Americanisms!

Mine was net and it took a lot of work to make it stiff. Do you remember how it used to ladder your stockings?

Jeni its called hair spray these days and comes in aerosol containers and I don't think the smell is so bad these days Ariadne

I think that was the time of my life when I spent longest getting ready to go out. Did anyone else sleep in rollers?

Now I do remember that, Movedalot!
Yes, and jolly painful it was, too...

I understand that what we call a bum bag the Americans call a Fanny bag. Which sound much ruder to me.

Nelliemoser It was half mentioned earlier that fanny is a slang term for bum in the US. It doesn't have sexual connotations.

I au paired in France and the mummy was American. On my shopping list she wrote 'cotton' but no colour, so, hedging my bets, I decided to get one reel of white and one of blue. What she really wanted was cotton wool - duh!

That will teach me to read the whole of the previous thread but when they get so long I don't always have time. and can't always be bothered.

anno - teasing the hair reminds me of a train journey to St Andrews, when I met another student (going to Edinburgh) - we had a big giggle over her 'teazle brush' for back-combing....

Surely I'm not the only american here? any questions I would gladly answer if I can.I live in Nashville,TN.,and no I do not like country music.I visited London on a tour with a friend when I was 19. It was 1971. I would love to visit again but I have back problems that limit sitting. so I'm happy just learning about your beautiful country.

Nice to have you with us Envious.
My DiL is American and we love visiting her and DS - they are in Virginia, not far from DC.
My vocabulary has expanded over the years - for example I have learned to say 'Good job!' whenever the DGCs do something praiseworthy

hello Enviousamerican how exciting, I would love to visit USA but probably will never happen. What is Nashville like

I think you may be the only American on here at the moment, Envious, but there will be lots of us who'd love to chat with you - I can think of one in particular who is very keen on all things American!

Lovely to have you here!

Hi envious - My daughter-in-law is American, and my son and family all live in New Jersey. I too have learnt to say 'good job' to the grandkids!
I've lots of relatives along the Eastern Seasboard - from Washington through to Maine.
Nice to see you here

thanks for the welcome!!! I hope the time difference won't be a problem.Nashville is a very friendly town.A lot of people who visit decide to move here. We have all seasons but our summers can be hot! snow maybe once or twice during the winter. Less than when I was little which is fine with me.Its very save in most areas,but we have had over 1,000 highway deaths last year in the state!so sad. Do you notice a certain time people post?

Envious; I know I'm boring everyone senseless about this at the moment [including myself] but I'm currently off work and watching lots of Ken Burns documentaries about American history which means I'm a bit obssessed with America and it's history so I may be asking you lots of questions in the future . Welcome.

Welcome Envious A. We have very dear friends in Virginia and love the States. It's the open hearted welcome and enthusiasm which is so enhancing to life.
One of the things that struck us most was that when anyone here in England asks us how we are, the response is often:

Mustn't grumble

Whereas across the pond it's :

I'm good!

Hello envious and welcome to Gransnet. Acquaintances of mine travelled through Nashville when they were on holiday in the States last year and said the people there were the friendliest they had ever met.

(Teaching English to foreigners messes with your mind! I just had think very hard to work out why the word 'aqaintance' didn't look right!! Argh! Help!)

spelling never has been a gift of mine.I also wanted to tell you,people don't wear cowboy hats and cowboy boots. You see visitors from out of town wearing them.Makes them stick out like a sore thumb. I have never been to Texas but I bet they wear them in their small towns.We are famous for our abundant lakes,parks and hills.A great place to raise a family,good schools also a lot of churches.Lived most of my life here.

Welcome, EnviousA. I seem to be an exception in having no relatives in the USA - apart from a cousin in Florida. I haven't travelled extensively in the States, though I did manage to spend a week in San Francisco on the way to New Zealand a few years ago and was most impressed. It'll be good to get to know you.

my only child lives in San Fran,so far away only place he can do what he loves.Maybe some day that will change. It's one of the most expensive places to live. Sob.. Can't afford to move there! Luckily I see him Christmas,Thanksgiving and birthdays in May.I did see San Fran on my honeymoon. Liked it also.

Something that doesn't always occur to us in our little country: the USA is so big that San Fran must seem almost as 'foreign' to you as it does to us! I was fortunate in finding a fairly inexpensive downtown hotel, about 100 yards from where the cable cars turn around and right opposite the back of Macy's.

Envious SF was the first American city I visited, way back in 1983..... Notice that I am adopting American usage just talking to you
We lived in Hongkong at the time and should have been going back to the UK for our annual leave, but I couldn't face it, staying in relatives' houses with a 6 year old, a 3 year old and a six-month old baby. I told DH I wanted to see rivers, mountains, forests and beaches and found a brochure about Oregon. After flying into SF we drove through Northern California and up into Oregon, saw Crater Lake and many other beautiful places. Then we came back via the Oregon coast - breath-taking in its splendour.
We all agree it was the best holiday ever (except for the baby who is annoyed that she has no memory of it) and we were met with nothing but friendliness and courtesy everywhere we went.
So although I felt sad when I realised that DS had gone to the US for good, I can understand why
We try to combine our visits to him and his family with a little holiday somewhere - you've made Tenessee sound very inviting

We loved SF! But have to say, we love America. Last visit (apart from the usual trips to Minnesota) was New Orleans and Arizona. Stunning!

Oh, and hello there, enviousamerican! A warm welcome to you.

Thanks again,I just woke up and my eyes are weary. I just couldn't get to sleep! I'll write later when I can see better. I'm so glad you enjoyed your vists.

you all are so kind! I'm looking forward to meeting you guys and getting to know you. I feel so welcome.THe time change may delay my comments but I'll check in on you.Hope to learn from ya also.