Did you know...?

I didn't, but I love the idea

My mother used to talk about the 'knocker up' but he had a long pole to tap on bedroom windows.

Wonder if the peas were picked up and cooked afterwards - and the windows would be all 'spitty' . I'd heard of the knocker-up, but not of the pea shooter.

Amazing what you can learn each day!
I have my own knocker-upperer - a delivery van screams up the road at 4.45 every morning and bounces over the speed bump outside my house - wish I could shoot peas at him

gally

We used to go by the siren from the local factory; we called it 'the bull' but I've no idea why.

We had a tannery in the village and everyone relied on it's steam whistle - 7.30 prompt every morning except Sunday. On Sunday, nothing until the Church Bell which tolled from 10.45 until service at 11.00. With a ten minute walk to Church there was many a mad scramble in our house when we heard that bell.

A ruddy cockeral and 5, yes 5, dogs barking, I shall say no more.

I always cringe when someone says 'the knocker-up' - must be my genteel upbringing!

Kitty If you had had a really genteel upbringing then you would see no evil in knocking someone up

At election time, activists have to go around 'knocking up' tardy voters. I always wished we could find another term for this activity.

Well it means impregnate outside matrimony in the US .

Er...I think it does over here as well, Jess!

Ana

We used to call getting out voters as knocking out. Sounds a bit threatening lol.

Oh ana it has crept over I suppose. Didn't used to apply. I remember someone telling me she used to work as a nurse in the states and shocked her colleagues when she said to one of the men "can you knock me up in the morning" - this would have been a while ago - a lot of American terminology has flowed across the Atlantic since then.

Wee Willie Winkie is the only 'knocked up' I have heard of!!

Wee Willie Winkie is the only 'knocked up' I have heard of!!

That should have read 'knocker upper'.

Oops, www wasn't a knocker upper he made sure you were asleep.

I was in the centre of Sheffield with my DD some months ago at 1pm when a loud siren sounded. There was me thinking a terrorist bomb warning. Nuclear war 4 minute warning or what. It is apparently a traditional siren originally used to call all the cutlery workers back from lunch.
Of course every one else was walking about town un fazed. It gave me a start!

Kitty My genteel upbringing makes me cringe when I hear the name 'Wee Willi' Winkie'

Nelliem, have you heard the one o' clock cannon in Edinburgh?

When it goes off you can tell the natives from the tourists.

Tourists jump a foot into the air and look around for the gunfight.

Natives shoot an arm out of a sleeve and check the time on their watch.