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Grunger

I see that a young lady from Wigan won the Euro 800m title. Have you trained with her?

Thanks Grunger!

I think the England Cricket management have lost the plot - I know Covid has created problems but the `rotation` policy over selection is just wrong. Fast bowlers need to be handled with care but the spinners need to bowl as much as possible to build up their confidence. England selectors have `previous` in playing spinners when they shouldn`t and not picking them when they should! - Rashid is a good example (IMHO)

I received my census form this morning. It says:

All households should complete the form on 21 March 2021 or as soon as possible after.

That last word jars with me. I think it should be "afterwards", or it should end "after then".

As if the royals aren't in enough trouble already, here's a quote from a 'female royal' to Meghan:

'Why don't you just lay low for a while...'

LIE, please!

I think misuse of lie, lay, laid, lain is one of my greatest irritants. The problem arises in the above example because 'He lay low...' is fine in the past tense.

Some of the 'wrong' usage is becoming mainstream. You often hear people saying they had a lay-in.

Tyke

Yes I think a few spinners have been messed about, Bess is the latest. I feel sorry for him as I have had the same problem. Sometimes you cant release the ball properly. It was kind of Root to say that Bess is much better than him. Not much in it but Moeen Ali is far better.

Orson

I prefer thereafter.

Paul

Yes lay and lie are misused here. I often hear people telling their dogs to "lay down". Annoying.

Grunger

It was interesting to read in the Times yesterday that there is a "thorny national debate" about conductor/conductress. A leading female conductor wishes to be known as a "direttore" rather than "direttrice".
It might be different here as I think conductor is neutral.

Paul

I am not following the saga but am wondering how an "alleged racist remark" can be made about somebody not yet born?

jigjag

Yes I read the article. I got the impression that there is no neutral word for conductor in Italian. The woman wishes to be known as a male conductor and this has caused all the fuss. It reminded me of the story about your friend who was a bus conductress in the day but a conductor at night. I would definitely like to be a conductress.

jigjag, grunger

The 'racist remark' about the unborn baby's skin colour could be construed as 'I wonder if the baby will have Meghan's beautiful dark skin', much as one might speculate as to whether it might inherit its mother's lovely eyes. Unfortunately there is so much sensitivity about skin colour that opponents are bound to seize on the slightest perceived offence.

Inspired by this thread I was pleased to play VICTRESS in a recent online Scrabble game. Unsuccessfully challenged by my opponent.