Comments on: Compass

By: Nabakov

Nabakov — Mon, 22 Sep 2003 14:53:18 +0000

And best of british to anyone approaching Blair’s fundament with an oriental herb in hand.

By: Henry

Henry — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 17:53:43 +0000

I can personally vouch for Colin Crouch, who I suspect was responsible for the bit on capitalism and economic policy. He’s not only a Sound Bloke, but full of good ideas to boot. But then, he was co-supervisor of my Ph.D. dissertation for all intents and purposes, so I would say that, wouldn’t I.

By: Walt Pohl

Walt Pohl — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 17:08:16 +0000

That’s bizarre, since “ginger” in the sense of “gingerly” has almost the opposite meaning.

By: Sven

Sven — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 15:38:56 +0000

FEAGUE – To feague a horse; to put ginger up a horse’s fundament and formerly, as it is said, a live eel, to make him lively and carry his tail well. It is said that a forfeit is incurred by any horse-dealer’s servant who shall ‘shew’ a horse without first feaguing him. Feague is used, figuratively, for encouraging or spiriting one up.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 14:40:57 +0000

I believe, although perhaps embarrassingly I get this from Terry Pratchett, that a favourite pasttime of young scallywags during pre-internal combustion engine days was to put a piece of ginger up a very personal spot of the horse, and watch it react.

By: dsquared

dsquared — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 14:11:43 +0000

The what?

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 14:03:55 +0000

Ah, like the piece of ginger up the horse’s bum trick.

By: Chris

Chris — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 13:45:32 +0000

OED: d. attrib. or as adj. Applied to a group, person, etc., which provides the ‘ginger’, spirit, or stimulus of a party or movement; esp. in ginger group.

By: dsquared

dsquared — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 13:42:40 +0000

Yer definition, zurr

By: Patrick Nielsen Hayden

Patrick Nielsen Hayden — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 13:09:53 +0000

Redheads? Chinese cooks? I’ve never heard the term either, and I confess I’m still a little baffled by it.

By: dsquared

dsquared — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 12:21:16 +0000

Am I being shockingly naive in asking what you get if you join? There’s a “Join Us” form asking for thirty quid (I can only join as an “Associate Member”), but no details of my badge with real swivelling eyes, secret code words, handy plastic wallet, Gnasher’s Fang Club identity card etc. Do I get to describe myself as a member of the “influential Compass Group” in my correspondence (which looks like a bit of a bargain for thirty quid, as well as a massive hostage to fortune for them)? Or do I just get the odd invitation to a drinks party with a middle-ranking backbencher making a speech (in which case thirty quid looks like a bit of a racket and we should consider starting one of our own)? Have to agree that the membership list looks pretty strong though.

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 19 Sep 2003 12:05:41 +0000

Ginger group? I’ve honestly never heard the term before…