Questions for our British friends

Nick Danger · December 19th, 2009, 07:17 AM

1. This may seem like a weird question to ask on a porn -- er, I mean erotica -- forum, but what is meant by the phrase "made my toilet"? This pops up frequently in the Flashman novels (set in Victorian times), i.e. "The butler came in and made my toilet".

2. What exactly is meant by the phrase "Wednesday week"? Do people say "Tuesday week' or "Thursday week"?

3. What is a bank holiday?

4. If private schools are called "public schools", what are public schools called?

**haroldeye** · December 19th, 2009, 07:56 AM

Wednesday week means, a week on Wednesday or seven days after the next Wednesday. The day named can be any day of the week. If I said I'll see you on Monday week I would mean the first Monday after the next Monday.

We have several Bank Holidays in the UK. They are days when the Banks were forced to close for a day in order to give their workers a days rest. Holidays for the workers are a relatively recent invention, until just before 1900 most blue collar people worked five or five and a half days a week and were lucky to have any paid holidays at all. Bank opening times were strictly limited by law to prevent runs (I think something similar happened in 'It's a wonderful life' the James Stewart Christmas film). By granting the compulsory holidays for the bank it meant that workers got several long weekends every year.

Public schools are so called because when they started they was Private education (tutors for the rich) Church schools for the middle classes (the church was all powerful in late medieval England) and no schooling for anyone else. Schools were founded and funded by the public purse to educate the poor. Over the years these schools became private, fee paying schools but never lost the name Public. What Americans would call public we call 'State schools'.

The toilet business is very Victorian and date from the time before plumbing. The valet (for the master) or maid (for the Ladies) of a large house would take their employer hot water, soap, clean towels etc so the employer could wash or bathe. Even when plumbing came in the maid would draw her lady a bath of the right temperature and make sure the right toiletries were to hand.

**RyderKnightley** · December 19th, 2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by haroldeye

Wednesday week means, a week on Wednesday or seven days after the next Wednesday. The day named can be any day of the week. If I said I'll see you on Monday week I would mean the first Monday after the next Monday.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

I've seen and read the phrase "Wednesday week" several times. Elvis Costello wrote a song called "Wednesday Week".

It was The Undertones who had the song Wednesday Week and in that instance they where refering to the Wednesday of the previous week.

"Wednesday week she loved me,
Wednesday week never happened at all"

Nick Danger · December 19th, 2009, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

It was The Undertones who had the song Wednesday Week and in that instance they where refering to the Wednesday of the previous week.

"Wednesday week she loved me,
Wednesday week never happened at all"

Wednesday Week
Written by Elvis Costello
Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced by Nick Lowe
Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded August-September 1978, Eden Studios, London
Released December 18, 1978

The movies save on conversation
And the TV saves on sight
We met in a head-on collision
So I would say our chances would be slight
You can lead and I will follow
See us dancing cheek to cheek
You'll remember me tomorrow
But you won't give a damn by Wednesday Week

Say you love me until you do so
Joso singing just like Caruso
Three little words roll off your tongue
Somehow your face just doesn't look so young
You say you want to strike a bargain
Now there is no need to speak
You say you want to learn the jargon
But you won't give a damn by Wednesday Week
You start acting like a zombie
Someone wants your piece of cake
You think you want to jump up on me
But you won't give a damn by Wednesday Week

Oh what a letdown when the battle was finally won
One little breakdown and then it was over and done
I wish I had your confidence
It's love and not coincidence
Do you say these words to everyone?
You're fantastic, you're terrific
Your excellence is almost scientific
You took the words out of my mouth
You put the tongue into my cheek
But I'd better lose my memory by Wednesday Week

**RyderKnightley** · December 20th, 2009, 06:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nick Danger

Wednesday Week
Written by Elvis Costello
Performed by Elvis Costello & The Attractions
Produced by Nick Lowe
Musicians Elvis Costello - vocals, guitar
Steve Nieve - keyboards
Bruce Thomas - bass
Pete Thomas - drums
Recorded August-September 1978, Eden Studios, London
Released December 18, 1978

Wednesday Week by The Undertones

Here she comes to say good night
I'll get no sleep tonight
With a constant vision she still can see
She was the girl for me

Wednesday week - she loved me
Wednesday week - never happened at all

There she goes I want to see her again
She's gone to school with her best friend
She only does the things she likes to do
Now she wants something new

Wednesday week ...

Here she comes ...

Wednesday week

Nick Danger · December 20th, 2009, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

Wednesday Week by The Undertones

Yes, I've heard the Undertones. The difference is, I never insisted "It was Elvis Costello who had the song Wednesday Week"

lately · November 19th, 2021, 05:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RyderKnightley

It was The Undertones who had the song Wednesday Week and in that instance they where refering to the Wednesday of the previous week.

"Wednesday week she loved me,
Wednesday week never happened at all"

Indeed they did - but they're from the Ireland, and the North of it at that. They say things differently there.

**sandhunter** · November 22nd, 2021, 11:19 PM

I saw this and was curious if any of you British boys were even considering this

**electrofreak** · November 22nd, 2021, 11:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandhunter

I saw this and was curious if any of you British boys were even considering this

Some people need it more than others...and protest WAY too much.

**Brecht** · November 23rd, 2021, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sandhunter

I saw this and was curious if any of you British boys were even considering this

They're being too polite. I would suggest all SUV drivers, who do most of their driving in the city, be castrated. It's about time those things are outlawed in cities.

December 19th, 2009, 07:17 AM	#1
Nick Danger Blocked! Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Dixie Posts: 303 Thanks: 90 Thanked 2,402 Times in 292 Posts	Questions for our British friends 1. This may seem like a weird question to ask on a porn -- er, I mean erotica -- forum, but what is meant by the phrase "made my toilet"? This pops up frequently in the Flashman novels (set in Victorian times), i.e. "The butler came in and made my toilet". 2. What exactly is meant by the phrase "Wednesday week"? Do people say "Tuesday week' or "Thursday week"? 3. What is a bank holiday? 4. If private schools are called "public schools", what are public schools called?

December 19th, 2009, 07:56 AM	#2
haroldeye Moderator Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Halfwitistan Posts: 5,716 Thanks: 113,551 Thanked 59,974 Times in 5,708 Posts	Wednesday week means, a week on Wednesday or seven days after the next Wednesday. The day named can be any day of the week. If I said I'll see you on Monday week I would mean the first Monday after the next Monday. We have several Bank Holidays in the UK. They are days when the Banks were forced to close for a day in order to give their workers a days rest. Holidays for the workers are a relatively recent invention, until just before 1900 most blue collar people worked five or five and a half days a week and were lucky to have any paid holidays at all. Bank opening times were strictly limited by law to prevent runs (I think something similar happened in 'It's a wonderful life' the James Stewart Christmas film). By granting the compulsory holidays for the bank it meant that workers got several long weekends every year. Public schools are so called because when they started they was Private education (tutors for the rich) Church schools for the middle classes (the church was all powerful in late medieval England) and no schooling for anyone else. Schools were founded and funded by the public purse to educate the poor. Over the years these schools became private, fee paying schools but never lost the name Public. What Americans would call public we call 'State schools'. The toilet business is very Victorian and date from the time before plumbing. The valet (for the master) or maid (for the Ladies) of a large house would take their employer hot water, soap, clean towels etc so the employer could wash or bathe. Even when plumbing came in the maid would draw her lady a bath of the right temperature and make sure the right toiletries were to hand.

November 22nd, 2021, 11:19 PM	#8
sandhunter Super Draconian Sandhunter Join Date: May 2013 Location: Sonoran Desert Posts: 13,979 Thanks: 208,917 Thanked 261,356 Times in 13,886 Posts	I saw this and was curious if any of you British boys were even considering this