BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: Mysha
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 05:07 PM

Hi,

Well, now that we're on that subject: I had a class mate once, whose every schoolbook one could immediately recognise as being his property, since all his books were covered with newspapers. Cheap protection, available in quantity and it allowed him to jot down occasional thoughts in empty spots and later simply exchange the newspaper (or maybe he wrapped another layer around them, I don't know). I guess you could do the same, to completely hide the original artwork, plus it would give the lookers-on something to try and read as well.


Of course, in the vein of this thread, can I advise you to spread several newspaper pages out on your cluttered desk, when you do this. And only do this after you've just placed a small but important document there, I would have to insist on that. Then you should shift the pages around, with the book already on them, to detect the best fit, and when you've finally wrapped the book, you can throw the other papers in the basket without taking a second look at them, so you can leave in a hurry to catch the gardener you see outside your window, whom you mean to instruct regarding the bonfire you want lit next week.

Having done this, you should then have you plenty of reason to suspect the other members of your household, and especially the guests, of appropriating aforementioned small but important document, and to track their movements while at the same trying to avoid the person that needs to have access to it, or maybe making up excuses about its temporary absence. By the time you have eliminated all possible suspects, and have been forced to admit that you haven't got a clue as to its whereabouts, a gentle soul might help you remember the desk, the papers, and the paper basket, so you might discover that the basket has been emptied, and the gardener is just now using the papers to light the bonfire.

I have to warn you though, that after this utter failure, you'll be an easy target for your niece, the one you lend a book to a few days ago, who claims she can solve all your problems if only you will support her in doing something young and foolish, like marrying someone she loves.

Bye,
                                                                Mysha

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: robomatic
Date: 30 Nov 09 - 10:01 PM

Not too long ago I obtained the Jeeves & Wooster saga of Laurie & Fry. I'd watched most but not all of them on American Public Broadcasting, and aside from their intrinsic worth, just love watching Laurie do Bertie after an episode of "House". One lovely surprise was the pilot episode where Jeeves shows up to take over Wooster's life as he is coming to consciousness after a night of it and his first five speechless minutes of coming to grips with sobering reality while faced with Jeeves utter equanimity and powers of order had me helpless almost floor-bound, for the hilarity of the moment and the volumes not spoken of how a society regarded its own powers of order, behavior, and bounds of decorum. In the Jeeves look one can summon the entire British Empire looking at the world and saying softly "think you ever did any better?"

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 01 Dec 09 - 01:00 PM

Effortless superiority is the only sort worth having.

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 02 Dec 09 - 10:34 PM

I found the essay in Dutch -- it is in 'Weekend Wodehouse" published in '51 and reprinted in '53 (my edition - perhaps reprinted since then). The article is on P. 98 (my edition) titled "Good news from Denmark' but - of course - is in Danish so I have no idea what it says.

The quote I mangled in an earlier post referred to Roderick Glossop, janitor to the looney bin.

'......I mean constantly having to sit on people's heads while their nearest and dearest phone to the asylum to send round the wagon - does tend to make a chappie take what you might call a warped view of humanity.'

Love that man......

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 03 Dec 09 - 12:39 AM

NB Trubrit - I appreciate the blinkered view implied in yr choice of nickname: but please observe that Dutch & Danish are NOT the same language...

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: TRUBRIT
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 08:11 PM

And I KNOW that and I totally apologize - a slip of the typing finger -- very careless and thoughtless on my part.......

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: Alice
Date: 18 Dec 09 - 10:41 PM

Beer, I collect them. I try to find the old hard bound copies. The most recently purchased one, though, must have tasted good to my late samoyed dog, as he chewed the binding, which almost made me cry!

Subject: RE: BS: P.G.Wodehouse slang query.
From: Riginslinger
Date: 19 Dec 09 - 09:50 AM

That's a good idea, Alice. Where do you find them, used book stores, garage sales...?