There’s something to be said about the English language. Language can be directionally challenged. Final destination or designation unknown. Which brings me to My Reader who is currently knee-deep in the “to-ma-toe” versus “toe-may-toe” dispute. Having said that…add nuance, syntax, stuff and other stuff.
The question is: Is it allowable to be knackered in your knickers but never knicker-knackered? I do have it on good authority…one could. However, even My Reader advises against it.
Further more…single cream is not double cream, full cream, clotted or cotillion, and half and half, and half is where we started…the English language…directionally challenged…destination and/or designation sometimes unknown, add to that the The Final Question-able Christine’s arrival from Yorkshire, England via Seattle to Portland this Monday last. Sans the written word.
Jots from a Small Apt. 
Je ne parle pas Francais! But I do speak Powell’s. Only made it once, but oh holy hell, love at first entrance. Must. Return. Soon…
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Invitation open ended for you and the Mrs. I know THE best place for coffee….see you next time!
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!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Is Powell’s Books still there? I haven’t been there in 15 years…………:(
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Powells still in Portland? Was just there today!!!!!! You should come again…it’s even better now.
Your post on Imperial Beach…memories…I went to Mar Vista HS. Our “truck” farm was on TiaJuana River Road…I think the farm and our house are gone…disappeared when they put in the slough/canal…to carry the water from the TiaJuana Mountains to the ocean.
Small world, hey?
Making a quick trip to San Diego in a couple of weeks…
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The first time I went to Powell’s, which I think was the summer of 1994, I spent the whole day in there even though I was just going to go in and spend a few minutes looking around………..lol
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I’m with you on the “just going to look”…my 15 minutes to “look” ended up being 1.5 hours!! What a treat…
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The term “clotted” sounds so unappetizing doesn’t it? (even though I love all cream. . .) I also love Challah and wish I could bake some that looked like those photos!
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Challah…so easy! And…
Thank you always for stopping by…
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Beautiful moments of sharing and happiness. That book store looks like an aladdins cave for an book worm….me
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I have no doubt you could, and probably would, spend days in Powells….it is a city block big…4 stories! As always, thank you for dropping by….
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The Chinese Garden looks so pretty! But I have to admit I’m partial to that photo of the nectarine galette.
Also, I laughed at your mention of the English language issues—I lived in London for a while and I learned about the different meaning of “half & half” and all the various levels of creams. We really are two countries separated by a common language!
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Making peach and plum galettes tomorrow morning…stop by…have a cuppa while they bake. Door is open.
Lived in London, too. Mastered the language pretty well while there. The problem was coming back to U.S. and moving to a small rural town in Southern Oregon. No one could understand me and I insisted on driving on the wrong side of the road. Not pretty.
I do so enjoy your missives, Madame W!
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Why thank you, Jots! I’m enjoying yours as well!
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Great photos! Beautiful shots of the Chinese garden.
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So happy you stopped by, GK! Our Chinese Garden is an exact replica of the LanSu Garden in China….only smaller. It is my favourite spot in Portland. Will have to post more photos or take a look at their website: http://www.LANSUGARDEN.ORG in the mean time. Hoping you are all moved in to your new-to-you flat and enjoying the final days of summer….Raye
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Je trouve la photo du jardin chinois vraiment superbe.Celle avec les ombres et j’ai un petit coup de coeur pour les tomates cerises.
je ne maitrise pas assez bien la langue anglaise pour comprendre les subtilités de ton texte. dommage.
bonne journée
val
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Val, Je vous remercie pour vos aimables commentaires … surtout les photos du jardin chinois. Je ne suis pas un professionnel comme vous. Vos commentaires signifient beaucoup. Je vais essayer de faire mieux dans les sous-titres de mes photos à venir … subtilité américaine peut être déroutant. Dois avouer que votre maîtrise de l’anglais est probablement mieux que mon 1 an d’école de langue française. J’ai commenté votre message le plus récent et Le Banc …. que je admirons tant. Il est très beau. Notre ami, James, sera sans aucun doute laisser un commentaire positif, aussi bien. Il ya cette «chose» à propos de bancs … vous êtes maintenant inclus! Raye
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Nice! Some very stellar photos there. Thanks for sharing. Must visit Portland someday. Doesn’t look nearly as dreary as some say.
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Dreary? Dreary???? Tina, Tina, Tina….just because it rains 7 to 8 months out of 12…you’d call that dreary? HA! Yes…we all call it dreary! But when the sun shines…it really shines. We had incredibly sunny weather when Chris was here. Yea for Portland. No drearies here….
Thank you for your very nice comment.
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This was a wonderful jaunt through your week of activities! I bet she was thrilled to have taken you up on your invitation! Thanks for sharing!
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Miss Chris! It was a fantastic holiday for Chris, Jane and I. We had so much fun…lots of giggles and slaps…and food, food, food!!! We ate ourselves through Portland’s downtown…and the farther reaches of the city!
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Wow! Look like you had a great time. Bet you are missing her. Glad you were able to share so much and when you next drop by, that bread looked pretty good….
Not so much the pronunciation, but the actual words. Sidewalk v. path or pavement, faucet v tap. Plus lots more. But I doubt you needed much in the way of a translator really.
I’d guess you had more in common than not.
Great photos.
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No translator needed, right you are, Pat! Making fresh peach galette in the morning and more braided Challah…shall I bring with…our next get together in the Summer House? Tea time be all right? No need for supper if that’s an affirmative………..
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Absolutely – love the sound of that peach galette. I’ll get some cream. See you later…. and I’ll bring out some wraps, it’s getting chilly.
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Great photos! Many thanks for the brief trip into your world.
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Christine’s visit was truly magical! Thank you, Mr. C. for dropping in…
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I’ll take some of that welcome-home pudding…
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Life just doesn’t get any better when you can have pudding with whipped cream…! Makes me smile when you stop by for a chat….thank you!
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I thought when I was planning to move to Australia from the US that at least I wouldn’t have to learn a new language…boy was I wrong! So many words meaning different things…cookies, bisquits, scones…smoking fags…fortnights…fannies!…not to mention the words that are pronounced differently. I’m a nurse and it took a couple of days to realise that when they were saying cap-ill-airy, they meant ca-pill-ary!
You have to love the english language and all it’s oddities. Oh yea, US is aluminum and Australia is aluminium…they actually are spelled differently!
Cheers,
Laura
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Such fun! Right, Laura? Thank you for your “wordy” comment…..
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Fun now! I used to get headaches from trying to figure out what everyone was talking about and translating back and forth in my head. 🙂
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Some Brits say ‘shedule’ instead of ‘schedule’. I don’t care if it’s tomato or tomayto. ‘Course, you know I’d say the latter being down south and all but I care more about eating the thing. Language is a beautifully splendid thing, made even moreso when you use your voice.
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Way too many pronunciation differences between our two countries…to count!! My favourite is con-troph-esy/con-tro-versy. Do so enjoy seeing your smiling face! Thanks so much for stopping by…
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