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chrisE
That reminds me of my visit to the New Brighton theatre a few months ago. I ordered an Americano and was given a black coffee. When I asked for the milk, I was told, quite strongly, that an Americano does not have milk. But another assistant intervened and said that she always serves Americano with milk. I don't know how the dispute was settled. Now, at McDonalds, I ask for a white Americano, which I actually enjoy.

Malone
I must ask Cassie if she could possibly extend her repertoire to include some of the variations you have mentioned. I am sure she could do something with the gingerbread, waffles, peppermint etc. I think she might have them in stock. I would have liked to have gone for a tea or coffee with your late mother. I bet she would have made the same comment as I did recently at Wagamamamama. I ordered jasmine tea and when it arrived, I asked the waitress what the big green thing in the cup was. "Oh, that's the jasmine, what did you expect?" I was expecting a cup of tea, jasmine favoured, whatever that is, not the Day of the Triffids in a cup.

jigjag #529

No, I have never played a Polgar sister. Usually the lowly club chess player gets that sort of chance only in a 'simultaneous' display. I did thus get to play against Tigran Petrosian, the world champion immediately before Boris Spassky. He pretty much demolished about 25 of us from the Beds. and Herts. county teams in under three hours.

Yes, ex-women's world champion, Nona Gaprindashvili, is suing the 'Queen's Gambit' people for claiming that their fictional heroine, Beth Harmon, was the first woman to compete against male grandmasters. Nona got strong by doing that very thing from the early 1960s.

I was at the same tournament as Nona at Paignton that decade, in a lower section of course. I was amused to see her playing the slot machines in a local amusement arcade. It shouldn't have seemed incongruous, but I was amused that no one else in there would have any idea who she was. I don't know if she would have seen slot machines in the USSR.

Paul
Interesting story re Nona, I think you are right that they would not have had slots in USSR, not then anyway. I know someone who played Tal about 50 years ago in a simul after Hastings, I think. Apparently he just ran round and beat everyone in an hour, I think he said. I dont know how they play so many games and hardly look at the board.

For a change, an approval on Masterchef - Marcus had made a distinction between vegetables and mushrooms. Possibly surprising cuisinearlly, but entirely accurate biologically!

Is it me or do many television presenters say `Canida` instead of `Canada` ... why!

Tyke - yes they do. Why? Who knows? Except, perhaps it’s the same people who say “ garidge” for “ garage”?

Here’s a few more gripes - apologies if they’ve been mentioned by others:

On a weekly basis = weekly
On a daily basis = daily .

Injured persons are usually “in a critical condition “ or “ in a stable position “. Why not simply “ critical” or “ stable”. Only horses are in a stable position.

Fatalities are always “ pronounced dead” , rather than “ they died”.

Why do journalists quote people’s ages - why not their weight.?

Rant over

Jigjag (on 24th November), the jasmine tea story tickled me! My mother might not have actually said very much, she'd have been too busy hooting with derision. A waitress once asked her what sort of coffee she would like. M y mum's answer was fairly simple - 'coffee coffee'.. (And she;d assume that any decent cafe would also provide a sugar bowl and a little milk jug.)

Simplesimon
I worry about people who say they are in stable relationship

Tyke - don’t worry too much - you’ll get nightmares 🤔