Admit your ignorance - things you've only just realised/learned

[ColinJ]

Biscoff is biscuit and coffee!!!

I'm not taking the bait!

I found out today that the proper name for 'Maple' is 'Acer'. (I worked out that it must be for a cryptic crossword clue to make sense, then checked.)

 

[ExBrit]

If you confuse Equinox with Solstice (a friend at work could never remember which was which) remember that Equinox means "Equal night". It's the two days each year that have (almost the) same amount of night and day. So they're in Spring and Fall (Autumn).

Similarly Solstice means "Stationary Sun". This one's a bit more difficult to explain unless you're a professional astronomer. It has to do with the sun's movement on the analemma (Google it).

It didn't occur to me to use my classical education to translate the words until I was trying to explain it to my friend. That's the second time my three years of Latin have been useful in the last 50 years.

 

[Tenkaykev]

Similarly Solstice means "Stationary Sun". This one's a bit more difficult to explain unless you're a professional astronomer. It has to do with the sun's movement on the analemma (Google it).

If you do Google it, don't inadvertently insert a space in the search term 😄

 

[figbat]

I'm not taking the bait!

I found out today that the proper name for 'Maple' is 'Acer'. (I worked out that it must be for a cryptic crossword clue to make sense, then checked.)

Another for your crossword/pub quiz knowledge - sycamore is an acer too.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

Another for your crossword/pub quiz knowledge - sycamore is an acer too.

Sycamores are a bleeding nuisance, the amount that are self set seeding this year is ridiculous, one of the fields at the stable has had to be treated for the first time since the 60's because of the amount, you can't let horses graze as they are poisonous

 

[Andy in Germany]

Sycamores are a bleeding nuisance, the amount that are self set seeding this year is ridiculous, one of the fields at the stable has had to be treated for the first time since the 60's because of the amount, you can't let horses graze as they are poisonous

I hear you. Lovely wood though.

 

[Mad Doug Biker]

I have just learned that Erewash is not pronounced 'Earwash', but is 'Err - e - wash'.

According to Channel 4 News anyway.

 

[Deleted member 26715]

I have just learned that Erewash is not pronounced 'Earwash', but is 'Err - e - wash'.

According to Channel 4 News anyway.

Before you commit yourself to C4 pronunciation you need to ask them how to say Slaithwaite

 

[ColinJ]

Before you commit yourself to C4 pronunciation you need to ask them how to say Slaithwaite

Ha - I once fell for that one!

I was out on a pre-GPS tour of the hills of West Yorkshire and had just descended a nightmarishly steep hill near Huddersfield. I didn't fancy having to go back up it so I sought the help of an elderly pedestrian ...

ColinJ: Excuse me please - How far are we from Slaithwaite?

Man: Sorry, never 'eard of it. Say it again...

Me, trying harder: Slay-th-wait?

Man: No... Spell it out.

Me: S-L-A-I-T-H-W-A-I-T-E?

Man: Oh, Slough-it - you're 'ere - THIS is Slough-it. Why didn't you say that!

Me (speechless):

 

[Alex321]

Ha - I once fell for that one!

Is that Slough as in Rough, or Slough as in Bough?

 

[winjim]

Is that Slough as in Rough, or Slough as in Bough?

Has that been thought through though? Tough.

 

[ColinJ]

Is that Slough as in Rough, or Slough as in Bough?

Has that been thought through though? Tough.

Slough as in the town in Berkshire, so bough.

(I had forgotten the other versions of the word!)

 

[ExBrit]

Is that Slough as in Rough, or Slough as in Bough?

or as in dough?

 

[Brains]

 

[winjim]

Slough as in the town in Berkshire, so bough.

(I had forgotten the other versions of the word!)

Like Frank Bough.