The Four Horsemen

Thanks FF - I thought they might be somewhat better known on the other side of the pond (and indeed wondered if Margaret Truman Daniel was related to Harry H Truman) - I feel suitably enlightened, and all without having to bother with Google or Wiki either. What a fount of all knowledge this forum is........

Maybe he was just a very efficient head-masseur? N.B. 300th post, and a cheap jibe at religion - excellent!

Surely not the Gerry Glaister and Canon Austin Masters??

Who are Lloyd Bentsen and Margaret Truman Daniel?

Are you picking on our Royal Correspondant? And surely this was a prime death for the Prime Minister of Luxembourg to comment on??

I wouldn't use that phrase if I were you - Mad Eileen will be round telling us how Jesus rode without a saddle to scourge himself for our sins............

Don't be so hard on yourself (although Josco seems to be up for consoling you) - although I feel it is about time that you found yourself an avatar - any ideas?

You could have sounded pleased about it.........

And yet nobody has done the cunning linguist joke yet??

I found it came as a terrible blow........

Surely this is an old Yorkshire word for the long-forgotten role of professional turkey cook? Thought to have derived from a shortening of sentences describing their role e.g. "Ey up, aa'm t'man oo bastes them turkeys" which in time became t'baster man which in some regions was then corrupted into Bastertman. Well that's my theory anyway!

After Mrs T got into power. surely that should be "Banned Leader"?

And here's me deliberately NOT making "members" prominent, but some people just can't resist............. I won't tell Mrs Josco if you don't.......

Anyone got any suggestion for what thing that might be? And what thing a young Russian girl might be able to do that would make various members of this forum very happy?

The Flintstones character?

I noticed that but didn't like to say anything - maybe his PC has been grounded??

Now now, let's not reignite old rivalries and hostilities - there's plenty of people in the Kilroy-Silk thread to do that!

That comma is also unnecessary as the sentence flows without it - commas are used in the same way as you would pause for breath while speaking, and in this case is most unwelcome!

It's very rare that we get a recurrent guest poster, and then people are rude and not very welcoming - it's not like poor Amanda has even mentioned magic logs or a desire to work in meteorology, which as we all know are cast iron characteristics for abuse..............

Thanks DWB - I was sidelined at work before I got round to it and then forgot!

I'd look here if I were you...... [Topics now merged - DWB]

It's true that the most abrupt influence changes have been from war and invasion, but there is also a history of "creeping" change - and welcoming refugees for that matter. The Hugenots in the 18th Century for example. Some British tribes in the Iron Age were also adopting a "Romanised" way of life before the invasion, and the whole Roman influence can be seen as a gradual process rather than a sudden shift. I knew my archaeology degree would come in useful one day........

I would also like to add the the "Britishness" that people seem so keen to cite as a reason for resisting immigration et al is actually an amalgam of overseas cultures (the Normans were French, the Vikings Scandanavian, the Angles and Saxons came from Germany to name but 4 branches of "British" society). The fact is that national demographics are not static and change has been happening for centuries - so all this talk over preserving the British way of life is actually a mission to preserve a French/Danish/German/Italian/Most of Europe way of life. I wonder if all the anti-immigration people are aware of their multicultural heritage?

Not something that we could accuse you of being, clearly. I'm sure that there would be the normal mix of pro and anti immigration/asylum views, much like today. Only trouble is that vocal, blinkered and bigoted views seem to get much more exposure than rational and moderate opinions but I think it was ever thus. Do we detect from your rant that you would like to forcibly remove all the Australians, New Zealanders, Americans et al from these shores? I'd hate to think that you were going to be misinterpreted and come across as racist, so if you could just clear that up?

I beg to differ if attending a Village People concert. And surely initiation ceremonies are something that the all-powerful admin team should look at? Possibly deliberately antagonising drive-by ranters or initiating dicussions with potential meteorologists might work........