I'm ba-ack! *waves at fellow Forumites*

[englishangel]

I thought Durex was sticky tape in Australia, the Americans say Scotch tape, and a condom is a rubber in the US.

However many of what we call 'Americanisms' were actually taken from here by the colonists and have remained in use over there where we have lost them.

Bill Bryson's 'Mother Tongue' is a mine of information.

Sellotape was, when I first came to Oz (20 years ago) called by its brand name of 'Durex', but I haven't heard it called that for a very long time.

I still have problems with 'this' and 'next'. Example: it's Thursday, a friend wants to catch up, we are only free on Saturday's. I say 'Can't make this Saturday, but am free next Saturday. See you then?'

The evening of 'this' Saturday arrives and I receive a 'where the hell where you' message.


Know what a texta is? NO

An esky (Oz) or chilly bin (chully bun - NZ, of course)? A fridge?
Thongs? Calm down JR: not the type of underwear that disappears into the deep, dark recesses of the most self-respecting bottom. toe-post sandals (flipflops)

Um, what else - thinking, thinking .............

Nope, mind gone blank.

[J.R.]

Know what a texta is?

An esky (Oz) or chilly bin (chully bun - NZ, of course)?

Thongs? Calm down JR: not the type of underwear that disappears into the deep, dark recesses of the most self-respecting bottom.

I'm reliably informed that...............

'thongs ain't what they used to be !'

[icomefromalanddownunder]

Know what a texta is? NO

Felt tip pen

An esky (Oz) or chilly bin (chully bun - NZ, of course)? A fridge?

Good guess. It's an insulated box for carting food and drink around in.


Thongs? Calm down JR: not the type of underwear that disappears into the deep, dark recesses of the most self-respecting bottom. toe-post sandals (flipflops)

Very good! Jandals in NZ.

[englishangel]

I knew that last one because my cousin invited our uncle to visit him and told him he he had to wear thongs. Uncle (in his late 60s) nearly had a heart attack, until cousin followed up with "you are not allowed to wear socks with sandals in Oz".

[sejintenej]

I knew that last one because my cousin invited our uncle to visit him and told him he he had to wear thongs. Uncle (in his late 60s) nearly had a heart attack, until cousin followed up with "you are not allowed to wear socks with sandals in Oz".

Can't stand either; thongs twist around, curl under and generally misbehave.
SWMBO made me get sandals a few years ago and they really cut into my feet -- very uncomfortable.
For me its trainers or nothing even in Oz.
From late March to Nov I don't wear sox except with proper business meeting type shoes and I've worn those twice since September.

Does anyone have Japanese socks which you can wear with thongs?