Relearning English...

I am proud of the fact that as time goes on I am getting more adjusted to the "English" language. Yes...you read that right. There appears to be many differences from the American form. I still have to moniter my words to prevent embarrassment to myself and worse yet, my poor husband. Bless him. (or simply "Bless.." as he prefers...:) He is a patient interpreter. Not only are many of the terms and words entirely different, but getting past the dialects is another challenge. One learns to listen very closely....I never imagined I would be on the other end of the polite smile and nod. Yet...I have been....many don't know what the hell I am saying either!! I love it...does that make me a silly cow or git..? Only my husband will really tell me for sure....kindly.

Where shall I begin? It's all good....and fun. Unless you are on a bus and have no idea where you are...in that case you just hope that they speak English in any form!! Yes...I am picking up on many phrases and terms....just to avoid confusion. Must remember....pants mean underwear... if knickers isn't used of course. The bathroom is where you bathe or wash only....toilet or "loo" is preferred for potty....oh and they don't use that one either.

I have always used "nappy" for sleep....not here....that would be the equivalent of diaper...."kip" would be right. Because if you have a kip....you must be knackered or shattered after your evening tea (meal) because you were quite peckish (hungry) and had to murder a chip butty (dinner fries on a cob....uh...bun) and jelly (jello) . Well...you get the point.

IN any case....books have been written on this subject, I'm sure....at least they could be. Yet...they would have to encompass all of Britain....not only British to Irish to Scottish and Welsh..(they probably wouldn't want to be included anyway...plus they still speak Welsh...no....REALLY) but WHERE they are from.....Black Country (yam yams), Geordie, Estuary, Cockney, Cornish...again...you get the point!

The best part is every day I am learning something new and that is the fun in it. Perhaps not to the unfortunate soul on the other end of the conversation. Thank goodness the folks here are more patient than we Americans. Bless.