Happy Fourth of July!

[mutley 4,498]

To our American cousins, John, EJ and any casual viewers, we hope you have a great day.

Of course we would of let you have independence a lot earlier had you asked nicely!!

Cheers

[ehunyadi 0]

Thanks, Mut.

You know how us colonials are... so impetuous and impatient!

[allardjd 1,853]

Thanks, Mut, that's very much appreciated. Well, what's one revolution more or less between friends.

It would be difficult to find two countries who've helped each other more over so long a time as our two.

You'd have to look long and hard here to find much ill will toward Britain.

John

[MartinW 0]

You'd have to look long and hard here to find much ill will toward Britain.

Very true John but there are a few little points I'd like to mention.

Thanks very much for:

1. The word 'cool'. As usual twenty years after it's implementation in the US it's now been adopted here. :sad:

2. Donny Osmond. Need I say more?

3. Michael Jackson. Double yikes:

4. The word 'so' as in I am 'so' not liking that. :sad:

5. Rhetorical questions like: 'How cool is that!'

Finally and it really saddens me, it seems that our countrymen are now celebrating independence day with the release of fireworks, this distresses scratchy and he hides under the bed.

Must be the only war we celebrate loosing.

:wink: Have a happy independence day and give a thought for me nursing my quivering pussy. :shock:

[allardjd 1,853]

Martin,

I'm afraid I'm as guilty as anyone in the case of your #1. The term initially became popular here far more than twenty years ago, and I'm of a certain age, you know. I was an impressionable youth and it was deeply imprinted on my psyche.

As for the rest, I am in full agreement. In the case of Michael Jackson, there are not emoticons damning enough, nor a screen wide enough to hold enough of them. Through cosmetic surgery he tried to turn himself into a white girl, and almost succeeded, but in the end only ended up as an alleged child molester.

Sorry to hear your cat is having an averse reaction.

John

[MartinW 0]

It's perfectly okay for you to use the word 'cool' John, after all you guys invented it.

It doesn't sound quite right with a Birmingham accent though or any British accent, come to think of it.

P.S. Don't let Mutley tell you I'm from Birmingham, he likes to do that to wind me up. I’m actually very posh you know.

[ehunyadi 0]

There are lots of British (English/Scottish/Irish) terms we pick up here as well... because they sound (oh boy, here we go) cool.

Shite

Arse

Pants (not referring to trousers)

Bullocks

Pissed (here it means angry... go figure... but the "cool" people are using to to mean "drunk")

Cheers

...and the list goes on.

I had a history professor in college have two theories on why the US and Britain have continued to enjoy such close relations.

First, he said it was due to the common language and history.

Second, he said it was because the US is like a child who finally breaks away from its parent only to find out later that the parent is really a nice person; they just needed to be independent from them to find out.

It's raining cats and dogs here, so there may be no fireworks for us tonight. Shame too... we spent about $100 on some nice mortars and missiles... (almost makes me sound like I'm back in the Marines again).

Which reminds me... as a Marine, we were taught that the US Marines consider the British Royal Marines our "brothers." There is a very close bond between US Marines and British Royal Marines anytime we meet. I've had more than a few beers and other drinks bought for me by British Royal Marines, both active and former.

However, nothing compares to the Australian Navy. I had to do shore patrol with them one night in the Philippines, and we walked into the first bar and they asked us if we were drinking beers or just cokes that night. We responded that we were not allowed to imbibe alcohol due to regulations, and they kind of shook their heads and said, "Okay, we'll just stick to cokes then, too. No need to have to take us back in after the brawls then, either." Fun guys... just don't play them in rugby. They believe in bleeding for the cause... and making you bleed for yours!

Wow... what tangents I've run down! Sorry, guys!

[mutley 4,498]

Thanks for the reminiscences EJ, very entertaining.

I was too young to do National Service, anyone I speak to about it seem to recall their times in the armed forces with great affection, even in the face of danger.

I suppose nowadays the camaraderie is just as strong as it ever was particularly in our fight against terrorism. I have nothing but admiration and gratitude for people who fight for our security and freedom, both now and in the past.

Cheers,

[MartinW 0]

There are lots of British (English/Scottish/Irish) terms we pick up here as well... because they sound (oh boy, here we go) cool.

Shite

Arse

Pants (not referring to trousers)

Bullocks

Pissed (here it means angry... go figure... but the "cool" people are using to to mean "drunk")

Cheers

...and the list goes on.

EJ, I had no idea we had polluted the US in such a way, I do apologise. :sadblinky:

By the way, is the Bullocks not spelt with an 'O'

I remember on a trip to New Zealand, one of my wife’s relatives commented on how something was a real 'stonker'

We were rolling on the floor in hysterics, it means something different here.