This blog is so fun to write everyday. I have to make a conscious effort not to make multiple posts, and to not give too much information about a subject I really like. Or, as Claire (a lady whose opinion I really respect about blogs) once so delicately put it: "Stop posting so much, you buffoon!"
When it stops being fun, I'll stop writing it. One of the reasons it is fun (and easy) to write is that I can choose from such a variety of subjects. Practically any subject at all can be somehow tied in with language. Or, as we are mostly concerned with on this blog, language differences.
I will admit right up front that I am aware that people outside the friendly environs of the USA do not call this stuff Cotton Candy. I read that somewhere a few days ago. Unfortunately, I wasn't paying enough attention to the newspaper article (or wherever I read about it) to remember what it is you folks DO call this stuff. Another thing I really like about this blog (and my readers) is that I am pretty sure someone will provide me with this crucial information sometime before the day is over, and I will then be able to put another word on my ever-growing list of things the British call by the wrong name. (Picture a little smiley face here.)
I don't eat cotton candy anymore. Haven't since I was a teenager. Will probably never taste it ever again. Sad for my nostalgic brain, good for my teeth. Where did I first experience this substance?--this colored sugar, somehow "fluffified" sticky stuff? Can't remember. Probably at a county fair. Probably bought for me by my older sister or brother who were compelled by my parents to drag me with them. Probably my sister--my brother would have run off with his friends as soon as he got out of sight of Mom.
If I don't simply stop here, this will turn into another one of those rambling posts about carnival food in general, and will probably even digress even further into the "Candy Apple Pulls out Max's Front Tooth" story. None of us want that.
Where do YOU remember eating cotton candy?--and, also important to me for my book--what do wonderful non-Americans out there call that stuff again?
(No I haven't forgotten my "contest" that started out as a lark and has gotten terribly out of hand. I'll just let it ride another day and see if any other non-American comments. We have certainly learned one fact for sure: Brits don't give a damn about American landmarks or it's brief history. Well, why should they, I guess. Picture rather sad but still smiley face here.)
I call it Candy Floss and it is usually consumed at fairs, seaside resorts and amusement parks. I personally hate the stuff.
ReplyDeleteReally? How about if you were to smear it all over your naked body and then jump on someone. Would you stick together? Would it not be fun to lick it off. Would that really make Claire gag? C'mon! Lighten up! Cotton candy can be fun for those with imagination! :)
ReplyDeleteHow were the Hamburgers you had last night, btw, hmmmmm?
Begging for help of BS2 too. :)
Max is smiling again. He has a mental image now of the doodle girl's hair plastered with--what was that, "floss"--and sticking up. Can't hide where she's been or what she's been doing. :)
ReplyDeleteHmmm ... I just love cotton candy ... I was just a little girl when I had my first.
ReplyDeleteOh Max, you are bringing such delightful memories to me!
@candy girl
ReplyDeleteYour first what, Miss Girl? Oh. Cotton Candy. Well, thank you for cuming on our blog today. It is always nice to have new visitors. Please cum again if you are able, ok?
that's outraging talk ... Max, you should keep this blog cleaner.
ReplyDeleteClaire, how was Germany?
@Lady Banana - 2 votes for Candy Floss, then.
ReplyDeleteUmmmm, what was the disgusting part again? The sticking together, or the licking part? Oh! The floss. Sure.
I'm guessing all of the above for LB.
Thanks for stopping by! I've heard a lot of good things about you. Besides, it would make Claire come by more often if you hung out here. :) 'Bye!
Who the heck was THAT????
ReplyDeleteDon't tell me there are TWO bad Max's on the internet? Can they get away with that????
There's countries outside of the U.S.???
ReplyDelete:-D
@Jillian - Well, I heard such rumors. But apparently not, judging by the response to this post...
ReplyDelete:)
Max, You need to quit picturing claire doing naughty things. Or at least don't say out loud those naughty things. I think she puts up with a lot coming from a bugger like you. And what the hell do you mean you didn't understand my last post? You dipshit. You were hoping it was something naughty again weren't you! Just for that I will have to think of a really good one and hope you can understand it. ;)
ReplyDeleteettarose - you and Claire always stick together, don't you? And long before I came up with a cotton candy post... :)
ReplyDeleteThe French call it barbe à papa (daddy's beard - yuck!) and it's zuckerwatte (sugar cotton) in German. I'm told they call it fairy floss in Australia.
ReplyDeleteJust to add a little variety.
@a -Isn't that interesting how a simple thing like Cotton candy (or candy floss or fairy floss or dental floss) has different names around the world? I think I'll leave the French up to experts like yourself, a. --I am still trying to master English.
ReplyDeletebtw, I found a couple more pics of the Queen Mary, but they really aren't that great. The one of the main ballroom is pretty interesting. Do you want me to post them for you? Or did I read your interest wrong?
Also btw, I have posted the answers to all the questions last night. I don't really think many people are interested, though, so I will just slink away and let it go at that. :)
In Norwegian: Sukkerspinn.
ReplyDeleteIn French: Barbapapa
Oh, right - you're not bothered about those, sorry.
On fair foods: I once went to Goose Fair in Nottingham, England. The whole grounds were smelling of mint, and i soon realized why: Mushy peas, mint flavored, sold in little panets, in the 1000s. yuck, yuck, yuck. SO GREEN, as well...
spookasem
ReplyDelete@becauseIcan - Please don't waste any precious words for the sake of clarity. Dear B, what the hell are you saying?
ReplyDelete"Spookasem"
Ok. I'll guess. I'll play this game. Is it Africaans for Cotten Candy, or is it a word you use to describe what you have when scary max does something personal to you? :)
And, as alway, thank you for cuming. Are you still here? Talk to Max!
@stine -Sukkerspinn, huh? Makes sense. Has both the ingredient and the necessary action. But, yeah...you know. English.
ReplyDeleteBut thank you (I think) for the new word. Inadvertent words are the best, because you think we Americans already know them. Panet? Well, it could be a misspelling of packet, but knowing you, I doubt it--you are very precise in your spelling. Can't find it in my dictionary though. Not French either.
Hope you check back for comments on your comment, because it would be fun to know either way:
1. Is panet really a word? or
2. Did Stine screw up?
I'll be in a good mood either way. :)
(Did I ever tell you how happy you make me whenever you stop by here?)
@stine - PS: Food is the subject we are all working on now on the book blog. Wish I could send you an invitation to participate--sounds like you could have a lot of input on the subject. But don't have your email to send you an invite. :(
ReplyDeleteoh alrighty then!
ReplyDeleteSpookAsem is what the afrikaners call it.
Roughly translated = GhostBreathe .
I always call it spookasem as I feel that it is the best description of the wispy coloured sugar we find at the fete's..
Anything else I can help clarify for you ....hmmmmmm
:-P
@BecauseIcan -Awwww. I'm disappointed it wasn't the other thing. But thanks.
ReplyDeleteCome over to the other post and talk for a while. Bridget is there trying to brainfuck Max. I could use your support.... :)
Almost certainly Stine means punnet. As in a punnet of strawberries. Is that not a universal word? Mushy peas are a well known delicacy, and not to be sneered at.
ReplyDelete@ a. - Ummmm no, not in the REAL English-speaking world, a. What the heck kind of word is "punnet"? Sounds Pakistani to me. :)
ReplyDeleteAnd a?--not to rile you up, because you are already pretty disruptive today, but I have to tell you: yes, mashed up green peas are indeed something to be sneered at. Baby food, isn't it??? :)
I am so pleased to have found your blog. Between your posts, and the comments I am extremely amused. I wonder how I could have gone without it.
ReplyDeleteAnd, Candy Floss it is.
I am english living in the states, and I am constantly coming across things that I don't have the american word for. I get strange looks for speaking English.
HI Caroline. I'm glad you found us too. At the core of all the nonsense that goes on in this blog, there really is a central theme. I'm glad you are taking that theme seriously. Please be a regular visitor and leave me the words that frustrate you as you come across them.
ReplyDeleteThe problem, of course, is that you have landed in a country that no longer speaks English. That's partly in jest, but there really has become a sort of language called "American", hasn't there? Due, I suppose to our gradual separation over the years. Your problem is the exact opposite of my desire to learn what you already know. Not because I think British English is "cute" but because I think it is FASCINATING! Nobody will get insulted on this blog, Caroline (at least not about language differences!) so please don't be shy in bringing something up for discussion. I hope you choose to become a regular here.
Where in England is your home?
I am from the North East, a little village called Shotley Bridge to be exact.
ReplyDeleteIts a whole other language up there too, called Geordie.
I haven't lived in the UK for about 7 years now, I lived in Holland for 4, and Portland Oregon for 3. I hope to be here in Oregon for a few more.
Other than my TV packing in at the weekend, my drain pipe fell down the other day at my apartment complex. It took a few minutes to explain to the maintenance staff that I actually meant my "down spout".
I just linked to your blog from mine... hope you don't mind.
Oh, yes! When you said the Northeast of England, ol' Maxy's ears perked up! We need someone who speaks Geordie--I want to include a whole chapter on it in my book. I have one friend in Indonesia who can speak Geordie, but he's really busy right now. Also, our friend Claire, who is from Cheshire can do it quite well. But she is even MORE busy. Are you able to write it phonetically? I think Geordie is ever so cool!
ReplyDeleteerm, I might be able too. I have a Geordie dictionary at home, that may help.
ReplyDeleteWhat do you need?
It'll be canny good like!
@Caroline. Stand still, girl!
ReplyDeleteAye! Canny yer are!
What I need are little stories to include in my book. Not real stories. Made up scenarios. Can be really dumb. But must be totally unintellible to Americans, see? They start to understand it, it LOOKS like English to them...but they are totally lost? I'll bet you would be good at that. Stick around and here our Linda translate American into British. It's a hoot. That's what I want my book to have in it--not just be another boring dictionary, you know?
That should work for me. What's the deadline.
ReplyDeleteAnd if you weren't dancing around from post to post, I'd be able to stay still.
All this post hoping is making me dizzy.
Panet - punnet(?) - I don't know... a little cardboard box thingy that's oiled or waxed or something, that you can serve yucky green stuff in, with a plastic fork.
ReplyDeleteSo glad I make you happy - I hope I screwed up, so you can be even happier. Anyway, I'm easily forgiveable, I'm a wog.
My email is on my about page,btw. It's even called About & Contact...
This is where I get to use a well-established American word: duh.
@stine - Well, I did go there and look for what you allege is there. I must be blind. (Probably stupid too.) Or perhaps I was just distracted by all those flashing adverts and attacking popups. :) I will go search again, though--God forbid you would have to type a few extra characters in your comments. :)
ReplyDeleteI liked your comment to canucklead as well, btw. But since it wasn't directed at me, I'll not make any smartass response. Of course that means you'll get no response at all if you're expecting wit (or even wakefulness) from the Canuck. I did take note of your remark however, putting it under my list of things I didn't think stine would think about , much less talk about. I may have to take one of the kid gloves off with you, foul mouth-wise. :)
Thank you for showing up here two days in a row. :)
Popups? I don't have popups - they must be following you around..
ReplyDeleteI just wanted you to come over and see my flashy ads and look for my email, Max - I'm a sucker for lurking Americans.
Ooooh, and I do have a foul mouth - just give me half a chance. In 3 languages, too.
@stine. You don't know what you're missing on BS2. Sure could use some foul-mouthing over there. Unless you're just teasing of course.
ReplyDeletePlenty of foul-mouthing opportunity on the top post today if you think you have the stomach for it. Show Max what you've got, stine. He thinks you're bluffing.
Perhaps Max will just make up another Google account and assign it to stine. Perhaps he simply try to out wait her on her nonpublished email address... :)
My friend stine seems to be coming around a little bit more. Max is very happy for that! :)