Cultural Learnings of England to Make Benefit.... Oh, sod it.

I haven't been anywhere exciting since my trip to Wales, but I figure that doesn't have to stop me from updating. There won't be any further trips until my mate arrives in February, so this should tide over my masses of adoring fans (thanks Mum!).

I thought I'd do a bit of a 'separated by a common language' post. This comes up a lot in conversation; more so in teaching as we frequently have to translate what we're saying (I translate for the kids and they translate for me). I'll write in Standard Australian English, and put the Essex/South-East England/London translation in brackets.

1. There is a severe weather warning issued for heavy rain (Oh dear God! Move to higher ground! There will be approximately 15mm of rain!). ** Note that we had this particular warning at the same time as Bowen and Prosperpine received 180mm in 15 hours.

2. I am going to sit on the couch (sofa) under my doona (duvet).

3. I wear pants (underwear). I wear thongs (underwear). What we mean when we say pants is what they call trousers. What we call thongs, they call flip flops.

4. You are an annoying person (lairy git).

5. Put the rubbish out for the garbo (binmen) to collect.

6. I am in grade (year) 10.

7. I am going to drive to the Lake District in one day (I am going to do something that is considered superhuman and virtually impossible without it taking at least 4 days to travel in each direction). **Note that it was a 300 mile trip.

8. I do not like zucchini (courgette).

9. I would like to have a social life (have more meetings, set more targets, work harder and longer).

That's all I can think of for now, although I know there's more out there... In the meantime, I'm going to go and have a shower (bath).