Re: Rankin: double glazing

On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 18:11:16 +0000, Mike Page <mikeorang@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On 17/11/2011 17:59, Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote:
On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 17:35:10 +0000, Mike Page<mikeorang@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

On 17/11/2011 13:06, Peter Duncanson (BrE) wrote:
On Thu, 17 Nov 2011 11:56:06 +0100, trio@xxxxxxxxxx (Donna Richoux)
wrote:

Marius Hancu<marius.hancu@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Hello:

--
[His father is in a care home]

The walls had a few hairline cracks in them and some of the double
glazing suffered from condensation, but the rooms were light and airy
-- the very words he'd been plied with when he'd first inspected the
place. Light and airy and no stairs, plus en suites for the lucky
few. His dad's name was on a typed sliver of card taped to the door.

Ian Rankin, The Complaints
---

"double glazing": "oily"-looking painting applied to the walls in
hospitals, etc?

No, it means windows made with double layers of glass. If they are not
sealed tightly, condensation builds up between the layers.

"en suites for the lucky few": containing their own washrooms?

Yes, although I'm not certain what you think is included in a
"washroom." American, bathroom.

"card": could be both "cardboard" and "name card," right?

The "of" makes me think this is the British use of "card" to mean the
material, which is always "cardboard" in the US. A name card or greeting
card, etc, would need "a".

In general BrE the material "cardboard" would be thicker than the
material "card". A name card or greeting card is made of "card". A
retailer might buy greeting cards in bulk in a cardboard box.

How would describe the outer packaging of cornflakes? I (a southern
Brit) think I'd call it a cardboard box. Definitely not a card box -
which something you put cards in.

That's done it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GgzS18Vktm0

Bob The Builder: Big Fish Little Fish (Cardboard Box)


Fortunately, since taking up Barbershop, I'm immune to ordinary levels
of STS. I very much hope LFS does not press that link in a moment of
weakness.

Is this what having grandchildren does to you?

I am not a grandfather. My daughter has a visceral dislike for young
children. It seems to be similar to a phobia. She prefers horses. My son
is too busy with his business to become attached and become a father.


--
Peter Duncanson, UK
(in alt.usage.english)
.

Relevant Pages

  • Re: Rankin: double glazing
    ... His dad's name was on a typed sliver of card taped to the door. ... "en suites for the lucky few": containing their own washrooms? ... In general BrE the material "cardboard" would be thicker than the ... Big Fish Little Fish ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Rankin: double glazing
    ... greeting card, etc, would need "a". ... Cardboard is a coarse structural sheet of lain fibres ... wavy layer of the sheet material between 2 flat layers. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: OT hows this for a fish story?
    ... When he saw a companion on his boat hook a giant fish during a sea ... marlin leapt out of the water across the vessel and speared Mr Card ... the boat - who included his 58-year-old father Alan. ...
    (rec.gambling.poker)
  • Re: Rankin: double glazing
    ... [His father is in a care home] ... His dad's name was on a typed sliver of card taped to the door. ... it means windows made with double layers of glass. ... which is always "cardboard" in the US. ...
    (alt.usage.english)
  • Re: Rankin: double glazing
    ... Light and airy and no stairs, plus en suites for the lucky ... His dad's name was on a typed sliver of card taped to the door. ... retailer might buy greeting cards in bulk in a cardboard box. ... Big Fish Little Fish ...
    (alt.usage.english)