The French Are Said To Drink A Lot Of Red Wine And Smoke Like Trains.

[sandyRoe]

Is there any evidence that their bibulousness protects them from the ravages of smoking?

[Buenchico]

>>>Harp?!!! That makes Fosters almost palatable!

I was amazed when I googled to find the ABV of Harp. It's so lacking in flavour that I always assumed that it was around 3.5% to 4% (at the very most).

Fosters? The UK version is almost undrinkable but, if you get the chance, try it in Oz, where the ABV is much higher and where it's full of flavour.

[sandyRoe]

I think you need to be young for the heavy drinking. There was a time when I'd easily have had 12 pints or more. That would be close to the equivalent of 4 bottles of wine, I couldn't do that now. A bottle spread over an evening seems plenty.

[ummmm]

Out market runs from Tuesdays until Saturdays.

[BlackadderV]

I disagree Sandy. In my teens/20s 4 pints was my max, but since I got a taste for the hard stuff I can get through 70cl per day, no problem. Not good, I know.

[Buenchico]

>>>I think you need to be young for the heavy drinking

Oh, fond (if somewhat hazy) memories.

During our second year at college, the three of us who were in digs together (about 1½ miles from the campus) would often meet up after lectures and find that we'd got no change for the bus. The solution, of course, was provided by one of us voicing the magical abbreviation, 'QH', which meant going for a 'Quick Half' in the Nursery Tavern. Somewhat strangely, we often seemed to miss the last bus home, around 6 hours later!

These days I look forward to my three pints of real ale on a Sunday evening (with perhaps a few drinks during the week) while our little group studies the Times crossword. However, for the past month or so, I've only actually consumed just two pints on a Sunday evening.

Oh well, at least old age seems to be saving me money!

[sandyRoe]

I always couple propinquity with consanguineous for some reason.

[BlackadderV]

Does it not come from the old Mass when reading the banns of marriage, propinquity and consanguinity?

[sandyRoe]

BlackadderV, I said that because I was off it for a long while. I think I've lost me head for it now. I was probably in my 30s when I was doing my heaviest imbibing.

[sandyRoe]

Something from The Bard, 'propinquity of blood'. Can't remember where.

[Ouzel]

^^ King Lear

[Buenchico]

I've just had to look up (in a proper, physical, dictionary, rather than on the web) the meaning of 'propinquity'. It's one of those words that I just accept when it's used in context but I couldn't put my finger on a specific definition. ('Close kinship' does, indeed, seem to nearly synonymous with 'consanguineous').

Incidentally, are you aware that most UK libraries subscribe to the Oxford English Dictionary website, so that (simply by entering the number on their library cards) library users can get full access to the contents of the OED (which costs megabucks if you take out a personal subscription)? It's one of my favourite websites!

[BlackadderV]

The RCs and the CofE have different versions of the warning when reading the banns. The CofE refers only to 'just cause'. I remember once attending a Roman mass in which the priest added the words, "by reason of propinquity or consanguinity", referring to those who are forbidden to marry.

[sandyRoe]

Buenchico, that's something worth knowing. The night hasn't been wasted, TY.

[anneasquith]

i thought ( for some reason ) you were off the vino/beer sandy ?

[sandyRoe]

I had always thought they meant much the same thing. But if they are mentioned as separate causes why a couple shouldn't marry they must have different meanings.

[Buenchico]

Here's where to enter your library card number for access to the OED:
http://www.oed.com/loginpage
(If there are any spaces in the number on your library membership card, you should omit them).

In the (hopefully unlikely) event that your local library doesn't subscribe to the system, email me and I'll give you my library card number: [email protected]

[sandyRoe]

Anneasquith, I had been off it for quite a while but recent events...

[BlackadderV]

Propinquo, are, to draw near.

[BlackadderV]

Do I have to use library computers or can I do that on my own?

[sandyRoe]

I'll try it in the morning, Buenchico. If I can't get through I'll ask for the library card number.