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Quiz time

Comments

1. At 03:35 PM on 12 Oct 2006, wrote:

   A "cooking entitlement"?!?!? I think I've heard it all now!

2. At 03:49 PM on 12 Oct 2006, wrote:

   I should've said that my guess is that it wasn't Education. It's probably either Health, or even Food & Rural Affairs...

3. At 04:04 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Ruud Fortt wrote:

   
   Was it a written statement or did you just mishear what was said?
   

4. At 04:14 PM on 12 Oct 2006, wrote:

   Department? No. I think young Rupert's the author. Clearly, he's underpaid at the Beeb and has to moonlight...

5. At 04:24 PM on 12 Oct 2006, RobbieDo wrote:

   Educashion, Educasion, Educacion.

6. At 04:28 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Whisht wrote:

   Eddie, will you be quoting this later..?

   that's "later" as in "later" not "letter". One must be clear when one writes, I'm sure you'll agree....

7. At 04:31 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Peter Wharton wrote:

   DWP speak, it was when I worked there, have now retired, yipee!!

8. At 04:50 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

   My guess is International Development, although not the lovely Hilary himself - one of his minions.

9. At 04:58 PM on 12 Oct 2006, wrote:

   I fear it could have been any of them. I recently had cause to complete an "Adult numeracy Level 2 " course (don't ask, but it seemed churlish to refuse). Part of the "basic skills" remit that we're all supposed to have. I used to sit over the computer at the learn direct centre tut tutting over the spelling, punctuation & general sense of the questions. I remember "The Independant" (sic!) featured in a question about newspaper circulations. Clearly "Adult Numeracy" was not to be confused with "Literacy" - in fact one seemed to preclude the other. I never got to do the literacy course (my diagnostic test wasn't bad enough) but I bet they numbered the questions 1, 3, 7, 2, 4.

10. At 05:00 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Fifi wrote:

    What's Mr Prescott doing talking about education?

    The likeness is uncanny.

11. At 06:12 PM on 12 Oct 2006, John wrote:

    Does Mr Prescott have several cooking entitlements?

12. At 06:37 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Chaz wrote:

    The so called artist whom PM interviewed was clearly on some sort of cosmology trip, building what sounded like 'Homer Simpson does even crappier woodwork', was the thickest person ever to attempt this genre.
    He said Binary Stars were a recent discovery (NOT - it was 1802 when William Herschel coined the term), then he babbled on about them being 'different universes' to ours - utter nonsense - I thought most kids of about 8 could tell you the difference between the Universe and Solar Systems.
    He babbled about his whizzing light bulbs and the clearly crap job he has done in construction - he needs to go and see real astro simulations and then give up.
    I finally despaired when he dribbled some nonsense about another work, a wooden jigsaw (all computer cut) being something relevant to cosmology. I couldn't hear his last remarks as I was laughing so much. Was it a piss-take Eddie? PM's equivalent of the Alan Wicker spaghetti trees?
    Cheers,
    Chaz

13. At 07:22 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Dr Hackenbush wrote:

    Chaz, even I knew he was wrong when he used the term universe instead of solar system. But perhaps he was building a cistern.

    When it comes to ‘cooking entitlement’, I wonder if this is a euphemism for ‘the right to be cooked’.

14. At 07:37 PM on 12 Oct 2006, John H. wrote:

    Since I missed most of tonight's programme - burdened as I was with the onerous duty of walking the dog - I can't comment on Chaz's diatribe (12). And anyway, what I wanted to write about is nothing to do with anything recent. I just wanted to say to those TP fans out there that when I bought Wintersmith last week, I didn't look at it (I knew it would probably tempt me away from the book I was reading) so how delighted was I today to discover that it's a Tiffany tale?! I love the Tiffany storie. Interesting (since I've not read it yet) that it's not styled as for a younger audience - I wonder if that's because the publishers realise that a book in the series is always going to be seen as a book in the series, or if it's a bit like a PG certificate version of the Teletubbies. I shall have to wait and see. I notice the nice big typeface though - because "younger" readers can't see the smaller font size?

    Clearly, I've wandered into a bit of a gripe there, so I'll just add that whilst I love TP to bits, and do not begrudge him one iota of his success, I do find the endless listing of the Discworld derivatives at the front of the books a bit, well, unseemly. Perhaps it's all of the footnotes.

    On a brighter note, am I alone in enjoying the "later" books more than the first handful? I love those as well, but I remember talking to somebody who said he'd read the first 3 or 4 and then thought, "why am I doing this?" and didn't bother with anymore. I reckon TP was just about getting into his stride by then.

    Am I frogging like a smug so-and-so who has a brand new Pratchett book to read?

15. At 08:29 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    My late S.O. read a few Pratchetts and tried to interest me, but it just always seemed a bit like, well, fiction for people who like to listen to Pink Floyd, to be honest, i.e. really not my thing. Boy-stuff (I know, I know - there are girls who like TP and PF too).

    Anyway, I demand my right to be cooked (but very gently with a high factor sunscreen as I'm fair-skinned...)

16. At 09:49 PM on 12 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Hey Apps:)) I think you might like some of the later TP books, where the characters take more of a centre stage. I still think that Mort (bk4) is still the pinnacle of the series. It's where the series went from being about the scenario to being about the people...

17. At 10:40 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Well Fearless, since you say that I might give that one a go if it's still kicking around somewhere - got the first "Modesty Blaise" book to read at the minute though (a venture into something different on a recommendation). However, I'm not sure I can take literary recommendations from someone who's spent the last three weeks otherwise engaged: the hormones may have affected your judgement ;)

18. At 10:47 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Stewart M wrote:

    Whilst on the subject of TP I think the Science of Discworld series of "educational?" books are great fun. Co-written by Jack Cohen and Ian Stewart. So you get the real world explanation seen from the eyes of the Fantasy world (or is it the other way round). This Blog goes off on some tangents!!

19. At 11:03 PM on 12 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Ah, and that's the joy of it, isn't it Stewart?

20. At 11:12 PM on 12 Oct 2006, gossipmistress wrote:

    From the BH Newsletter 12/10/06:
    
    "The managers are away at an away day. This involves their being away, for the day. By the time they return -- quite possibly tomorrow -- everything could have changed with our programme or with any other"

    From the PM Newsletter 12/10/06:
    
    "Join me if you can. Don't fret if you're in a meeting. All of our senior management have gone to an awayday. So who knows what we'll put on the air??"

    
    Have Eric & Paddy been copying homework again?
    

21. At 12:07 AM on 13 Oct 2006, valery pedant wrote:

    I'd be hard pushed to have to choose between Rincewind and Vimes, don't make me choose, please!

    Motocross from Madrid on the box for those who like?

22. At 08:03 AM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Apps! I've not spent the last three weeks doing what you're alluding to! (Would that I had been....)

    All I will say to you, Val P is Oook!

23. At 10:54 AM on 13 Oct 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Same management for BH and PM, I'd reckon. Long ago when I worked for a while at the physical BH, WATO,PM and TW2 were all one department and I'd hazard a guess that BH is part of that...

    But that's soooooo prosaic. I'm sure much better ideas can be had for this, er, coincidence

24. At 11:02 AM on 13 Oct 2006, Frances O wrote:

    Ooooooh! Genius thought. If we want to find out if a bigwig is posting on these boards, just check who hasn't posted during the awayday.

    Unless they're clever enough to sneak in a quick post on their laptop just to throw us off the scent...

25. At 11:24 AM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Well, Appy did say she couldn't log on 'til she got home last night...

26. At 11:48 AM on 13 Oct 2006, Jonny wrote:

    Well there is another thing that Tony Blair's cronies haven't managed to get around to doing! I thought it was all about 'Education, Education, Education'! ...Looks like we might have to start at the top!

27. At 12:20 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    I'd heard alot about TP, so bought a random book (Fifth Elephant, I think) and found it dull.

    Then my theatre group did a stage version of The Wyrd Sisters and now I'm hooked, I got to know the witches quite well (the actresses are always in my mind whenever I read the witches stories, Ann, Shiela and Annie won't like that one bit!)

    I'm still to read the 5th Elephant, I'll leave it till last methinks.

    I also think the later books are better, I thought the Thief of Time to be "nearly literature" as TP wouldn't like me saying ...

28. At 01:09 PM on 13 Oct 2006, Fifi wrote:

    So, Eddie, put us out of your misery.

    Which department DID say it?

29. At 01:12 PM on 13 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Well done Fearless, I am indeed a ³ÉÈËÂÛ̳ Bigwig. Which is why I don't watch much TV and have 3.5 channels when I do want to watch...

    And that sheep in the picture the other day was one of mine too...

    If you haven't spent the last three weeks indulging in said activity why did you say you would be modded if you mentioned it on an earlier thread then, eh? Get out of that and stay smut-free!! (?)

    ;)

30. At 01:30 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    A challenge if ever I saw one! Right....

    I haven't been indulging in the activity that you are alluding to earlier by saying that my hormones may have been affecting my advice to you. Now, in my other posts on an earlier thread, I was attempting to correct a possible mis-understanding regarding whether or not I wanted to be a party to said activity. This mis-understanding arose from a poor choice of words when I posted without thinking too clearly about how my statement could be mis-read. I wanted to say that should I want to post in more detail here about the matter, it would probably be moderated out...

    Phew! Writing all that without using the normal words isn't all that easy!

    Does that clear things up for you, Appy?!?!?

31. At 02:10 PM on 13 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    No, but it was entertaining reading! ;)

32. At 02:55 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Blast! and I thought I'd been as clear as I could without going downmarket :p

33. At 05:07 PM on 13 Oct 2006, valery pedant wrote:

    Fearless, yup the Librarian is a favourite!

34. At 06:00 PM on 13 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    I posted a response to 32 conveying my extreme amusement ages ago. Why has it not appeared?

35. At 06:21 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Appy (34) Search me! I think we've all givem up on understanding why some posts are almost immediately put up, while others take hours to arrive. Is this a case of "snail-frogging"???

36. At 06:45 PM on 13 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Dunno. Anyway - your 32 made me laugh LOTS :)

37. At 08:03 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    BIG grin! :D

    Then my purpose in frogging worked

38. At 09:48 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Oh dear. I can’t think of a more appropriate response.

39. At 10:02 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Dr H. pray tell, which post are you responding to? After all, we're all so well behaved here that you shouldn't need to say "oh dear" at all :o)

40. At 10:39 PM on 13 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Most of the above, from this afternoon onwards at any rate. Am not sure whether to change the subject, try to break into the duologue, or avert my eyes.

41. At 12:25 PM on 14 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Don't avert your eyes Doc - you'll miss the rest, and, you never know - it could get better...

42. At 01:42 PM on 14 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Ooh, what are you suggesting, Appy?????

43. At 01:56 PM on 14 Oct 2006, wrote:

    I'm averting my eyes.

    But I might bookmark (add to favourites) this blog, just in case it does get better....

44. At 10:14 PM on 14 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Ta Da! (Especially for AndyCrabookmark - I know that's a particular favourite of yours).

45. At 11:14 PM on 14 Oct 2006, valery pedant wrote:

    Aperitini, back here where it's a bit quieter, and tell me to shut up please if you wish - but a few of your references recently to late S.O.? You ok?

46. At 11:38 PM on 14 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    I am, thank you for asking Valery. It's been quite some time now, but I do still miss him terribly. Sorry if I've over-referenced him lately!

47. At 12:02 AM on 15 Oct 2006, whisht wrote:

    as i have absolutely no idea what is being discussed, I think I'm with the good doctor and AndyCraversion in that I'm not only going to avert my eyes but also my fingers.

    oh dear

48. At 10:12 AM on 15 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Valery (45),

    I know I replied last night during my champagne haze, but is hasn't shown up. Thank you for asking; I'm fine. It's been quite some time now (he died when we'd been married for only 3 months, although we'd lived together for a few years before that) but I do still miss him terribly. Sorry if I've overdone the references to him lately - I suppose around my birthday is one of the more difficult times. Very kind of you to ask.

    A, x.

49. At 10:35 AM on 15 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Well, now both have shown up. That has to be the longest post-to-appearance ratio yet - just under 11 hours!

50. At 12:18 PM on 15 Oct 2006, valery pedant wrote:

    Do hope you didn't mind me asking, in no way did I mean that you had over-referenced - it's just my over-sensitivity/mum-ness, bursting through! Thinking of you on Tuesday then - it'll keep my mind off travel-stress. Happy Birthday when it comes.

    It's going to be well-nigh impossible task to catch up after a week away. Anyone got any suggestions/willing to give me a precis on return?
    Anne'll need it too, unless she's checking from down-under.

    Go on-you'd just love to keep a mini-log of the frog wouldn't you? Yes you...

51. At 08:49 PM on 15 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    A mini frog log??!! Wonderful.

    I didn't mind you asking at all Valery - I'm quite touched (but then people have been saying that fro a long time). Had a good cry post-champers. Better now :)

52. At 09:07 PM on 15 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Appy, I can't imagine what you have gone through, or how you feel, but I want you to know that you have all my thoughts for tuesday:)

53. At 09:52 PM on 15 Oct 2006, whisht wrote:

    Aperitif,
    Like FF I can't imagine the loss.
    I don't know the word I'm looking for, nor the expression. Not in English, oirish or gibberish. just through hugs.

    enjoy your holiday, enjoy the time with Teenage Daughter, enjoy not being in your teens anymore ("for all the tea in china") and enjoy returning.
    x

54. At 10:13 PM on 15 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Fearless, Whisht, thank you so much. Every day the PM blog surprises me - usually in a good way :)

    Enjoy the trip Fearless. Hope your duvet doesn't twizzle while you're away.

    Thank you for the hugs Whisht.

    Have a lovely holiday Valery, just in case I don't get another chance to say so before you go.

55. At 11:05 PM on 15 Oct 2006, whisht wrote:

    and that goes to show that writing in Notepad before pasting into the blog can be a prattish experience. writing two at once, a glass of beer, and then scraping and pasting before rereading for the first time in ages....
    you cannot believe how hard i am hitting my head.

    bathetic.

    but, it ain't about me and you're (all) forgiving and know me heart was in the right place even if my brain wasn't.

56. At 10:12 AM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    I've got to go away too for 4 days - (nowhere exotic so no need to envy me) but I will not have a computer so it will be very strange. Will really miss you all!
    Hope you have a good birthday on Tuesday Aperitif, & Val hope your trip goes smoothly.
    Will look forward to a big catch-up of gossip on Saturday night.

57. At 11:36 AM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Well, I wonder if I should be taking this personally - so many of you going away on my special day! I'll have to get two small cakes I think - one tomorrow and one for when the rest of you get back.

    Oh! Unless you're all coming to visit me? I can accomodate four comfortably - after that it's floor space only I'm afraid...

    Whisht, I don't know why you should be hitting your head - it all made sense to me. And thanks again.

    A, x.

58. At 12:02 PM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    I’m not going to be away on Tuesday, or at any point in the near future, for that matter.

    As to the above, I’m not too good at catching the right note for such circumstances, but would like to echo the thoughts of our friends here.

59. At 01:07 PM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Thanks for the Ta-Da Perry, cheered me up.

    I'm with Dr H in the right notes thing, and I too do echoing. Happy Appy Birthday for tomorrow!

60. At 01:15 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Thank you too Doc - you can have an extra large piece of cake, because, despite your regular unfathomableness (do I mean 'inscrutability'? - hmm, not quite), I can tell you are a star.

    Gosh, where else would you find such lovely bloggers?! Let's have a party! (Do you think I've got birthday excitement now????)

    btw, I've just re-read my last frog and can't believe everyone has been too polite to make the obvious fnar fanr comment - I really should take care with my phrasing, but thank you all for your restraint.

61. At 02:06 PM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    I've just found out that the hotel I'm staying at tomorrow night has got internet access, so I'll try and log on for the online birsthday party, Appy :o) And as for the obvioous comment, I think I'll just go Oooh Errrr!!

62. At 02:07 PM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    Aperitif

    you really shouldn't draw attention to potential fnar-fnars, as I'm now re-reading your 57 looking for an obvious one.

    Oh - if its what I think it is......

    I'm off to lie down.......

63. At 02:38 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Stephen (61),

    And this from you who drew attention to his double entendre on a completely different thread!

    btw, I can't imagine anyone really could, but perhaps that's a fault of my imagination.

    Oh my good god - someone change the subject - quick!

64. At 02:40 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    P.S. Stephen, thank you too.

65. At 02:51 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Oh wow Fearless - hurrah!

    I shall be eating out with family but we'll all have a party when I get back, eh?

66. At 03:24 PM on 16 Oct 2006, wrote:

    fair enough! Just remember that I'll be an hour ahead of you, so I may seem a little sleepy... (plus I will've had an hours' more drinking time than you!)

67. At 07:41 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Chris the Pickle wrote:

    Appy Birthday from me too Happy :O)

    I'll not get on until tomorrow night, and by then you will possibly be blinded by the mist caused by lots of champers?!... Have a good day!

68. At 07:56 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Aperitif wrote:

    Thank you CtP. I'll make sure there's still cyber cake in the evening :)

69. At 10:36 PM on 16 Oct 2006, Dr Hackenbush wrote:

    Aperitif, I didn’t forget to thank you for your kind words at 60, just haven’t done so yet. Thank you. And likewise, etc.