h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

>>there was so much RAIN that I couldn't wear sandals.

Which are easier to dry...socks or feet?

Good point, except the shoes didn't get soaked through so my feet stayed dry, which they wouldn't have done if I'd been wearing sandals.

I confess that the main reason I hate wearing shoes is that I hate wearing tights. And as I almost never wear trousers (in public, anyhow) this means I have to wear tights under my skirts and dresses. What can I say - it ain't easy being me!


az

I love Borscht. I love pickled beets. I also like them mixed with horseradish. How else does one prepare them?

Sorry to hear you had to wear shoes, Az. It's raining down pretty well today here, but not nearly cyclone material. Stay safe!!

Incidentally, it's only just cooled off enough to shut the aircom off this past week- and it's still nearly 70 F in the house today. We've at least gotten it cool in here some nights- I sleep best in a chilly room.

I used to hate squash, until only just about a year or so ago. I also used to hate sweet potatoes, until about three years ago. Now I love them both- oh, all the good stuff I missed out on all those years!

What happens when you feed a three-year-old Borscht?

When you feed a three-year-old Borscht what?




az

And I hate wet socks!

I hate wearing tights (here, tights means those opaque ones, the sheers are called pantyhose. I hate that word, probably because I hate the word panties), too, which is why I almost never wear skirts, and when I do, they're usually ankle-length. Which probably looks funny, as I'm only about 5'3"- 5'4".

As for myself...I very seldom wear panties.

When you feed a three year old borscht, it stains his clothes, his face, and any adjacent soft furnishings. Permanently.

<>

Really? I hate it too. Have always hated it, for no reason I can fathom. But there you go.

I wear tights - opaque 50 or 60 denier ones. Pantyhose are such a waste of money as they tear and run constantly, whereas a good pair of opaque tights will last all winter. And I also think they look better, especially as, like you, all my skirts are longish.

I'm 5'4" and think ankle length skirts look quite fine on me. So I'm sure they do on you as well.


az

So what do you both call 'panties?'

My wife laughs at me for talking about 'underpants', which she knows as 'pants'....although in the US/Canada, of course, these are what we call 'trousers.'

Surely not 'knickers'?

Incidentally...why are these garments always plural? (except to tailors: 'Would sir like to see something with a fuller trouser?')

I think they are plural because there are two legs (or leg openings) on them, but that's just a guess. Much like a pair of glasses (two lenses involved).

I much prefer the word knickers! Really, don't know why 'panties' has such a negative effect on me, obviously some long-forgotten connotation from my youth.


az

I guess the opposite with me. Knickers have connotations of little girls and Carry On films.

Shirts and blouses also have two arm openings, but don't always come in pairs...

Knickers here are something else entirely, and obviously something not commonly worn, because I never hear the word used except on British television (or at h2g2, of course). "Pants" are trousers. Men's underpants are never panties though.

I have no clue as to why they're always plural. I must research that.

I hope the borscht comes off the furniture, and the boy!

So...are women's panties ever underpants? Come on...I'm curious now...what *do* you call them?


(Or maybe they're in the category of women's-things-that-don't-have-a-proper-name...which is a considerable dilemma for the parents of daughters, I can tell you!)

Unmentionables?

Yeah, often also called underpants. But usually in North America the term is panties. Ick.


az

The official UK retail term seems to be 'briefs' - unless they are French or thongs.

N.O.R.W.I.C.H.?

As far as I know, 'briefs' are what they call Y-front men's underpants in North America.


az

Ah, now...in Marksandspencerese, men's briefs would be without the Y. I can't work out what the Y bit is meant to be for anyway. It's too tricky trying to manipulate anything through it. Far easier just to hoik down the waistband.

http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=32&Page_Count=1&RestartFlow=t


Aha! Full Briefs for women! Didn't know that. Though I should have as I've been on this page a few times looking for some cotton high-legs for myself. Of course, M&S won't deliver outside the UK so I'm going to have them sent to blicky and then he'll forward them on to me here.

It's no joke. It's impossible to find good quality, reasonably priced cotton knickers in Spain.


az

For men:

http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=52&Page_Count=1&RestartFlow=t

The briefs look pretty much 'y-front' to me.


az

You're quite correct. Classic briefs and Plain briefs. http://www.marksandspencer.com/IWCatSectionView.process?IWAction=Load&Merchant_Id=1&Section_Id=1138&RestartFlow=t&mnsCallingTemplate=sectionTemplate

Attractive things, aren't they? How come men never get to wear pretty pants!

btw...that model seems to have a sock stuffed down his.