The treating of tradesmen

[Rumbaba]

Well, I think it inadequate for the reason that I mentioned and, although you omit to comment on my point about the term "dustmen", it remains an inaccurate term to denote the work that refuse collectors do, in that they collet the general detritus that their customers put out for them to collect, rather than "dust" which, as I mentioned, is "collected by the vacuum cleaner.

I tip the vacuum cleaner (into the dustbin).

[VodkaDilc]

I note also with some dismay and puzzlement the terms postman, dustman, baker's boy and butcher's boy; aside from the fact that "dustman" is in any case a peculiar antediluvian misnomer for someone who collects general garbage (or "refuse", if you prefer) rather than mere "dust" which is collected by the vacuum cleaner, what about the postwoman? and why only "boys" at the butcher's and the baker's?

While agreeing with ahinton, I recall a discussion with my postwoman some time ago. We were talking about the possibility of a Royal Mail strike; her words were "as a postman can sympathise.........."

I also wonder why 'actor' has become the norm for both sexes and 'actress' seems to be frowned on! 21st century life is so inconsistent.

[cloughie]

...I also wonder why 'actor' has become the norm for both sexes and 'actress' seems to be frowned on! 21st century life is so inconsistent.

Where does that leave Bishops?

[Don Petter]

So is your cellar not part of your house, then? How unfortunate! What's even more unfortunate is that you're not using that part of it that's occupied by coal with more wine, which would surely be a far better use of the space concerned!

Interesting point. I suppose I don't count the cellar as a 'room' in that sense.

I can't afford to fill the cellar with wine. It probably has about 150 bottles at the moment, which take up less than one wall. So there is plently of room for two bunkers (about half a ton) of coal. We need that to get the fire started, though we then switch to wood, which lives outside in the wood store, until brought into the ingle nook. All very normal behavior, as far as we're concerned.

[ahinton]

I tip the vacuum cleaner (into the dustbin).

By which I presume you to mean that you tip its contents thereinto; I don't imagine that you'd tip the cleaner itself into it unless it had broken down irreparably.

[Lateralthinking1]

I tip my hat to them. Civility has more value than coinage.

Before he was a postman, my Grandad was a milkman with a horse and cart. The horse used to run away with him at its mercy. On Christmas Eve 1981, a milk float reversed on ice into my car and smashed it to pieces. 28 years later, another did exactly the same thing at exactly the same spot to my Dad's car. So I don't tip.

I prefer rubbish to dust, refuse and garbage.

[PatrickOD]

In general, Mr.Grew, yes I do. To some of those you mentioned, and one or two you did not, I usually give presents of cash, tins of biscuits, chocolates and flowers. I must add that the tradesman's entrance is not as frequently used as in the past, since circumstances have forced me to do my own shopping. I would also add that some of the above return the compliment. I never have to buy the Christmas turf for the fire, for example, and the smoked salmon seems to appear as if by magic every year. The compliments of the season to you, and to all.

[ahinton]

Interesting point. I suppose I don't count the cellar as a 'room' in that sense.

I can't afford to fill the cellar with wine. It probably has about 150 bottles at the moment, which take up less than one wall. So there is plently of room for two bunkers (about half a ton) of coal. We need that to get the fire started, though we then switch to wood, which lives outside in the wood store, until brought into the ingle nook. All very normal behavior, as far as we're concerned.

Coal just to "start" the fire? What's wrong with firelighters and/or matches/paper/kindling?

[Norfolk Born]

By which I presume you to mean that you tip its contents thereinto; I don't imagine that you'd tip the cleaner itself into it unless it had broken down irreparably.

Doesn't it rather depend on what sort of a day you've had? Perhaps the appliance in question has malfunctioned once too often, is no longer worth repairing - or has exploded...

[scottycelt]

The notion that exceptions can or do prove rules is as outmoded and misleading as some of the terminology used in the opening salvo of this thread! In any event, what makes you assume (as you appear to do) that women working fulfilling any of the rôles mentioned is "exceptional"?

It certainly is where I live in North Cheshire ...

Well, I think it inadequate for the reason that I mentioned and, although you omit to comment on my point about the term "dustmen", it remains an inaccurate term to denote the work that refuse collectors do, in that they collet the general detritus that their customers put out for them to collect, rather than "dust" which, as I mentioned, is "collected by the vacuum cleaner.

I did comment ... most uncharacteristically, I commented that I had absolutely no opinion on that particular matter whatsoever!

[Don Petter]

Coal just to "start" the fire? What's wrong with firelighters and/or matches/paper/kindling?

I do use match, firelighter and kindling, but the coal, used in moderation, quickly gives a good basic fire on which the wood can gently smoulder in the manner to be desired.

(There is some domestic division here. SWMBO tends to consider it should be a coal fire which is started with wood, which is why I don't often let her meddle with it. Not normally a problem, as in the early evening she is chained to the sink doing the day's washing up. )

[ahinton]

I do use match, firelighter and kindling, but the coal, used in moderation, quickly gives a good basic fire on which the wood can gently smoulder in the manner to be desired.

(There is some domestic division here. SWMBO tends to consider it should be a coal fire which is started with wood, which is why I don't often let her meddle with it. Not normally a problem, as in the early evening she is chained to the sink doing the day's washing up. )

If you use kiln-dried wood as I do, you'd not need to use coal for that or indeed any other purpose.

What's wrong with a dishwasher (other, perhaps, than the difficulty in sourcing a coal-fired one)?...

[Lateralthinking1]

Few men who have kindling own a Kindle.

Sydney Tamiia Poitier is an American actress known for her work on television. I would change my name to Sydney The Man Grew.

[Sydney Grew]

. . . mere "dust" which is collected by the vacuum cleaner . . .

"John Harmon, 'our mutual friend,' has been brought back to England by the death of his father, a dust contractor. The mountains of rubbish accumulated in Victorian London also figure symbolically in the action. There has been considerable critical controversy over whether Dickens's use of the term 'dust' is in fact a euphemism for 'excrement'." - Thus Mr. John Sutherland in his synopsis of Dickens's "Our Mutual Friend" in "The Longman Companion to Victorian Fiction."

[Stillhomewardbound]

<<I also wonder why 'actor' has become the norm for both sexes and 'actress' seems to be frowned on! 21st century life is so inconsistent.>>

Glad you made that point, VodkaDilc Fair enough to quibble about 'post/dust/work-man' being applied to both sexes but I fail to see how the term 'actress' was somehow demeaning, or suggestive of a lesser talent than 'actor', rather as a 'Queen' would prefer to be styled 'king' as if the former made her a lesser monarch.