random Englishness

In the spirit of blogging just for the sake of blogging, here's a random post for ya. We Americans speak the same language as the British, but it's just a little bit different and therefore can be a whole new language. I listed "our English" first, then "their English" ;)

baking soda = bicarbonate soda
parking lot = car park
aluminum = aluminium

(they added an extra "i" for some reason)
snow peas = mange tout

(said with a French accent....by far the strangest one)
maple bars = iced buns
tourists = holiday makers
garbage can = rubbish bin

(or just bin...which is what I call it now)
saran wrap = cling film

(Martin even says it with an Indian accent....filim)
ground beef = ground mince
thank you = cheers (sometimes)

This is my favorite one and I haven't had enough guts to say it yet without feeling like I'm trying too hard to be British. But one day, I'll say it freely

back yard = garden

living room = lounge

bathroom = toilet or loo

sofa/couch = settee

television or tv = telly

gas = petrol

corn = sweetcorn

(nobody ever says just corn)

"teasing you" = "taking a Mickey"

(there are subtle nuances to using this that I still don't get)

"it doesn't matter or "I don't care" = "I'm not bothered" (best pronounced bah-vud)

(this one is my second favorite and I say it to make Martin laugh)

Well, that's a start. I have to go for now. Jorim is cooking spaghetti tonight and he is stressed out...so will go and give him a hand.

my future new sports car

I'm awake for some reason at 2:36 am. I've been sleeping like a champion for months and months and months. But I'm awake. Which is a shame, because usually Martin snores and I have to wear ear plugs ...but tonight he wasn't. What a missed opportunity for peace and quiet while sleeping.

Anyway, so I'm blogging because I've been convicted by all of you goody two-shoes bloggers who are so diligent and perfect and committed to it. :P

Since all of my pictures are either still on my camera or trapped on our other broken computer, this was all I could find. It's from Ebay and it's the car that I'm shopping for. A 1994 Nissan Micra. They don't have them in the States. But it's perfect for island driving on narrow streets with really expensive petrol. It'll be my new white sports car to replace my 1994 Nissan Sentra.

Sometimes God gives us just what we need and sometimes that's good enough.