Old-fashioned expressions

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John J

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Re: Old-fashioned expressions
« Reply #15 on: December 30, 2019, 12:35:11 PM »
At the risk of incurring the wrath of the moderators by going a little off subject, I'd like to introduce an activity that the forum ladies may be more familiar with, that of smocking. When I was growing up in the 1950s one of my aunts used to augment the family income by doing smocking at home. All I remember of it is that it was a kind of needlework that had its origins, not in the usual way by being a means of enhancing the clothing of the wealthy, but from the clothes, or smocks, of the working classes, hence the name. I have no idea whether or not it is still practiced, maybe someone could enlighten me. 
Cyprus Branch Head. Gardens in a field 40 m above sea level with reasonably fertile clay soil.
"Aphrodite emerged from the sea and came ashore and at her feet all manner of plants sprang forth" John Deacon (13thC AD)

David Dickinson

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Re: Old-fashioned expressions
« Reply #16 on: December 30, 2019, 10:09:42 PM »
I always thought that Chaffinches "pinked" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jCNazyWsliQ
There is also a high pitched "pink" produced by Great Tits when they are alarmed. If you play through the first part of this clip to 2min 23sec  you will come to a section where a bird plays a trick on the others at a feeding station. Making a false alarm call to scare the other birds into flying away, it then has the food all to itself.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=great++tit+alarm+call&ru=%2fvideos%2fsearch%3fq%3dgreat%2520%2520tit%2520alarm%2520call%26qs%3dn%26form%3dQBVDMH%26sp%3d-1%26pq%3dgreat%2520tit%2520alarm%2520call%26sc%3d0-20%26sk%3d%26cvid%3d55638E1B2C244DD88C8EBFE08B358D61&view=detail&mid=CA2B869717BA608DE778CA2B869717BA608DE778&rvsmid=2BB1FF3A92F102BDBD0A2BB1FF3A92F102BDBD0A&FORM=VDMCNR

I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.

David Dickinson

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Re: Old-fashioned expressions
« Reply #17 on: December 30, 2019, 10:12:51 PM »
Forgot to say, also in Italy people use a wooden egg for darning.
I have a small garden in Rome, Italy. Some open soil, some concrete, some paved. Temperatures in winter occasionally down to 0°C. Summer temperatures up to 40°C in the shade. There are never watering restrictions but, of course, there is little natural water for much of June, July and August.

Umbrian

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Re: Old-fashioned expressions
« Reply #18 on: December 31, 2019, 09:00:32 AM »
Pleased I was right in thinking the twilight call is less harsh than the warning one - shall be happy to stick to my idea that it is a call to find a safe roost......a night watchman call😊
MGS member living and gardening in Umbria, Italy for past 19 years. Recently moved from my original house and now planning and planting a new small garden.