Bow down to the style setters
Victor Grasty of Padstow Heights read our burgundy bow tie thread (C8) “and remembered that I’d bought one in the ’60s. Much to my own surprise, I found it, still in its cellophane wrapper. I only remember wearing it twice, and have moved countries and many homes since then. What does this say about me, or burgundy bow ties?”
It’s much the same for Brian Harris of Wahroonga who decided to check his “long unused tie collection that somehow survived my downsizing. My burgundy bow tie remained intact, along with black, red and multicoloured versions – none of which have been used this century and well beyond. Perhaps those of us in advancing years suffer from tie retention syndrome – is there a cure?”
“Further to the recent discussion of wearing burgundy and chocolate clothing to a wedding, if it were me, I’d just wear an old white shirt and allow for red wine and chocolate stains,” offers David Ogden of Winston Hills. “Problem solved!”
Call it what you want, but at the very least, Vicki Zvargulis of Corrimal has a system: “At 81 years of age I read the death notices every day to see if my name is there. Relieved if it is absent, I can then enjoy the rest of the newspaper.”
“Not so fast on the claim that AI can’t do the weeding (C8),” writes Chris Keane of Seattle, USA. “I’ve watched a video of a behemoth industrial crop weeder that, as it lumbers along the crop rows, uses AI to identify compliant seedling crops from the unwanted weeds. A high energy death-ray laser is then used to instantly exterminate the troublemakers. I, for one, welcome our AI overlords.”
“More linguistic muddles (C8) with the attempt to compare ‘bridal’ with a hypothesised ‘groomal’. No can do!” claims Susan Bradley of Eltham (Vic). “‘Bridal’ functioned as a noun for a long time, and was made of ‘bride’ and ‘ale’; in other words, the wedding feast. Groom-ale for some reason did not catch on.”
Mia David of Wollongong adds: “Further to fox/foxen, if the plural of brother is brethren, shouldn’t the plural of mother be methren?”
Getting in on the act is Barry Lamb of Eastwood: “Further to groomal parties, should not university women receive spinster degrees, and if proceeding further academically, perhaps gain a mistress? And rather than women mastering a skill, should they not mistress it?”
Column8@smh.com.au
No attachments, please.
Include name, suburb and daytime phone.