Just for a moment I thought my appalling typing had been at it again. <BR> <BR>My husband would be highly amused at the idea of my undertansing the concept of ironing. That's what our cleaning lady does! <BR> <BR>The first time I came face to face with the American lack of irony was on my one and only visit when we stayed with a friend and his partner in San Francisco (or Frisco, as I understand we muct learn to call it). The partner taught English to US Navy sailors. Garrison keillor was flavour of the month and in discussing Lake Wobegon Days over supper one evening I was amazed to discover that Tom thought it was straight storytelling- no humour, no irony, no nothing- just down home Mid West. Nothing I could say could convince him. And this guy was TEACHING English to the masses (unless he was being ironic, I guess)

Sheila, you will call San Francisco "Frisco" at your peril. Never, never, never do that.

Thank you for all your responses. I will soon begin writing my essay, (but there's still some time for more postings!) I will let you know how it turns out.

See what I mean? (sigh)