Failure to communicate

[changeling]

I came to the State Library today to do some writing, and also chat to one of the teachers from the House of Netjer on AIM. I can't get AIM to work through any channels, so it looks like the library has it blocked. Why can't people understand that Gtalk is the way of the future? (Meaning: Why can't we do things my way? ;)

Anyway, I emailed her to update her on my travails, and she closed one email, knowing I'm an Aussie, with the salutation, "Have a G'day!"

So cute, and so, so wrong.

No-one in Australia uses G'day in this form. Although it is a contraction of "good day", it is only ever used as a greeting equivalent to "hello". This makes me translate this in my head as "Have a hello!", which makes me giggle. Also: another note for foreigners. Pretty much no-one in the large cities uses "G'day" on a regular basis. You may as well say "Tarnation, you durned yankees!" in the middle of New York.


I've picked up a copy of Stephen Fry's The Ode Less Travelled, mostly because I find Stephen Fry funny, and didn't quite realise it was, essentially, a poetry workbook. I'm quite enjoying it so far, and have (as instructed) practised some Iambic Pentameter. My favourite so far is my first one:

And to his feet he cried, "What curse is this?
What cruel and spiteful trick upon me played?
For if that's not the Gorgon's blood there spilt,
Then whose unseemly hide is split in twain?

I know what happens next, but it was taking far more time for me to versify it, and I'm supposed to trot these out as fast as possible. And only dealing in single or double lines. And, ideally, not in old-fashioned language. I want to write the rest of the story, though (it involves an oracle, a son, and a curse).

I think my love of old-fashioned turns of phrase is working against me so far. Fry has some awesome lines in the vernacular:

I haven't time to take your call right now,
So leave a message when you hear the tone.

and

Oh Christ, I hate the way you do your hair,
Expect you feel the same about my tie.

I think I shall have fun with this book.

Hmm.

And leaping to his feet he cried, "What curse
Is this, what spiteful trick upon me played?

Comments

[watersusurrus.livejournal.com]

You either needed to append a PTO at the end of that post, or like, finish your sentence?

G'day!

[delirieuse.livejournal.com]

I accidentally hit enter, and it posted early. Read it again. <3