Sogger’s Blog

I read recently that the Euro 2008 final is to be shown on prime-time TV in the Eastern US for the first time because the European immigrant community is so important that many people are interested. Euro 2008 is facing the real possibility of a Turkey versus Russia final. Americans are notorious (outside of the US), for their ignorance of European geography, but it would be hard to criticise them when they see the final of the major European sporting event being contested between 2 countries that are clearly not European (even if one of them has European aspirations)! (0)

As a mixed language family, we often have conversations that are perfectly natural to us, but because of the English and French mix (often in the same sentence) are unintelligible to the outsider. My son came up with a gem yesterday. I shouted something to him from another room - something that did not please him. His response was, “Blinking Heck, Ooh Là Là“. The phrase Blinking Heck comes from me, trying to curb my language, and the Ooh Là Là is natural. I doubt there are many children in the world who would use such an expression of exasperation. Probably just as well. (0)

…to a blog near you…. You were intrigued by scoop 1? You winced at scoops 2, 3 and 4 ? Well, pretty soon, like my mouth, you’ll gape at scoop 5. Hollywood (the chewing gum) is already discussing film rights for scoop 6, planned for early 2009. (0)

In the days before mobile phones and using the web for searching, my mate Andy needed to know the phone number of his friend. My mate Andy sensibly decided to call Directory Enquiries. When asked for the address, my mate Andy gave his own address. My mate Andy duly noted the phone number corresponding to the address and went as far as dialling it before realising that it was his own phone number. My mate Andy thought that they asked for your address for recording purposes and didn’t find it strange that they didn’t ask for his friend’s address. Alcohol has a tendency to make you accept warped logic. (0)

The 3 most important things I learnt at university were:

1. You aren’t as big or as clever as you thought you were,
2. Shut your mouth and listen, you might just learn something,
3. When making instant coffee, put the milk in before pouring in the hot water; when making tea with a teabag in the cup, put the hot water in first.

All the rest was purely incidental. (0)