One would think, wouldn't one, that a person so sanctimoniously critical about the employment of the perfectly legitimate word "plowing" in a game of scrabble, would find himself unable to contemplate putting down the word "shat"? But no, it seems this person, all overcome by a Henry Lawson moment, had forgotten the rule about slang or "improper" words. But he was reminded, you may be sure, of the rule. And just in case he might forget it over the next week or so, some further reminders may be necessary. Let the record show, this is the day the brown dog shat on the scrabble board.
We are in Forster at a perfectly lovely place called "The Lakeside Resort". It all seems brand new, including the very salubrious camp kitchen and the aesthetically pleasing amenities blocks, which can be seen in the background of this photo of me feeding one of the tame local butcherbirds.
But I am fairly sure the architect/landscape designer who dreamed up the crucifix shaped clothesline supports never envisaged that they would inspire devotional acts such as this, while the clothes were actually drying.
It really is a very beautiful spot, despite the spiritual unworthiness of some of the guests.
For dinner, David and Chris bought local oysters and fillets of luderick. We barbequed the fish with ginger, coriander, lime and chilli. It was goooood.
Only a person with absolutely no knowledge of Australia would suggest that Henry Lawson, a revered poet and socialist, whould use such a word as "shat". The colloquial use of the word shat comes of course from the pen of Andrew Barton (Banjo) Patterson and thus it must be an acceptable Australian English word; n'est pas? It should be noted that retireed psychologist stuck by her guns on one pathetic word and, after due challenge from brown dog, lost her case and her turn in placing letters; her fighting spirit also suffered.
ReplyDeleteIt is, however, quite true that blasphthemers are well catered for with places provided for crucifixion on site (view of Sea of Gallilee in background) and Camp Elim (no alcohol or drugs permitted - run by Baptist Church) a short distance away. Even locating BWS was abandoned - clearly so well hidden that evil drinkers cannot perform their rituals.
CB, aka Canus Brownii, would benefit from consulting the following sources: http://www.gundagai.nsw.gov.au/library/4469/4645.html also:http://wilsonsalmanac.blogspot.com/2005/11/and-dog-shat-in-tuckerbox.html
ReplyDeleteAccording to these impeccable sources, the author, Jack Moses, was a friend of Henry Lawson's.
CB might also be confused by Banjo Patterson's famous and sentimental poem, "The Road to Gundagai" http://alldownunder.com/oz-v/banjo-paterson/p11.htm Not that I'm a pedant.