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Rosalind, I liked the interesting job titles - though I fear the job descriptions would probably rule me out.

i did give some consideration about what to call it. what would you say? it's sloping things that take you up and dow, but no steps, so they aren't escalators

ChrisE, that word, Travelator, is on big signs in my local Tesco - I wince every time I see them (and therefore haven't absorbed any of the advice given!). I couldn't come up with another word - a more elegant word - but I really did try. I think the flat 'things' in our airport are referred to as 'moving walkways', but that's more straightforward, and quite logical.

Chrise Malone

I liked Victoria Wood's writing and songs etc. but when she told jokes it left me cold. Women cant do "stand-up" in my opinion. I agree she was an excellent and versatile entertainer(ess).

I have not come across, or travelled on, a movey, slopey thingy. I like the horizontal escalators in airports though, even if they go slower than people who actually walk.

I like "whilst" but dont know if it is correct.

Rosalind

I like the job descriptions. I did my census today but found it confusing as there are 2 jigjags in the house. When it said "thinking about jigjag......, what is your relationship to ........." it was ambiguous and thus unanswerable. I know the census is important so I have had to suspend completion in order to seek advice.

“Travelator” is a word I’d never heard of. I don’t think it’s used on this side of the Atlantic. My phone doesn’t even recognize it. While (or whilst) I was looking it up, I discovered that “travelling” is British and “traveling” is North American. In fact, my phone tried to autocorrect the former, and I had to override it.

mpfs- isn't the "l" business universal, ie we (the royal one, as in Mrs T) always double them in that kind of situation, and you, in America, do not??

jigjag, if you need any advice about relationships, ask away!!! (grin)
For 29 years I have been looking at censuses. The 1911 one has great scope for amusement. There was a column for "Infirmities". among which was recorded "bad- tempered" and "greedy". Less amusing (but one can see why) was the reaction of some women - "No persons in this house, only women". "If I can't vote I don't count".
A few people included their pets - name Tom, occupation, mouse-catcher, number of children , about 100.
Occupations from the 1881 census-
Knight of the Thimble (presumably this really existed)
Dead
Beef twister
Rotter's boy (? to do with linen rhetting? Yeah, I know it can be spelled retting)
There are also some wonderful names and some surnames which indictate foundlings- Churchyard for example.
Much earlier some first names were extraordinary. In my own family tree, Xenobia, Admonition and Philadelphia occur. I have read of Humiliation. Poor children (kids are baby goats)
Think that's enough for now

I don't think there is anything wrong with "whilst" in that context. It seems the word was used more generally in the past in cases where we would now only use "while". Eg: I served for a whilst with the earl of Leicester.

As for unusual job titles in censuses, how about:
abecedarian (a teacher of the alphabet)
zythepsarist (a brewer)
eggler (a dealer in eggs)
legerdemainist (a magician)
tiger (a liveried groom)
couranteer (a journalist).

Not all these words are in the dictionary, not even the 20-volume OED, so I think some people are just being whimsical.

orson
Whilst I take your point, "while" exc;usively refers to duration in time.

With respect, chrise, I would say that using "whilst" in your sentence is no better than using "while". "Whilst" can always be replaced by "while", but "while" cannot always be replaced by "whilst".

Some people object to using "while" when "although" or "whereas" are meant.

While/whilst I agree with you... [Although]
I vote Conservative while my wife votes Labour... [whereas].

But that is the height of pendantry.

I tripped on one of those Travel Dodge things in Asda. I reported it and the assistant said she would have to escalate the complaint.