.
I sort of see what you're getting at (though I still think tripleting
[is that a word?] would mitigate somewhat).
Singing three equal beats across the very heavy two in the accompaniment
- especially if it is thus completely different to every other similar
phrase - I think would be almost impossible for people to sing. Yes, of
course the BBC Singers could do it, but I don't believe the Prom
audience could. Have you tried?
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
It's partly that I don't like "cher", which it often becomes. There are
other examples of similar, which of course I can't think of for now.
That's just sloppy :) Now, if that conductor had spent time on the
correct articulation rather than an easier but unmusical fudge, I'd have
appluaded him.
--
Kate B
London
Mike Ruddock
2019-11-01 14:06:41 UTC
Permalink
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the
promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
<clears throat>
A singer speaks: It's not a question of 'enough notes', but of musical
stress and ease of singing.
It's in unison, so you need to take account of the lower voices as well
as the sopranos and tenors. Those phrases lie quite high for the lower
voices, with an Eflat the top note on 'migh', a long D, a shorter C and
then back up to the D or down to the Bflat. Singing as much as possible
on the open vowels of 'ah' and 'eh' is going to be much less stressful
and sound much nicer than trying to articulate a 'tee' sound.
More importantly, there's the word/note stress: 'migh-ti-er' is
technically a three syllable word consisting of one stressed syllable at
the beginning and then two unstressed syllables, mostly vowels. You
would never say 'migh-TI-er'.  The other stresses one needs to take into
account are the natural strong/weak beats in every bar (in 4/4, these
are Strong, Weak, Less Strong, Weak. There's probably a mnemonic for
that but I forgot it years ago).
That short note on 'migh' is a kind of appoggiatura, ie a shorter
accented note that leans into the next longer unaccented one. The
pattern is repeated several times in the song on words like 'born', and
'made'. You absolutely must avoid emphasising the long note (or the
second note in 'born' or 'made'), because they lie across the weak beat
of the bar. If you put the 'ty' of 'mighti-er' onto the long note, it
will just emphasise a weak syllable with a weak beat and skew the phrase.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
Erm may I point out that the tune, written by Elgar was composed first
and the words fitted later (not by Elgar, who I think rather resented
having words fitted to his music). Words by Benson I think.

Mike Ruddock
Kate B
2019-11-01 16:43:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike Ruddock
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the
promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
<clears throat>
A singer speaks: It's not a question of 'enough notes', but of musical
stress and ease of singing.
It's in unison, so you need to take account of the lower voices as
well as the sopranos and tenors. Those phrases lie quite high for the
lower voices, with an Eflat the top note on 'migh', a long D, a
shorter C and then back up to the D or down to the Bflat. Singing as
much as possible on the open vowels of 'ah' and 'eh' is going to be
much less stressful and sound much nicer than trying to articulate a
'tee' sound.
More importantly, there's the word/note stress: 'migh-ti-er' is
technically a three syllable word consisting of one stressed syllable
at the beginning and then two unstressed syllables, mostly vowels. You
would never say 'migh-TI-er'.  The other stresses one needs to take
into account are the natural strong/weak beats in every bar (in 4/4,
these are Strong, Weak, Less Strong, Weak. There's probably a mnemonic
for that but I forgot it years ago).
That short note on 'migh' is a kind of appoggiatura, ie a shorter
accented note that leans into the next longer unaccented one. The
pattern is repeated several times in the song on words like 'born',
and 'made'. You absolutely must avoid emphasising the long note (or
the second note in 'born' or 'made'), because they lie across the weak
beat of the bar. If you put the 'ty' of 'mighti-er' onto the long
note, it will just emphasise a weak syllable with a weak beat and skew
the phrase.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
Erm may I point out that the tune, written by Elgar was composed first
and the words fitted later (not by Elgar, who I think rather resented
having words fitted to his music). Words by Benson I think.
Oh, I forgot that. And I can imagine Elgar being peeved at someone else
putting words to his tune. But at least Benson respected the shape of
the phrasing and knew how it worked. That appoggiatura, the tied long
note following, and the short note leading to the strong beat of the
next bar, are a real feature of the melody, and to have set three
separate syllables to what is essentially a two-syllable phrase would
have been musically illiterate.
--
Kate B
London
Chris McMillan
2019-11-01 15:32:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
It was Arthur Christopher Benson. It was King Ed 7th who suggested the
words.

Sincerely Chris
Sam Plusnet
2019-11-01 19:56:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris McMillan
Post by Kate B
Post by Nick Odell
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 18:47:07 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Post by Penny
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 22:03:03 +0000, "J. P. Gilliver (John)"
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
Mis-stressed pomes really irritate me. Especially if they're
by some famous poet, who I always think ought to know better. It's
commonest of course in song lyrics (Rule Britannia, anyone?)
I can't remember which conductor it was who rehearsed the promenaders in
singing Land of Hope and Glory and made them get the stresses right so it
actually fitted the music but it pleased me greatly.
God who made thee migh-ty, make thee migh-ti-er yet.
I'd never thought of that; it is indeed much better.
My post prompted an email from Iain Archer who had checked several scores
and it is written as usually sung http://bit.ly/ElgarLoHaG
Elgar provided enough notes so I'm going to blame Benson.
In short, Elgar knew exactly what he was doing, and I despair of the
conductor who tried to change it.
It was Arthur Christopher Benson. It was King Ed 7th who suggested the
words.
Busy lot those Bensons.
I was trying to remember if Lucia ever sang LofH&G in any of the Mapp &
Lucia novels.
--
Sam Plusnet
Mike Ruddock
2019-10-29 08:26:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
[]
Yep, it's funny...but it doesn't scan properly.  Sorry, but it's a pet
peeve of mine that people write limericks (especially for competitions
etc) without any real sense of the rhythm of the thing, which is a
Totally (or, for US readers, Toadally) agree.
There was an old fellow called Gandhi
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
Go and fetch Maddy Slade -
Or the goat if Miss Slade isn't handy.
Much better! (Though either add "So" to the start of the third line
[better I think], or remove "and" from the fourth.)
I'll get me goat...er...coat!  Coat!  I meant coat![1]
[1]Probably time we had the old joke about the cloakroom attendant
called Mahatma Coat.  And the one about his colleague Angus McCoatup.
Or maybe not.
No, definitely yes! (I think I'd heard the first*, but not the second.)
* Reminds me of a somewhat un-PC mnemonic from school, to do with
"oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So there.
But, but, but . . . what is it a mnemonic for?

Mike Ruddock
BrritSki
2019-10-29 08:47:15 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike Ruddock
it: "oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So
there.
But, but, but . . . what is it a mnemonic for?
Opposite/Adjacent Sin/Cos/Tan Hypotenuse relationships.

I always remember them with the little triangles as that tells you the
formulae as well (this may not work unless you use a monospaced font):

O A O
H S H C A T
Nick Odell
2019-10-29 15:21:36 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 08:47:15 +0000, BrritSki
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike Ruddock
it: "oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So
there.
But, but, but . . . what is it a mnemonic for?
Opposite/Adjacent Sin/Cos/Tan Hypotenuse relationships.
I always remember them with the little triangles as that tells you the
O A O
H S H C A T
Our maths teacher spent half a lesson encouraging us to fantasise
about a fabulous island in the South Seas SOHCAHTOA. As you see, I've
never forgotten it.

He was a boodily good maths teacher was Mr Scott.

Nick
Jenny M Benson
2019-10-29 16:33:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
He was a boodily good maths teacher was Mr Scott.
I wonder if most Maths teachers are (or at least were.)
Mrs Veale was far and away the best teacher are my very mediocre school.
I'll never forget "the body in the bath" when dealing with a
displacement problem, not when to join the dots on a line graph and when
not to. (All to do with tying up the chin of a dead body to the head of
the bed, but that's probably a lesson very specific to her.)
--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/
Penny
2019-10-29 18:14:01 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:33:28 +0000, Jenny M Benson <***@hotmail.co.uk>
scrawled in the dust...
Post by Jenny M Benson
Post by Nick Odell
He was a boodily good maths teacher was Mr Scott.
I wonder if most Maths teachers are (or at least were.)
Not all :(

My pure maths teacher was not only good at her job but lovely with it (she
was our form teacher for a year). I loved pure maths and started the A
level syllabus. Sadly, the applied maths teacher failed completely to get
anything about mechanics* and vectors into my head and her monotonous voice
sent me to sleep so I gave it up.

*I do seem to have some 'natural' ability - I can apply mechanics when
needed, I just can't write the numbers down or solve mythical problems on
paper.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Chris J Dixon
2019-10-29 19:07:26 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
*I do seem to have some 'natural' ability - I can apply mechanics when
needed, I just can't write the numbers down or solve mythical problems on
paper.
Ah, the smooth inclined plane, light, inextensible string and
frictionless pulleys. what fun we had! ;-)

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.
Fenny
2019-10-29 23:36:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
My pure maths teacher was not only good at her job but lovely with it (she
was our form teacher for a year). I loved pure maths and started the A
level syllabus. Sadly, the applied maths teacher failed completely to get
anything about mechanics* and vectors into my head and her monotonous voice
sent me to sleep so I gave it up.
*I do seem to have some 'natural' ability - I can apply mechanics when
needed, I just can't write the numbers down or solve mythical problems on
paper.
It was the other way round with me. I had no problem in understanding
the forces involved with a ladder leaning against a wall or how a
cannonball was projected through its flight path. Even 3D vectors were
relatively OK until one particularly tricky past question stumped the
entire class.

In Pure, I was OK with stuff like probability because of the guy who
taught us at O level (who was the guy who taught us A level Applied)
and combinations and permutations, but if either of our Pure Maths
teachers had actually drawn a flippin' cone and shown the different
slices through it before banging on about coordinates of a circle or
ellipse, I might have stood a chance.
--
Fenny
Rosemary Miskin
2019-10-30 10:33:10 UTC
Permalink
 I had no problem in understanding 
the forces involved with a ladder leaning against a wall o
Me neither - but the appsrent inevitability of the ladder eventually slipping has
left me with a phobia about ladderwork. I can just about accept that our window-cleaners
know what they're doing, but I get ridiculously anxious when Himself is up a ladder!

Rosemary
Mike
2019-10-30 10:39:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rosemary Miskin
 I had no problem in understanding 
the forces involved with a ladder leaning against a wall o
Me neither - but the appsrent inevitability of the ladder eventually slipping has
left me with a phobia about ladderwork. I can just about accept that our window-cleaners
know what they're doing, but I get ridiculously anxious when Himself is up a ladder!
Rosemary
Are you highly rung?
--
Toodle Pip
krw
2019-10-30 11:04:02 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rosemary Miskin
but the appsrent inevitability of the ladder eventually slipping has
left me with a phobia about ladderwork.
Potholes (or more likely plotholes) cause far more injury!
--
Kosmo Richard W
www.travelswmw.whitnet.uk
https://tinyurl.com/KRWpics
Sam Plusnet
2019-10-30 20:18:56 UTC
Permalink
Post by Rosemary Miskin
 I had no problem in understanding
the forces involved with a ladder leaning against a wall o
Me neither - but the appsrent inevitability of the ladder eventually slipping has
left me with a phobia about ladderwork. I can just about accept that our window-cleaners
know what they're doing, but I get ridiculously anxious when Himself is up a ladder!
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.

I had to all-but physically restrain Wofe from going out there and...
she never has any idea quite what she should do, but finds to urge to
charge out and interfere[1] nigh on irresistible.

[1] almost always at the crucial point where that someone needs all
their attention on the task at hand.
--
Sam Plusnet
BrritSki
2019-10-30 21:28:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sam Plusnet
Post by Rosemary Miskin
  I had no problem in understanding
the forces involved with a ladder leaning against a wall o
Me neither - but the appsrent inevitability of the ladder eventually slipping has
left me with a phobia about ladderwork. I can just about accept that our window-cleaners
know what they're doing, but I get ridiculously anxious when Himself is up a ladder!
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
 One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and one
of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then stood
on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had to hands
free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then proceeded to cut
down branches which the guys below cut up into metre long logs of
various diameters for the log burner as well as a pile of brush that we
burnt in situ.


Very scary, but no use arguing with them :)
steveski
2019-10-31 00:16:29 UTC
Permalink
[]
Post by BrritSki
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
 One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender
 eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and one
of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then stood
on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had to hands
free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then proceeded to cut
down branches which the guys below cut up into metre long logs of
various diameters for the log burner as well as a pile of brush that we
burnt in situ.
Very scary, but no use arguing with them :)
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
--
Steveski
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-10-31 00:44:52 UTC
Permalink
In message <***@mid.individual.net>, steveski
<***@invalid.com> writes:
[]
Post by steveski
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
Agreed. With the codicil that you may also inconvenience the NHS and
others, but I agree with your general point.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

half the lies they tell about me aren't true. - Yogi Berra
BrritSki
2019-10-31 08:39:49 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
[]
Post by BrritSki
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
 One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender
 eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and one
of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then stood
on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had to hands
free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then proceeded to cut
down branches which the guys below cut up into metre long logs of
various diameters for the log burner as well as a pile of brush that we
burnt in situ.
Very scary, but no use arguing with them :)
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
I completely agree - Italy isn;t in the modern world in that respect :)
Jenny M Benson
2019-10-31 10:58:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
But trouble is, very often other people suffer the consequences, one way
or another, as well.

I heard somewhere recently about people parachute jumping to raise money
for some hospital charity and the cost of treating the resultant
injuries far outweighed the amount raised.
--
Jenny M Benson
http://jennygenes.blogspot.co.uk/
steveski
2019-10-31 16:09:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jenny M Benson
Post by steveski
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
But trouble is, very often other people suffer the consequences, one way
or another, as well.
I heard somewhere recently about people parachute jumping to raise money
for some hospital charity and the cost of treating the resultant
injuries far outweighed the amount raised.
Yes. I forgot to say in the original post 'as long as it doesn't harm or
inconvenience others'.
--
Steveski
J. P. Gilliver (John)
2019-11-01 02:06:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jenny M Benson
Post by steveski
The modern world doesn't, it seems, have any room for 'personal
responsibilty'. There is always someone else to blame. Apols. if this
seems like a mini-rant but I take the stance that 'I choose to do this
and if I suffer any consequences, it's my own damned fool fault'.
But trouble is, very often other people suffer the consequences, one
way or another, as well.
I heard somewhere recently about people parachute jumping to raise
money for some hospital charity and the cost of treating the resultant
injuries far outweighed the amount raised.
This came up on QI (so may be refuted later, but I don't think so); they
had the figures for money raised and cost to the NHS, and came to the
conclusion (particularly galling in that a lot of sponsored parachute
jumps _are_ "for" an NHS cause) that every pound raised cost - I forget
the figure, but it _was_ significantly more than a pound. I got the
impression that this was all such jumps, over some period.
--
J. P. Gilliver. UMRA: 1960/<1985 MB++G()AL-IS-Ch++(p)***@T+H+Sh0!:`)DNAf

Back then, many radio sets were still in black and white. - Eddie Mair, radio
presenter, on "PM" programme reaching 40; in Radio Times, 3-9 April 2010
Sam Plusnet
2019-10-31 20:36:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and one
of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then stood
on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had to hands
free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then proceeded to cut
down branches which the guys below cut up into metre long logs of
various diameters for the log burner
Metre long lengths? You must have had a serious wood stove.
--
Sam Plusnet
BrritSki
2019-10-31 20:42:36 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and
one of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then
stood on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had to
hands free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then proceeded
to cut down branches which the guys below cut up into metre long logs
of various diameters for the log burner
Metre long lengths?  You must have had a serious wood stove.
:)

It was cut to that length for easy moving and stacking. That was the
first time it warmed me up. The second time was when I cut each metre
length into 3 and split it and moved it to the woodstore near the house.
The third time was when I burnt it.
Sam Plusnet
2019-11-01 19:59:59 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
Post by BrritSki
When we had a big sweet chestnut trimmed in Italy the guys came and
one of them tied a rope to his belt and climbed up the tree. He then
stood on one thick branch, hooked his leg round the trunk so he had
to hands free, hauled his chainsaw up, pull started it and then
proceeded to cut down branches which the guys below cut up into metre
long logs of various diameters for the log burner
Metre long lengths?  You must have had a serious wood stove.
:)
It was cut to that length for easy moving and stacking. That was the
first time it warmed me up. The second time was when I cut each metre
length into 3 and split it and moved it to the woodstore near the house.
The third time was when I burnt it.
Having not yet finished splitting the first lot of ash from when we had
a large ash tree heavily pruned, I now have another (albeit smaller)
pile from the large branch which fell (partially) onto our shed.
--
Sam Plusnet
Chris J Dixon
2019-10-31 08:08:51 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.
I had to all-but physically restrain Wofe from going out there and...
she never has any idea quite what she should do, but finds to urge to
charge out and interfere[1] nigh on irresistible.
A neighbour of mine, after having been ripped off by itinerants
(they had invented a story that there had been complaints, and he
had to let them do the work) who left him with unbelievably
mangled eyesores of trees, plus all the trimmings for him to
dispose of, apparently went with a garden landscape firm to clear
the lot, sort out the mess and give the plot a bit of a makeover.

They had a reasonably large conifer to bring down, without room
to drop it in one. I saw no goggles, ear defenders, or safety
clothing in evidence whilst using a chain saw. An extended
sectional ladder rested against the tree, but wasn't secured to
it. There was some form of primitive personal safety loop, but it
was only clipped to the ladder, the top rung of which rested
insecurely against the curve of the trunk.

As they worked down from the top, the chain saw was deployed at
about head height but, having no goggles, the operator was
showered with sawdust and had to look away from the cut.
Meanwhile the second man had to leave his position footing the
ladder to heave on the rope hoping to persuade the section to
fall the right way. Occasionally it did.

To my surprise they survived, but that is simply not the way to
do it. At almost every stage they progressed in such a tentative
way, that it seemed to me that they were way out of their depth.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.
Mike
2019-10-31 08:46:55 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
One of them lent a ladder against a tall but quite slender eucalyptus
tree & climbed to the top.
The tree bent over quite a way under the extra loading.
I had to all-but physically restrain Wofe from going out there and...
she never has any idea quite what she should do, but finds to urge to
charge out and interfere[1] nigh on irresistible.
A neighbour of mine, after having been ripped off by itinerants
(they had invented a story that there had been complaints, and he
had to let them do the work) who left him with unbelievably
mangled eyesores of trees, plus all the trimmings for him to
dispose of, apparently went with a garden landscape firm to clear
the lot, sort out the mess and give the plot a bit of a makeover.
They had a reasonably large conifer to bring down, without room
to drop it in one. I saw no goggles, ear defenders, or safety
clothing in evidence whilst using a chain saw. An extended
sectional ladder rested against the tree, but wasn't secured to
it. There was some form of primitive personal safety loop, but it
was only clipped to the ladder, the top rung of which rested
insecurely against the curve of the trunk.
As they worked down from the top, the chain saw was deployed at
about head height but, having no goggles, the operator was
showered with sawdust and had to look away from the cut.
Meanwhile the second man had to leave his position footing the
ladder to heave on the rope hoping to persuade the section to
fall the right way. Occasionally it did.
To my surprise they survived, but that is simply not the way to
do it. At almost every stage they progressed in such a tentative
way, that it seemed to me that they were way out of their depth.
Chris
https://monologues.co.uk/Sketches/Bricklayers_Story.htm
--
Toodle Pip
Sid Nuncius
2019-10-31 09:07:44 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
Are they the arboricultural equivalent of The Tree Tenors?

IGMC.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
BrritSki
2019-10-31 09:13:34 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
Are they the arboricultural equivalent of The Tree Tenors?
Fishy.
Penny
2019-10-31 10:22:19 UTC
Permalink
On Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:07:44 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
Are they the arboricultural equivalent of The Tree Tenors?
Sounds a bit fishy to me...
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Sid Nuncius
2019-10-31 18:19:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
On Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:07:44 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
Are they the arboricultural equivalent of The Tree Tenors?
Sounds a bit fishy to me...
Good to see Sam supporting an independent firm, though.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2019-10-31 18:33:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Penny
On Thu, 31 Oct 2019 09:07:44 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Sam Plusnet
We recently had the tree sturgeons in to do a couple of jobs.
Are they the arboricultural equivalent of The Tree Tenors?
Sounds a bit fishy to me...
Good to see Sam supporting an independent firm, though.
Did Nichola sanction this?
--
Toodle Pip
Tony Smith Gloucestershire
2019-10-30 20:41:59 UTC
Permalink
On Wednesday, 30 October 2019 10:33:11 UTC, Rosemary Miskin wrote:

<snipped>
I can just about accept that our window-cleaners know what they're doing,
<snipped>

Our window-cleaner has given up ladders and now squirts with long hoses and wipes with long-handled mops.
Penny
2019-10-31 09:46:57 UTC
Permalink
On Wed, 30 Oct 2019 13:41:59 -0700 (PDT), Tony Smith Gloucestershire
Post by Tony Smith Gloucestershire
<snipped>
I can just about accept that our window-cleaners know what they're doing,
<snipped>
Our window-cleaner has given up ladders and now squirts with long hoses and wipes with long-handled mops.
My window cleaner doesn't use ladders or a hose, his extendable mop/blade
does the non-dormer first floor windows quite well.

I'm missing him - he only called once all summer, explaining he was having
trouble with his knees. I'm not sure at what point one gives up on a
non-returning window cleaner and looks for another to negotiate with.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Serena Blanchflower
2019-11-01 11:10:13 UTC
Permalink
Post by Penny
My pure maths teacher was not only good at her job but lovely with it (she
was our form teacher for a year). I loved pure maths and started the A
level syllabus. Sadly, the applied maths teacher failed completely to get
anything about mechanics* and vectors into my head and her monotonous voice
sent me to sleep so I gave it up.
When I was doing A level maths, the pure maths and statistics teachers
were excellent but I really struggled with mechanics, to the extent that
I got agreement to my dropping it so that I could concentrate on statistics.

Unfortunately, when I got to university, the maths was based very
strongly on mechanics, which left me floundering. This was certainly a
factor in my dropping out at the end of the first year.

The statistics teacher always did a statistical analysis of previous
papers[1] and gave us a revision guide showing which topics were certain
to come up in the exam, which were likely and which were extremely
improbable.

There were also a couple types of graph, which both needed specialist
graph paper. They pretty well always had a question on one or the other
of these but not both. While the questions were, obviously, tightly
embargoed, the paper requisition wasn't. He'd check that and know which
one we needed to learn and which one we didn't need to bother with!


[1] He also kept an eye on the TES at the appropriate time of the year,
so that he'd know if there'd been a change of chief examiner, which
might make his statistics less accurate.
--
Best wishes, Serena
I must say I find television very educational. The minute somebody turns
it on, I go to the library and read a good book (Groucho Marx)
Vicky Ayech
2019-11-01 13:34:00 UTC
Permalink
On Fri, 1 Nov 2019 11:10:13 +0000, Serena Blanchflower
Post by Serena Blanchflower
Post by Penny
My pure maths teacher was not only good at her job but lovely with it (she
was.
The statistics teacher always did a statistical analysis of previous
papers[1] and gave us a revision guide showing which topics were certain
to come up in the exam, which were likely and which were extremely
improbable.
There were also a couple types of graph, which both needed specialist
graph paper. They pretty well always had a question on one or the other
of these but not both. While the questions were, obviously, tightly
embargoed, the paper requisition wasn't. He'd check that and know which
one we needed to learn and which one we didn't need to bother with!
[1] He also kept an eye on the TES at the appropriate time of the year,
so that he'd know if there'd been a change of chief examiner, which
might make his statistics less accurate.
Pur sixth form teachers did the same thing. A pretty good estimate of
what was likely to be asked and what we needed to practise. And it was
not as clear cut as the right paper as I did French, German and
English A levels. But I felt pretty well prepared. And we practised
looking at old papers and knowing how tochoose the questions our
knowledge best fitted and how to assemble it into responses.
Vicky Ayech
2019-10-29 18:14:59 UTC
Permalink
On Tue, 29 Oct 2019 16:33:28 +0000, Jenny M Benson
Post by Jenny M Benson
Post by Nick Odell
He was a boodily good maths teacher was Mr Scott.
I wonder if most Maths teachers are (or at least were.)
Mrs Veale was far and away the best teacher are my very mediocre school.
I'll never forget "the body in the bath" when dealing with a
displacement problem, not when to join the dots on a line graph and when
not to. (All to do with tying up the chin of a dead body to the head of
the bed, but that's probably a lesson very specific to her.)
My maths teacher in the 5th form was not good. We disliked each other
and I failed GCE but Mr Samuel, our form tutor in the 6th form, and
the maths teacher who we hadn't had, sadly, who gave up a free session
weekly to coach me to re-take GCE was very good.
Serena Blanchflower
2019-11-01 11:03:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by Jenny M Benson
Post by Nick Odell
He was a boodily good maths teacher was Mr Scott.
I wonder if most Maths teachers are (or at least were.)
Certainly not all of them are/were.

When I was about 13, we had the most appalling maths teacher. I don't
know where he'd been teaching before he came to my (all girl boarding)
school, or what had happened there, but he was clearly having a major
nervous breakdown. He was incapable of teaching anything and was
terrified both of a classroom full of teenage girls and of the (almost
entirely female) staffroom. Every break time he could be seen rushing
to the gents to hide in there.

I came 4th (out of 20+) in his end of term/year (I forget which)
exams... with 27%!

After he left, things improved rapidly and I went back to both enjoying
and being quite good at maths.
--
Best wishes, Serena
A man who trusts nobody is apt to be the kind of man nobody trusts
(Harold MacMillan)
Chris J Dixon
2019-10-29 09:27:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
* Reminds me of a somewhat un-PC mnemonic from school, to do with
"oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So there.
We had "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught A Herring"

Certainly stuck in my memory.

I recall having to memorise the rivers feeding the Humber, and
managed to form DOSUNWACDT, which I could just about consider
pronounceable. I have certainly remembered it.

Is it right though? My recollection is:

Derwent
Ouze
Swale
Ure
Nidd
Wharfe
Aire
Calder
Dearne
Trent

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham
'48/33 M B+ G++ A L(-) I S-- CH0(--)(p) Ar- T+ H0 ?Q
***@cdixon.me.uk @ChrisJDixon1
Plant amazing Acers.
John Ashby
2019-10-29 13:32:37 UTC
Permalink
Post by Chris J Dixon
Post by J. P. Gilliver (John)
* Reminds me of a somewhat un-PC mnemonic from school, to do with
"oh, sah, coat". Whatever the PC-ness of it, I remembered it. So there.
We had "Tommy On A Ship Of His Caught A Herring"
Certainly stuck in my memory.
And for the quadrants in which the trig functions are positive: Always
Sterilise The Cat.

john
Clive Arthur
2019-11-01 18:19:39 UTC
Permalink
<snip>
Post by BrritSki
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Another thing with Gandhi
What often came in handy
Was passing him a mandy
He didn't half go bandy

Cheers
--
Clive
Mike
2019-11-01 18:33:29 UTC
Permalink
Post by Clive Arthur
<snip>
Post by BrritSki
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Another thing with Gandhi
What often came in handy
Was passing him a mandy
He didn't half go bandy
Cheers
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
--
Toodle Pip
Sally Thompson
2019-11-01 19:58:55 UTC
Permalink
<snippety snip>
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
He gambled his shirt,
And fell in the dirt,
But at least he avoided the gutter.
--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Vicky Ayech
2019-11-01 21:16:08 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Clive Arthur
<snip>
“There was an old man called Gandy
Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade
Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Another thing with Gandhi
What often came in handy
Was passing him a mandy
He didn't half go bandy
Cheers
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
His best speed was les than a putter
So he landed head-first in the gutter.
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-02 07:01:40 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2019-11-02 07:59:28 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2019-11-02 13:11:14 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2019-11-02 13:13:00 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2019-11-02 13:16:33 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
--
Toodle Pip
BrritSki
2019-11-02 13:31:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
Mike
2019-11-02 13:35:21 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
Ok, here’s another invitation for you:

There was a young lady from Rhyll,
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2019-11-02 13:37:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Interested in buying a still,

(Toby continued no doubt)
--
Toodle Pip
Mike
2019-11-02 16:52:48 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Interested in buying a still,
(Toby continued no doubt)
How about:

There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Who was interested in buying a still,
Toby, your price is so stonking,
Well then, let us go bonking,
I’m sorry but, I’m not on the pill.
--
Toodle Pip
BrritSki
2019-11-02 16:59:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Interested in buying a still,
(Toby continued no doubt)
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Who was interested in buying a still,
Toby, your price is so stonking,
Well then, let us go bonking,
I’m sorry but, I’m not on the pill.
Well at least it rhymes this time :/
Mike
2019-11-02 17:09:58 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Interested in buying a still,
(Toby continued no doubt)
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Who was interested in buying a still,
Toby, your price is so stonking,
Well then, let us go bonking,
I’m sorry but, I’m not on the pill.
Well at least it rhymes this time :/
Perhaps I’ll stick with puns...
--
Toodle Pip
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-03 10:37:25 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Whose companions had all had their fill
Of her loudly reciting
The part of the Whiting
From Alice's Lobster Quadrille.
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
BrritSki
2019-11-03 11:59:53 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Whose companions had all had their fill
Of her loudly reciting
The part of the Whiting
From Alice's Lobster Quadrille.
<Applause>
Min
2019-11-03 22:04:19 UTC
Permalink
Post by BrritSki
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Whose companions had all had their fill
Of her loudly reciting
The part of the Whiting
From Alice's Lobster Quadrille.
<Applause>
<lw>
--
Min
Penny
2019-11-02 13:40:59 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 2 Nov 2019 13:31:58 +0000, BrritSki <***@gmail.com>
scrawled in the dust...
Post by BrritSki
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
...
Who mastered the art of turfing,
...
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
...
It doesn't rhyme or scan said Sid cursing
:)
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Penny
2019-11-02 13:38:40 UTC
Permalink
On Sat, 02 Nov 2019 13:16:33 GMT, Mike <***@ntlworld.com> scrawled
in the dust...
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
There was an old man of Calcutta,
Who decided he’d go for a flutter,
(Your turn dear Umrat)
There was an old man of Calcutta
Who decided he’d go for a flutter;
His horse came in last
And his friends were aghast
At the oaths he was then heard to mutter.
:-)
There was a young man from Worthing
There once was a young man from Worthing
Post by Mike
Post by Mike
Who mastered the art of turfing,
Thought he'd mastered the business of turfing
Post by Mike
‘Green side up’ was his motto,
Until one day when totally blotto,
'Green side up' was his cry
But the turf was too dry
So he took up the hobby of surfing.
--
Penny
Annoyed by The Archers since 1959
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-03 16:27:38 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.


(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really! I mean - Worthing! Surely you could cut me a *bit* of
slack?)
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2019-11-03 16:30:39 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really! I mean - Worthing! Surely you could cut me a *bit* of
slack?)
Try Hove (actually) then!
--
Toodle Pip
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-03 18:55:57 UTC
Permalink
Post by Mike
Try Hove (actually) then!
There was a young fellow from Hove
Who burnt his behind on the stove;
He showed it to Nanny
Who said, "That's uncanny -
Your bum looks just like Michael Gove."
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Mike
2019-11-03 21:52:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
Try Hove (actually) then!
There was a young fellow from Hove
Who burnt his behind on the stove;
He showed it to Nanny
Who said, "That's uncanny -
Your bum looks just like Michael Gove."
Top Marks!
(Or perhaps that should be bottom marks?)
--
Toodle Pip
Sally Thompson
2019-11-04 11:11:27 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
Try Hove (actually) then!
There was a young fellow from Hove
Who burnt his behind on the stove;
He showed it to Nanny
Who said, "That's uncanny -
Your bum looks just like Michael Gove."
<guffaw>
--
Sally in Shropshire, UK
Mike
2019-11-04 12:38:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sally Thompson
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
Try Hove (actually) then!
There was a young fellow from Hove
Who burnt his behind on the stove;
He showed it to Nanny
Who said, "That's uncanny -
Your bum looks just like Michael Gove."
<guffaw>
Michael Gove had to be good for something!
--
Toodle Pip
John Ashby
2019-11-03 17:06:06 UTC
Permalink
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really!  I mean - Worthing!  Surely you could cut me a *bit* of
slack?)
The (second) line is immaterial.

john
Anne B
2019-11-03 17:22:01 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Ashby
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really!  I mean - Worthing!  Surely you could cut me a *bit*
of slack?)
The (second) line is immaterial.
john
It could read

Whose manners were not worth a farthing

Anne B
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-03 18:42:47 UTC
Permalink
Post by Anne B
Post by John Ashby
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really!  I mean - Worthing!  Surely you could cut me a *bit*
of slack?)
The (second) line is immaterial.
It could read
Whose manners were not worth a farthing
Not really the right vowel sound to rhyme with Worthing, though.
(Although it does have the soft th sound which neither of mine do.)
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-04 07:22:12 UTC
Permalink
Post by John Ashby
Post by Sid Nuncius
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really!  I mean - Worthing!  Surely you could cut me a *bit*
of slack?)
The (second) line is immaterial.
:o)))
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
Nick Odell
2019-11-07 11:46:12 UTC
Permalink
On Sun, 3 Nov 2019 16:27:38 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really! I mean - Worthing! Surely you could cut me a *bit* of
slack?)
I sympathise.

Apart from Wish You Were Here in 1987, all the best lines about
Worthing were written in the nineteenth century and involved railway
tickets and handbags.

Nick
Mike
2019-11-07 16:24:17 UTC
Permalink
Post by Nick Odell
On Sun, 3 Nov 2019 16:27:38 +0000, Sid Nuncius
Post by Sid Nuncius
Post by Mike
There was a young man from Worthing
...
There was a young woman from Worthing
Who decided good manners weren't her thing;
She lisped when she spoke,
So the good Sussex folk
Heard her thwearing, blathpheming and curthing.
(I changed the gender because
1. it didn't scan properly with "man" and
2. I needed "her" in the next line for the (admittedly dodgy) rhyme.
And I know the stress is all wrong at the end of the the second line,
too, but really! I mean - Worthing! Surely you could cut me a *bit* of
slack?)
I sympathise.
Apart from Wish You Were Here in 1987, all the best lines about
Worthing were written in the nineteenth century and involved railway
tickets and handbags.
Nick
‘My elderly aunt named Lady Bracknell...
--
Toodle Pip
steveski
2019-11-01 21:41:52 UTC
Permalink
Post by Clive Arthur
<snip>
“There was an old man called Gandy Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Another thing with Gandhi
What often came in handy
Was passing him a mandy
He didn't half go bandy
YAIanDuryAICM£5
--
Steveski
Sid Nuncius
2019-11-02 06:03:04 UTC
Permalink
Post by steveski
Post by Clive Arthur
<snip>
“There was an old man called Gandy Woke up in the night feeling randy.
‘Go fetch Miss Slade Or the goat if she’s not handy’.”
LOL
Another thing with Gandhi
What often came in handy
Was passing him a mandy
He didn't half go bandy
YAIanDuryAICM£5
:o)




Oh - Segovia!
--
Sid (Make sure Matron is away when you reply)
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