On 15/04/2023 09:55, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Fri, 14 Apr 2023 09:48:42 +0200
> Rolf Mantel <news@hartig-mantel.de> wrote:
>> Am 13.04.2023 um 20:04 schrieb Muttley@dastardlyhq.com:
>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 15:35:02 +0100 Graeme Wall
>>> <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
>>>> On 13/04/2023 13:11, Recliner wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>>>>> wrote: They don't. But they also don't live in northern Europe.
>>>>
>>>> Some Normans do live in the Med.
>>>
>>> I'm not sure you'd still call them normans after 900 years and god
>>> knows how many generations in sicily.
>>
>> By the same account as calling those in Rouen Normans. In both cases, a
>> few hundred Normans setted down 1000 years ago and mingled with the
>> local population.
>
> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
> describing them.
>

The Duke of Wellington wouldn't agree with you!
--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

On 15/04/2023 11:24, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>
>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>> describing them.
>>
>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>
> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
> getting bullied.
>

As anyone christened Richard Bird will tell you!

--
Graeme Wall
This account not read.

<Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>
>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>> describing them.
>>
>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>
> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
> getting bullied.

There was the rather tragic Luke Walmsley - I didn’t hear anything that
related his murder to his name but I thought of it immediately. Maybe it
was just something you didn’t say. And there was/is a musician and
possibly a BBC producer called Joe King who I once heard introduced with
“and his parents must have been”.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

Graeme Wall <rail@greywall.demon.co.uk> wrote:
> On 15/04/2023 11:24, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>
>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>> describing them.
>>>
>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>
>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>> getting bullied.
>>
>
> As anyone christened Richard Bird will tell you!

And anyone whose surname is Crawley.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
wrote:

>On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>
>>>If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>describing them.
>>
>>I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>
>Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>getting bullied.
>
I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.

On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 20:03:36 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson
<ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:

><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>
>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>> describing them.
>>>
>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>
>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>> getting bullied.
>
>There was the rather tragic Luke Walmsley - I didn’t hear anything that
>related his murder to his name but I thought of it immediately. Maybe it
>was just something you didn’t say. And there was/is a musician and
>possibly a BBC producer called Joe King who I once heard introduced with
>“and his parents must have been”.
>
Others choose the daft names themselves :-
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/H._Vernon_Watson aka Nosmo King

On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:58:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
wrote:

>On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:21:24 -0000 (UTC)
>Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:11:17 +0100
>>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>> 3 in the last 4 days. Oh wait, you wouldn't think they're in northern
>>>>> europe.
>>>>
>>>> So you've not actually been to (m)any countries in northern Europe, other
>>than
>>>> the UK?
>>>
>>> Why do you care? Should I have visited antartica before I can claim its at
>>> the south pole?
>>
>>Most of Antarctica is a long way from the South Pole. I've been to
>
>Calais is a long way from the med.
>
>>Antarctica, but haven't crossed the Antarctic Circle.
>
>Oh dear, I'm sure you'll cope.
>
>>>> They don't. But they also don't live in northern Europe.
>>>
>>> Then where do they live?
>>
>>Western Europe.
>
>So is Stanmore in west london?
>
Are you dividing into halves, quarters or something else?
City, town, region or traditional county?

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:10:26 +0100
Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:58:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>wrote:
>
>>On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:21:24 -0000 (UTC)
>>Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:11:17 +0100
>>>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>> 3 in the last 4 days. Oh wait, you wouldn't think they're in northern
>>>>>> europe.
>>>>>
>>>>> So you've not actually been to (m)any countries in northern Europe, other
>>>than
>>>>> the UK?
>>>>
>>>> Why do you care? Should I have visited antartica before I can claim its at
>>>> the south pole?
>>>
>>>Most of Antarctica is a long way from the South Pole. I've been to
>>
>>Calais is a long way from the med.
>>
>>>Antarctica, but haven't crossed the Antarctic Circle.
>>
>>Oh dear, I'm sure you'll cope.
>>
>>>>> They don't. But they also don't live in northern Europe.
>>>>
>>>> Then where do they live?
>>>
>>>Western Europe.
>>
>>So is Stanmore in west london?
>>
>Are you dividing into halves, quarters or something else?
>City, town, region or traditional county?

If scotland is in western europe then stanmore is in west london.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:02:13 +0100
Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:50:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>I tend to agree. In France you used to only be able to name your kids after
>>IIRC religious names from the bible and other approved ones. Of course this
>>quickly fell apart when Mohammed and Fatima rocked up and had the kids
>>Mohammed, Muhammed and Muhammad, so not sure what the rules are now.
>
>https://www.annieandre.com/french-baby-name-law-banned-names-france/

It appears Kevin became a popular name after the rules were relaxed. Wierd.
After Kevin Costner maybe?

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 16:13:32 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

>On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 17:02:13 +0100
>Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:50:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>I tend to agree. In France you used to only be able to name your kids after
>>>IIRC religious names from the bible and other approved ones. Of course this
>>>quickly fell apart when Mohammed and Fatima rocked up and had the kids
>>>Mohammed, Muhammed and Muhammad, so not sure what the rules are now.
>>
>>https://www.annieandre.com/french-baby-name-law-banned-names-france/
>
>It appears Kevin became a popular name after the rules were relaxed. Wierd.
>After Kevin Costner maybe?

Yes, and Kevin McCallister, as well as boyband singers such as the Backstreet Boys’ Kevin Richardson:

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/aug/05/kevin-french-name-national-mockery

Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
> wrote:
>
>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>
>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>> describing them.
>>>
>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>
>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>> getting bullied.
>>
> I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
> you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
> used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.

The GP in Mallaig, who predated the animated waterfowl? I used to know
some of his offspring. The family owned a flat in Edinburgh with an
obvious entry in the telephone book. They used to get calls along the
lines of “Is Mickey there? Hee hee hee <click>”.

Sam

--
The entity formerly known as Sam.Wilson@ed.ac.uk
Spit the dummy to reply

On 16/04/2023 10:15, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:05:21 +0100
> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>>
>>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>>> describing them.
>>>>
>>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>>
>>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>>> getting bullied.
>>>
>> I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
>> you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
>> used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.
>
> I think a lot do it deliberately for whatever moronic reason. Possibly for a
> narcissist even means they'll get even more attention. Like Musk who's
> named the kids he had with that brainless wailer something absurd (can't be
> arsed to google) and frank zappa who named one of his kids Moon Unit FFS.
>
Some more advanced countries have legislation banning such names. It's
time the UK joined them.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:36:40 +0100
Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>On 16/04/2023 10:15, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>> On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:05:21 +0100
>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>>>
>>>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>>>> describing them.
>>>>>
>>>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>>>
>>>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>>>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at
>school
>>>> getting bullied.
>>>>
>>> I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
>>> you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
>>> used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.
>>
>> I think a lot do it deliberately for whatever moronic reason. Possibly for a
>> narcissist even means they'll get even more attention. Like Musk who's
>> named the kids he had with that brainless wailer something absurd (can't be
>> arsed to google) and frank zappa who named one of his kids Moon Unit FFS.
>>
>Some more advanced countries have legislation banning such names. It's
>time the UK joined them.

I tend to agree. In France you used to only be able to name your kids after
IIRC religious names from the bible and other approved ones. Of course this
quickly fell apart when Mohammed and Fatima rocked up and had the kids
Mohammed, Muhammed and Muhammad, so not sure what the rules are now.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:05:21 +0100
Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>wrote:
>
>>On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>>Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>>2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>
>>>>If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>>describing them.
>>>
>>>I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>>parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>
>>Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>>maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>>getting bullied.
>>
>I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
>you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
>used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.

I think a lot do it deliberately for whatever moronic reason. Possibly for a
narcissist even means they'll get even more attention. Like Musk who's
named the kids he had with that brainless wailer something absurd (can't be
arsed to google) and frank zappa who named one of his kids Moon Unit FFS.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 09:16:51 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
wrote:

>On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:10:26 +0100
>Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 08:58:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>>wrote:
>>
>>>On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 21:21:24 -0000 (UTC)
>>>Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>><Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 13:11:17 +0100
>>>>> Recliner <recliner.usenet@gmail.com> wrote:
>>>>>> On Thu, 13 Apr 2023 07:12:50 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>>>>>> 3 in the last 4 days. Oh wait, you wouldn't think they're in northern
>>>>>>> europe.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> So you've not actually been to (m)any countries in northern Europe, other
>>>>than
>>>>>> the UK?
>>>>>
>>>>> Why do you care? Should I have visited antartica before I can claim its at
>>>>> the south pole?
>>>>
>>>>Most of Antarctica is a long way from the South Pole. I've been to
>>>
>>>Calais is a long way from the med.
>>>
>>>>Antarctica, but haven't crossed the Antarctic Circle.
>>>
>>>Oh dear, I'm sure you'll cope.
>>>
>>>>>> They don't. But they also don't live in northern Europe.
>>>>>
>>>>> Then where do they live?
>>>>
>>>>Western Europe.
>>>
>>>So is Stanmore in west london?
>>>
>>Are you dividing into halves, quarters or something else?
>>City, town, region or traditional county?
>
>If scotland is in western europe then stanmore is in west london.
>
No, no, yes, no.

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 15:50:11 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:

>On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 12:36:40 +0100
>Coffee <martin.coffee@round-midnight.org.uk> wrote:
>>On 16/04/2023 10:15, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com wrote:
>>> On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 00:05:21 +0100
>>> Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>>>> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>>>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>>>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>>>>> describing them.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>>>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>>>>
>>>>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>>>>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at
>>school
>>>>> getting bullied.
>>>>>
>>>> I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
>>>> you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
>>>> used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.
>>>
>>> I think a lot do it deliberately for whatever moronic reason. Possibly for a
>>> narcissist even means they'll get even more attention. Like Musk who's
>>> named the kids he had with that brainless wailer something absurd (can't be
>>> arsed to google) and frank zappa who named one of his kids Moon Unit FFS.
>>>
>>Some more advanced countries have legislation banning such names. It's
>>time the UK joined them.
>
>I tend to agree. In France you used to only be able to name your kids after
>IIRC religious names from the bible and other approved ones. Of course this
>quickly fell apart when Mohammed and Fatima rocked up and had the kids
>Mohammed, Muhammed and Muhammad, so not sure what the rules are now.

https://www.annieandre.com/french-baby-name-law-banned-names-france/

On Sun, 16 Apr 2023 20:06:46 -0000 (UTC), Sam Wilson
<ukr@dummy.wislons.fastmail.co.uk> wrote:

>Charles Ellson <charlesellson@btinternet.com> wrote:
>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 10:24:45 -0000 (UTC), Muttley@dastardlyhq.com
>> wrote:
>>
>>> On Sat, 15 Apr 2023 11:16:25 +0100
>>> Roland Perry <roland@perry.uk> wrote:
>>>> In message <u1doqi$1vh0o$1@dont-email.me>, at 08:55:46 on Sat, 15 Apr
>>>> 2023, Muttley@dastardlyhq.com remarked:
>>>>
>>>>> If someone was born in normandy then "norman" is probably a good way of
>>>>> describing them.
>>>>
>>>> I had a colleague once, a Mr Church. And if that wasn't bad enough, his
>>>> parent's really had christened him "Norman".
>>>
>>> Parents like that really need a good slap. Whats cute and funny in the
>>> maternity ward is very far from amusing when the kid is a teenager at school
>>> getting bullied.
>>>
>> I suspect some parents don't think past the personal names otherwise
>> you probably wouldn't get names like the Donald Duck who my brother
>> used to work with. Others forget to check what the initials spell.
>
>The GP in Mallaig, who predated the animated waterfowl?
>
A bit further south. I think it was someone in GEC who occasionally
caused amusement when going through customs.

>I used to know
>some of his offspring. The family owned a flat in Edinburgh with an
>obvious entry in the telephone book. They used to get calls along the
>lines of “Is Mickey there? Hee hee hee <click>”.
>
>Sam

On 13 Apr 2023 at 8:12:24 PM EEST, "Graham Nye" <nospam@thenyes.org.uk> wrote:

> On 2023-04-13 17:55:29, Arthur Figgis wrote:
>> On 12/04/2023 20:28, <Muttley@dastardlyhq.com> wrote:
>>
>>> The netherlands all of which is further north than the english south
>>> coast
>>
>> Bonaire, Sint Eustatius and Saba are parts of the Netherlands south of
>> the English south coast.
>
> Mount Scenery in Saba is also the highest point in the Netherlands at
> 887 m (2,910 ft).
>
> Always handy for a pub quiz or, as in the case of this snippet,
> University Challenge.
>

One of my favourite restaurants in Eindhoven was the (wholly intentionally -
there was, unusually, a very slight incline to the road) ironically named
'Mount Everest'.