A dialect word I learned from a climbing mate from Nottingham was "nesh" = to complain overly about being cold. My mum was stationed in the potteries during the war and remembers people there being "starved with cold". Then of course there's the ubiquitous "it's brass monkies", "Brass monkey weather" etc. And finally "A lazy wind" = one that can't be bothered to blow round you.

As you may have gathered, it's finally got round to proper autumn weather here in NZ.

One term which was common in Kent but which I haven't heard elsewhere was "Chave" = mate, cobber etc (possibly a contraction / mispronunciation of Chief)

On the subject of "hallian" a common description of said mucky infants in Dover was "rapscallion" possibly the same source?

As to distinctive pronunciations, for some reason the Froggies pronounce "cinque" as in the Cinque Ports, as "sarnke" instead of the correct "Sink".

Which reminds me Steve, I've been thinking about names for furriners, and I can't really think of any that I would consider offensive in intent. Had you any in mind?

Pete M