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Elle, you tell fibs?
Well, that is a shock. Try not to make a habit of it.
It is good you are polite and friendly though.
I got a very friendly lass from the North East to get me a better BT deal. It was a pleasant experience.

Morning, Rusty!
It's a glorious day - a mite chilly as yet but the sun is shining and the sky's blue....
We went to the local park this morning with the dogs , only to find that the gipsies/ travellers/ pikeys/ call them what you will/ have moved back in!
And this after the ongoing inconvenience of the main gates having been locked (denying us the car park) against this eventuality for the last four weeks!
The Park authorities had installed a huge lorry partway across another access road, thereby blocking anything as big as a caravan or Motor home.
The gipsies man-handled this vehicle out of the way, drove in, broke down newly established heavy metal railings and are now camped out in one of the fields!
('Pikeys' by the way is in Chambers; you were doubting its authenticity!)
I've got the dentist at midday - second appointment; this time to have the crown fitted.
At least I will get an update on the dentist's house renovations.........

Hi elle
We had a lot of trouble with travellers and some of the parks had a trench dug just deep enough to stop a van or lorry but they just used sleepers and crossed it.They are an eyesore and a nuisance and cost the rate payers huge amounts of money moving them on and clearing up the mess.A group of the purchased some land and cut down all the trees but were prosecuted and made to plant saplings so they couldnt move on to the site,I wonder where they got the money to buy land in the south

Good day, Elle!
Great weather here, too.
I think I told you that the travellers would overcome most obstacles put in their way.
Now, "pikey" is not in my Chambers, but Anne Bradford gives it. I think it is considered to be racist and offensive in Scotland, anyway.
I did not doubt it's authenticity, but I am not given to use words associated with racism.
I have no time for racism.
That said, I do wish the powers that be would resolve the ongoing problems with the travellers.
We have it here, too.
I noticed Anne Bradford had as the only definition of "before food", as, "Ac". Apparently used on doctors prescriptions. New to me!
Part-two of the crown procedure should be straightforward, I think!
I am away for a bit of a dander now, and then I have a bit of on-line shopping to explore.

Rusty, my Chambers must be newer than your Chambers - Pikey is in my edition. However... as the word is 'derogatory slang', I will never be using it myself and would be quite happy never to encounter it!

Hi, Rusty!
Yes, the dentist trip was a doddle! The new crown was fitted very quickly and I was assured that I could eat by the time I reached home!
Rusty, I am indeed glad to hear that you have no time for racism, but you should know that nor would I use a word in any way associated with racism!
Obviously, I am very definitely strongly against any form of racism whatsoever.
'Pikey' is in common usage around Kent - although, myself, I always say 'gipsies'; I don't see why they should be dignified with the word "travellers" considering the wilful damage they do in our parks, and the filth and mess they leave behind.
The definition of "pikey" is given in Chambers as "an itinerant person; a gypsy; a boorish and uneducated person, esp one engaged in a criminal or antisocial activity.
Perhaps shortened from 'turnpike' ".
No reference to racism.
It may have a different connotation in Scotland though?
I hope I've clarified my viewpoint here.
I've never noticed "Ac " on any medical prescription but it comes from the Latin "ante cibum", which means 'before food'.
I hope you enjoy your 'dander' - how far are you going?

from the BBC
Pikey has,in more recent years become a term of abuse and in the eyes of the law using it can even be deemed a racist offence, given its association with Irish travellers and Roma Gypsies.
In December, at Lewes Magistrates' Court, Lee Coleman, 28, admitted using racially-aggravated threatening words and behaviour after a row with a nightclub manageress.
He had told her: "I'm not paying you, pikey."

Elle, your definition is perfectly correct - but the 'Derogatory slang' mention comes before all that! I don't think of it as a racist word, but I know I don't like it - and I know I would be horrified if any of my children used it. Still, life would be boring if we all thought the same.

doglet
We also had problems with travellers and they eventually solved the problem, in one particular area, by building mounds about 4 feet high, comprising mostly hardcore, rubble, topped with soil and finally planted with wild flowers .

I think gipsy' make their money mostly illegally...they certainly don't work like you or I...it's mainly cold-calling to have driveways or roof's fixed at exorbitant prices, targeting the elderly. Also pinching lead from church roof's, copper from rail side embankments etc.