'All right whoever?' has been around a long time but I can't seem to get used to it. Forty years ago, when I got married, moved from Derbyshire to Liverpool and started a new job, one of my colleagues said 'all right Liz?' every time he saw me. We were working as analytical chemists in the same laboratory so we saw each other a lot. It got on my nerves because it seemed as if he was checking that I was all right every half hour! Eventually, I commented to another colleague that if this guy asked me one more time if I was all right, I wouldn't be responsible for my actions! He gently explained that it was simply a greeting and all I had to say was 'all right Ian'. I was so relieved. No one was doubting my capabilities! However, I still can't get used to it and automatically want to answer ' Yes, I'm fine thanks.'