Met a delightful English couple on a Carribean cruise several years ago. Invited them to come to the North Carolina coast where we would teach them how to "shag". After exchanging embarassing glances, they politely explained that thought they already knew how to shag. Later they explained their understanding of the word "shag" which isn't at all like the local dance we do here in the Carolinas.

other trivial tidbits<BR>flat=apartment<BR>petrol=gas<BR>chips=f rench fries<BR>1 british pound= approx .60 american cents

I was wondering if one of the Brits could tell me what a baby sham/cham is? I've heard it mentioned on the Young Ones but I can't for the life of me figure out what it is!!

I thought at first it was baby shampoo but then I realized that you wouldn't want to drink it like they did on the Young Ones. So perhaps it's a baby cham(pagne)? Like what we'd refer to as a split?

Many thanks!!

I was on the phone with DH a minute ago, so I asked him what it was. He said it's not exactly champagne, but an equivalent, and comes in a bottle about half the size of a beer bottle.

However, the fact that he makes reference to the beer bottle should let you know that he's a beer drinker and his information might not be 100% accurate! Just in case it really is champagne in that little bottle, not an inexpensive rip-off. But you get the idea that it's NOT shampoo...

Babycham is perry. Perry is alcoholic pear juice. It's possible to treat perry and what we call cider (both of which are about twice as strong as most beer) so it tastes a bit like sweet champagne. Until about 1974, cider and perry had, by UK standards, virtually no tax.

In the 50's, a company called Showerings invented Babycham, calling it Champagne Perry. It was sold in champagne-like mini-bottles, and heavily marketed as a drink girls would like. In practice, it was the liquor of choice for most young men trying to get their potential girlfriends drunk. No Britmale of a certain age can think of it except with great nostalgia. 1/6d a bottle in most pubs.

Inevitably fashion overtook it, and it became the drink of preference for everyone's elderly auntie. It therefore by the late 70's was the epitome of naffness.

So by the time the Young Ones came out, it was an ironic, postmodern statement to drink it. And every five years or so, the business press carries a story of some bright-eyed marketing person who's going to make Babycham relevant to today's...well, someone or other.

These days, of course, nothing is naffer than postmodern irony.

THANK YOU, dear DLN!! So it IS like a split of champagne. Cool.

flanneruk, we cross-posted.

&quot;These days, of course, nothing is naffer than postmodern irony.&quot;

HILARIOUS!! Thank you! @&gt;-&gt;---

I loooove the word &quot;naff&quot;

Beatchick, DLN is such a Really Cool person, isn't she!!
Where can I get a Sham (Pear drink)..I think that would be just the thing on a hot and humid August day~

Dahling, DEAREST, Scarlett, alas, I think we must needs go to London.

Oh well, if we Must, then we Must

But not until I get Italy under my belt!

dln, when do you go to Italy?

I want to go to Florence.

Beatchick: we will be in Umbria from September 13 through 17. Florence is on the list because we'd like to see David. It's very disconcerting to hear all your friends (flesh and blood as well as Fodors friends) go on and on and on about the marvel of David and you're left out, because you haven't been!!!!

And after we've seen David, I'm going to look for one of those aprons that have a picture of David on them. It's right up there with the Pope snowglobe as one of my &quot;must-have&quot; Italian souvenirs.

How do I know about this naughty little apron? Fodors forum, of course!

dln, that's crazy!! I, too, want a naughty apron!!

Looks like you'll be in Umbria during my birthday! Hope you have tons of fun. Maybe you can find the naughty apron for yourself in more than 1 color!!

Another great advantage about living in America, as a Brit.. is that you can say BOLLOCKS! very loudly and no-one will really understand.
Of course it is prohibited to say this word in built-uo areas of the UK,
but in MIami and NEW York etc a Brit can happily swear: B O L L O C K S !
On a scale of 1 - 10 ( 10 being disgustingly depraved ) Bollocks comes in at about 4

Try it out - its very catchy!
here are some sentences

&quot;That's complete BOLLOCKS!&quot; when something is equivalent to Bull$hit or,

&quot;Oh BOLLOCKS I left my keys in the car&quot;

______________________________________
On the American side I have notice they can say &quot;Pissed&quot; on shows like Leno and Letterman - but pissed is quite strong in blighty. rates about a 5.5

&quot;BUGGER&quot; has rating of about 2 in UK
and is only slighly harder than &quot;Woops-a-dasiy&quot; which is genreally used by people born before 1928

I hope this helps.

Geez, and I thought bugger was much worse than the other two, as in &quot;buggerer of small boys&quot;. Y'know.

And bloody is pretty bad, too, right??!?

Personally , my favorite is





w*nker

bloody isn't too bad at all anymore. It's about the only swear word I can get away with saying in front of my mum.

Bugger is worse, but not nearly as offensive as you'd imagine, if used in the right context. You can use it as a term of endearment (he's a sweet old bugger), if you don't fancy doing something (bugger that for a game of soldiers), or if your computer crashes (bugger it). But I don't think I'd use it in front of my Mum.

And Scarlett, that's a word I could DEFINITELY never say in front of my mother!

And I might say it about my boss, but only behind his back.

Kate, I know It is one of my fav mutterings when someone cuts me off in traffic, etc. Bugger is good too ~