Darlin"

Reminded me of a funny story....... We took our DGC to the Grace Darling museum in Bamburgh at half term. We were welcomed by a young curator who asked the ages of the children and briefly explained where everything was. Oldest GD (8) said "oh it's fine thank you we have been here loads of times before" GD (6) said "wow how did you know my name? "

Think about it ..........

I don`t mind being called any off the above names, as it`s usually done in a friendly manner, similarly in hospital, I like being called by my first name, except that at home it`s not my first name, well, it is, but I`ve always been known by my second name. When my youngest son`s FIL died, we went to the funeral, and as we were leaving, his MIL thanked us for coming, referring to us as Mr and Mrs S------. I said "call me L---"(my (2nd) Christian name), she said "Oh, I can`t do that, I was brought up properly"!

Regional endearments, such as Hen,Pet,Maid, Ma Lover, are somehow different from 'Dear',which is often reserved for apparently elderly people in my experience.

That was meant to be slightly ironic. However - it means nothing. I jumped the first time someone called me 'duck', I thought I was mis-hearing things. I was used to being called midear or darling.

"Very lucky"? To be called Sweetheart"?

Shove that.

Where do you live, nonu? When I lived in the south, particularly in Kent, being called darling was no different than being called duck or dear or love elsewhere. It usually means they like the look of your face, in a nice way. If you are very lucky, you might even be called sweetheart.

I don't mind any of them, hen, love, duck, guys etc etc
I am quite happy to be called my first name by doctors, nurses etc- as long as they expect me to use their first name back.

Well, it would certainly liven things up a bit in the hospital waiting room when they called out your name, Galen!

I would rather have a delivery man call me pal. We both know there is no way we will actually be pals. Much friendlier than some dour faced individual who can hardly crack a smile.

I really don't mind what I am called as long as it is said with kindness and good intent! 'Ms Pens' can be said in an unkind way and 'hello mate' can be said in a friendly way. I know what I prefer

Widow or mistress Galen. I rather like the old forms of address

Yes, agus, I just mentioned the places I'd come across those expressions the most Your saying you don't use endearments yourself made me realise that I don't either. I don't mind of other people do though. Delivery men to our house often call me Pal. It makes me smile.

I'd imagine Galen meant she'd rather be referred to as 'Dr' rather than 'Missus'...

Mind you (going back a post or two), I would also expect to call them by their first name too. I don't find I have to use 'transient' people's names very often though. By transient, I mean people who are only likely to speak to me once in my life.

Pal and hen are used in various parts of Scotland bags. Just saying

In certain situations I don't like people using my forename otherwise I don't mind endearments but it isn't something I do myself.

When I first lived in Scotland in the mid seventies, in Dundee, Mistress was still in use, mainly among older people.

Do you mean as in Widow Galen?

I don't regard it as uncourteous of someone to call me by my given name, whatever their age, whatever their 'calling' and whatever their professional (or otherwise) relation to me.

As a widow I think I'd rather use that as a title than Mrs (usually pronounced missus or the original Mistress.

I don't think I actually notice what nurses or doctors call me. I'm usually concerned about something else when they are talking to me.

I don't think my dentist has ever called me anything.

Years ago I objected when someone addressed DH1 as Mr when it should have been Dr. He calmly remarked "But I am still a Mr too." Sage.

lily the reason I singled out nurses is that they (rightly) regard themselves as professionals.
A professional relationship should include having the courtesy to address the patient or client by name, rather than a generic endearment.
Like Galen I would prefer my surname, but the NHS seems to have abandoned them so I will accept my forename.
No doctor has ever called me dear or darling, so I don't think nurses should, either.

You don't know the half of it in that case, atqui!

I resent nurses and doctors calling me by my forename without my permission.
I also resent people automatically presuming my title is Mrs!
Yes I'm an old crosspatch So what!
I'm feeling a right misery at the moment and don't care who knows it.
Perhaps playing with my new arrows (with blue cock) tomorrow will cheer me up.
CBA to cook so I might pop into our new sainsburys and buy a ready cooked chicken

I don't mind the luv, petal, flower, darlin', dearie or any other of them. I agree with bags it isn't condescension, it's because we've abandoned 'Madam', 'Miss', 'Sir' and don't know what to put in their place. 'See ya later' does annoy me a bit but only because it has no meaning.