Things you hear said...

'All good things must come to an end.' As sayings go, this is my least favourite. Why must all good things come to an end? Why can't they go on forever? Surely a better saying would be 'All bad things must come to an end'? That makes more sense to me.

At the minute, apart from a few minor storms on the horizon, all is good. So why would I need the good stuff to stop? This would leave more room for bad stuff to start... and who needs that?

'Social Networking'

What is 'social' about it? Surely 'anti-social networking' would be better?

People don't talk to each other anymore.

I have lots of 'friends' on these social websites who I haven't spoke to in ages (or may never speak to again). But on this thing; we can chat. We chat all the time... but never face to face. And perhaps I am as guilty as the next person. I am writing this after all...

So if a face-to-face conversation is out of the question, the 'chat' thing on Facebook (to name one), looks like being the answer. But I still send post-cards. I write e-mails and will at a push, send the odd text but somehow, I always think a postcard will put a bigger smile on a friendly face and somehow, make their day a little brighter. Just think... a person has travelled, (not very far in my case sometimes), found a card, bought a stamp, written the card, dug out the address and entrusted it to the Royal Mail... (it's easier to send an e-mail don't ya think?!)

A postcard to brighten up someones day? I hope so. They always brighten up mine...

Too many cooks spoiling the viewing...

Why is it that whenever I switch the TV on nowadays, there is every chance that it'll be a cookery show? What was the trigger that sent this nation of fish and chip munchers into cookery overdrive? In actual fact, we are probably more a nation of curry eaters now anyway... isn't curry the UK's national dish?

Whatever the reason, it still doesn't explain the number of cooks, (I mean chefs) popping up on TV. And they're not just chefs and cooks either... from members of the public trying to win Masterchef 'to fulfil the dream they have had since childhood of owning & running a restaurant...', to Lloyd Grossman hosting and judging his own show, (not to mention making his own sauces for us to buy... where is the cooking in that?!), to Nigella Lawson? Even Sophie Dahl (the celebrated model) is having a go now. I have even seen a food quiz recently... but I didn't stay tuned in to see who won.

So what's going on? According to Reuters, in the UK the average mum relies on only 9 recipes to feed the family. So who benefits from all this 'cooking'? The people who sell all those weird and wonderful ingredients you'd never heard of until last month and now it's the 'must have kitchen cupboard occupant'? What about the books that have been written and that have been bought by people so they know what to do with that marjoram they bought yesterday? How about the people who write the books? Some Australian cook was on TV this morning, (she was making scrambled eggs as I flicked through) and she has written 16! How many recipes does she know?!

Perhaps the real beneficiaries are the people who sell kitchen gadgets. We all have them in the drawer. Something you bought a while back, used once and never since. Or maybe the people who sell kitchens? Surely with all those unused condiments and kitchen equipment etc, the life-expectancies of the cupboards are being shortened through the sheer weight of that unused 'junk' held within?

My advice? If you want it. Save your money. Don't buy that olive stone remover or the (absolutely lethal) mandolin. If you fancy something different or exotic, go out and have a meal cooked by somebody who knows what they are doing. Maybe a curry? You know you will anyway...

And if you still have aspirations of being a chef then do what Gordon Ramsey does. Cook anything. And I mean absolutely anything. Then drizzle it with olive oil... Done!

So what is 'bad' language?

So, for today I have been browsing the internet for a job... (didn't see anything of interest or anything that matched my skills set but that is another blog for another day...)

While looking for that elusive job and thinking about making a great impression in that interview; I got to wondering what constituted 'bad language'? Can there be such a thing as a bad word if it is recognised as being part of a language? If such words are used by an individual, surely this demonstrates a better vocabulary and understanding of the language?

Here's Stephen Fry's take on it all...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HSQmk6gGTcE&feature=related

As a rule I try, (to varying levels of success) and limit myself to only three expressions of disgust/dismay and they all begin with 'c'...

'Cack', for mild expressions when only 'bad' language will do. 'Cock', a little stronger and for real naughtiness... 'Custard'. The last one being a combination of two expletives... you'll work it out.

Welcome...

Don't be fooled by the title of this blog... I am not idle, but at the minute have time to devote to this long forgotten art. Though that said; you can only really be idle if you have lots of work to do.