A chance word at Holy Eucharist this evening gave me the idea for another installment of the main theme of this blog.
My wife was holding the baby, literally, as a church member had brought along her six-week old son and Gail immediately gave mother a break by holding him throughout the service. Young Timothy started to whimper during our monthly, informal evening service of Eucharist with Healing, so his mother passed Gail a pacifier [dummy].
During the supper which followed (our Vicar had made a truly excellent vegetarian black bean soup), baby talk showed up some other "same language-different words" for common baby items. Gail fortunately did not have to undo Timothy’s babygro [onesie] to change his nappy [diaper], but she did have to wind [burp] him. Nor did she have to push his buggy or the older version “pushchair”, [stroller] or put him to bed in his cot [crib] or Moses basket [bassinet]. When Timothy is old enough to ride his first bike [cycle] he will probably need stabilizers [training wheels] and when his parents need a night out they will need the services of a baby sitter [child minder].
As much as I enjoyed our Vicar's soup, the icing [frosting] on the cake at tonight's supper was the inclusion of some ginger nut [ginger snap] biscuits [cookies] - yummee [yummee]!
My wife was holding the baby, literally, as a church member had brought along her six-week old son and Gail immediately gave mother a break by holding him throughout the service. Young Timothy started to whimper during our monthly, informal evening service of Eucharist with Healing, so his mother passed Gail a pacifier [dummy].
During the supper which followed (our Vicar had made a truly excellent vegetarian black bean soup), baby talk showed up some other "same language-different words" for common baby items. Gail fortunately did not have to undo Timothy’s babygro [onesie] to change his nappy [diaper], but she did have to wind [burp] him. Nor did she have to push his buggy or the older version “pushchair”, [stroller] or put him to bed in his cot [crib] or Moses basket [bassinet]. When Timothy is old enough to ride his first bike [cycle] he will probably need stabilizers [training wheels] and when his parents need a night out they will need the services of a baby sitter [child minder].
As much as I enjoyed our Vicar's soup, the icing [frosting] on the cake at tonight's supper was the inclusion of some ginger nut [ginger snap] biscuits [cookies] - yummee [yummee]!
4 comments:
Just out of curiosity. If you invite someone over for afternoon tea, what time would you expect that person to be there?
And I assume one would generally service biscuits with tea? Or some other sweets?
I enjoyed this post, Mick. There have been many times in conversation with my English cousins that we've all had to stop and explain ourselves. I guess we really are divided by a common language!
Lyn,
English tea is usually served at 4pm. Traditionally biscuits are rarely served. Instead delicate white bread sandwiches (with crusts removed) are served (egg and cress, cucumber and salmon, fishpaste, etc.). These are then followed by a slice of light sponge cake, usually Victoria Sponge or in recent times a fresh cream cake, usually a vanilla slice (another English delicacy I miss), with copious cups (not mugs) of tea.
Thanks Mick. Sorry for going OT, but in one of my stories, I have a student being invited to the Headmistress' office for tea, and I wanted to be sure I had it right. Thanks for indulging my curiosity.
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