Vac

I have yet to hear someone say "I've just Dysoned the carpet"

I expect we've all seen private-sales ads for "... Dyson hoover..."

Ironically Dyson did approach Hoover as a potential manufacturer, but was rebuffed. "Not invented 'ere", maybe.

Presumably the housepround among us, so that lets me off the hook, have some very clean volumes of vacuum in the house; rather analagous to the contents of train brake cylinders full of nominally-nothing; thanks to what would no doubt be an Atmospheric Cleaner had it been invented in Newcomen's time.

Something to contemplate perhaps when relaxing not by making swarf but strolling along a bank of that classic tautology, the River "River".

'

Whilst on that vacuum-braked train, those of my generation may remember the light-hearted literary game My Word, on the BBC Home Service or Light Programme before Aunty succumbed to this new-fangled drive to replace real names with bland numbers.

What I particularly recall, closely but not verbatim, was this gem from one of the two male panellists, Frank Muir and Dennis Norden:

Railway carriage lavatories used to carry a brass plate embossed with 'Gentlemen Lift The Seat', whose lack of punctuation makes it both peremptory command to, and admirable definition of, the Gentleman.

So now we chaps know what to say when next ticked off by the distaff side for the proverbial sin: it shows we are gentlemen. The sign I recall from my innocent past though, ordered "Gentlemen adjust your dress before leaving the lavatory". Dress?, thought I.

Another for your further amusement from the program 'My Word', was when either Frank or Dennis offered this gem -

"La Donna è Mobile" … "The Bird Rides a Motorbike."

Down here in Australia I have not heard the word Vac or Vax used in relation to cleaning the floor. (Even the word Hoover is not used, although it was a popular brand).

If using a vacuum cleaner, we say vacuumed the floor.

Edited By Paul Lousick on 03/11/2021 04:36:38

...continuing the eponym theme, it will make my day when someone warns me "Mind you don't step in the Dyson!"

We are all guilty.

Engineers talk of shafts being Brinelled, but at least we crossed rivers by a ford before cars were invented.

But dry your shoes before walking on the Axminster!

Howard

I'm not walking on my Axminster... It's a lathe not a kitchen step!

Interesting. Not only do we now have 'Vax' with potentially multiple meanings, we have for a long time had 'Pax' which could mean either peace or passengers. Wonder what will be next??