Next EDF Drink @ The Clockhouse Pub on Friday 11/5

[Michael Palaeologus]

As a reminder to one and all, the next EDF gathering will be at the Clockhouse Pub this Friday (11/5) from about 7.30pm onward.

Come and put the faces to names and then run away screaming in horror - well at mine anyway.

See you there?

[SeanMacGabhann]

oh for sure

[Ladygooner]

I should be able to make it - shall I save a table for other fellow Gooners?!

[Jimbo]

I will be there....

Nice idea to get a table for the Gooners, it's always good to keep them out of the way!!!!

[Huguenot]

I've my stag do... so I don't think I (and hopefully Mockney) will be able to make it... :'(

However, we're considering providing some lifesize cardboard cut-outs.

[Keef]

Can you make one up of me too, as I won't be there this time.... Well I might make it for one, but it's doubtful....

[Mogs]

Me too, with my stash or post it notes

[seemster]

Um, Hi. I'll probably be free on Friday (she says, carefully hedging her bets and keeping all options open...) I think I'd be a bit nervous though. Can you re-assure me that it will all be fine and friendly and everyone's welcome?

[mockney piers]

Seemaa, I've been along to the others, and the main thing i was struck by was how normal everyone was. We were all a bit nervous first time as we don't 'do this sort of thing' either.

But everyone was friendly and personable and I like to think I've made some pretty good friends out of it all. It also means you see familiar faces more often and even the odd impromptu coffee or pint :)

[seemster]

Thanks Mockney, I consider myself reassured, and hope to see some of you Friday!

[SeanMacGabhann]

Seemaa

Last meetup was my first time. The paranoid me thinks that's why so many of the regulars can't make this one

But there will be plenty of people to meet and they are all good fun. But you WILL suffer the next day....

[seemster]

I'll have to be good then and just come for one or two... Although, oddly, I've noticed my ability to count always deserts me after the second drink...

[Mark]

the Clockhouse is here http://www.streetmap.co.uk/newmap.srf?x=534414&y=175110&z=1&sv=534414,175110&st=OSGrid&lu=N&tl=~&ar=y&bi=~&mapp=newmap.srf&searchp=newsearch.srf

by the way, should be interesting to see how they've refurbished it.

It really is fine Seemaa, the people on here are actually normal even though they seem to spend half their life on the forum ;-) And like Mockney says, you get to know a few friendly faces in the area

[louisiana]

Agreed Mark. The turnout for the WI meet last week was full of stunningly normal people who were almost abnormal in their normality :)

[Michael Palaeologus]

What a marvellous commendation - stunningly normal!

[Jah Lush]

We are normal and we want our freedom!

[TillieTrotter]

I'm not normal, can I still come>:D

[Jah Lush]

Yeah, me too. I'm anything but. How you define normal anyway?

[TillieTrotter]

I think you have to leave that definition to your peers. I've heard people (behind my back of course) saying she is definately not normal>:D

[Michael Palaeologus]

....and why do our American friends insist on calling "normality" (a prefectly good word) "normalcy" (a word that is akin to running your fingernail down a blackboard)?

[Jah Lush]

Because our American cousins are illiterate fools. That's a sweeping generalisation I know. They speak English but a lot of the spelling of our words are spelt incorrectly i.e color without the u. Normalcy sounds like some sort of illness or disease doesn't it? Anyway I am way off the subject of this thread. Sorry.

[Fear 'n boozin]

Staying off topic, isn't it all the Victorians fault. We spelt any old way we wanted, and then they came along and standardiszed it all? Thus causing a great schism between us and the Yanks (and their, to be quite frank, much easier to use spelling system). Not that I know this, any experts out there. Huguenot? The always talkative Bulwer? I'd like to know....

[mockney piers]

I thought one of their number deliberately changed American spelling to differentiate and distance themselves from their old masters

[Muttley]

Perhaps folk should read Bill Bryson's Mother Tongue before criticising American spelling. Many words like color and realize are actually the original old English spelling, so they're being more traditional than we are. On the subject of spelling, do a search of the words "definately" and "definitely" on this forum. You'll find something very interesting/disturbing depending on your point of view.

They do say that in America, all nouns can be verbed. In East Dulwich all threads can be lounged. Do I see the Pythonesque foot of the Administrator approaching...

[Fear 'n boozin]

Rings a bell, but didn't half of them (the Americans) speak/write German round the time this was happening? And, er, that meaning they might not have had much influence? On American English. Until the late 19/early 20 century. Ish. Maybe.

Muttley - In a similar vein, David Crystal's The Stories of English is pretty good. I just wish I could remember it......