Do folks notice or not?

[Jim]

Why not just carry a purse? They come in many (hundreds) of styles so it isn't too difficult to find one that will efficiently carry your belongings.

Some of us are not seeking to look feminine. As camera bags and backpacks are things I already have and use, they will suffice.

[Kilted_John]

Yeh, camera bag or laptop bag would work, I do often carry something like that, but not all the time.

Why not just carry a purse? They come in many (hundreds) of styles so it isn't too difficult to find one that will efficiently carry your belongings.

Too much hassle. Did it during the early days of my skirting. Not worth dealing with. The aforementione pouch fits on my belt, where it's easily accessible, but, at the same time, won't get left somewhere. Besides, hanging from my shoulder is usually a camera, since I'm a freelance photographer.

-J

[Charlie]

I'm stage crewing for 'Anything Goes' at the local amateur theatre. I walked to the theatre in a black kilt, and changed into trousers before the show started (it's surprising how uncomfortable trousers are after wearing a skirt!). A fellow crew member noticed and said I looked strange in trousers, which I took as a compliment

Charlie

[couyalair]

If "anything goes", Charlie, why did you change into trousers?

Martin

[skirtyscot]

(it's unsurprising how uncomfortable trousers are after wearing a skirt!).

There, I fixed that for you!

[Big and Bashful]

Yeh, camera bag or laptop bag would work, I do often carry something like that, but not all the time.

Why not just carry a purse? They come in many (hundreds) of styles so it isn't too difficult to find one that will efficiently carry your belongings.

A "purse" to me is a small bag thing for women to keep money in, normally carried around in their handbag type thing. The equivalent to a man sticking his wallet into whatever he uses as a shoulder bag.

Apart from the possibility of leaving a bag behind due to forgetfulness and just not being used to carrying one around, there are enough stories of bags being snatched from car seats or off shoulders, for me to feel happier with my wallet and phone to be attached to me by a piece of clothing! The fleeces I wear most of the time have three pockets, an inside pocket for the wallet and two outer ones. However, on the occasional day when it forgets to rain, then I need pockets in jeans or skirt to keep phones (2) and wallet in. (The joys of being on call).
And as for sporrans! too small, too uncomfortable and frankly I don't like certain anatomical oddities being used as suspension!

[Caultron]

Ah yes, I'd forgotten that:

Wallet / billfold (US) = purse (UK)
Purse (US) = bag / handbag (UK)

Is this also true for men's items, though?

As variously attributed, the US and UK definitely remain two great nations divided by a common language. (Winston Churchill, George Bernard Shaw, Oscar Wilde...)

[Big and Bashful]

It's amazing just how many conversations are caused by differences in the "same" language.
Even in the same country regional variations have a lot to answer for:

Take a small round savoury breadlike creature, I have seen them referred to as:
Rolls
Breadcakes,
Baps,
Barncakes (I think!)
muffins
Buns
I'm fairly sure there are other names for them that I have forgotten! These are the things that cheeseburgers wrap themselves in when they want to be eaten!

All in a country as small as England.

Then there is the conundrum of the crumpet/pikelet/muffin, the only difference is the town of Birth, sorry, frying.

[Caultron]

Yes, another is that in England, crackers aren't something you eat; it's something you go.

And napkins are something you put on baby bottoms, not on your lap at a restaurant.

And US cookies are biscuits in the UK.

I guess US biscuits are UK scones, although now we have scones at Starbucks, and they're larger and heavier than (US) biscuits.

US potato chips are UK crisps. Chips in the UK are what Americans call french fries, even though they were invented in Belgium.

And language is supposed to help us communicate!

[Kirbstone]

Don't agree with your napkins use definition. Napkins on your knees in a restaurant, nappies on babies' bottoms

T.

[Caultron]

Don't agree with your napkins use definition. Napkins on your knees in a restaurant, nappies on babies' bottoms

Well, you probably know better than I. I thought the cloth on your knees was a serviette. Or is that archaic now?

[ethelthefrog]

Knee-thing is a napkin or a serviette: I've heard both used. The latter mostly by my grandmother.

A nappy is a daiper.

I have no idea about biscuits. I think much study is required. Anyone care to post me some?

B&B: It's "barm cake" and is available in chippies in Manchester and around. You can also have a "chip barm" which is a serving of chips (US fries) stuffed into a barm cake. Also called a chip butty, depending on where you are in the UK. The oddest thing I've ever had from a chippy was deep-fried, battered haggis from a delightful place in Edinburgh.

The thing that amuses me most, at the moment, however is clothing language.

If you went out in pants and a tank top here, you'd get arrested. In the US, it's an entirely normal thing for women to wear. Same for pants and vest. It's hilarious.


Paul

[Big and Bashful]

It's amazing just how many conversations are caused by differences in the "same" language.
Even in the same country regional variations have a lot to answer for:

Take a small round savoury breadlike creature, I have seen them referred to as:
Rolls (Ecclefechan)
Breadcakes, (Sheffield)
Baps, (Carlisle I think)
Barncakes (I think!) or even barm-cakes apparently.
muffins (Small place just East of Manchester)
Buns, Not sure where now, the memory is fading!
I'm fairly sure there are other names for them that I have forgotten! These are the things that cheeseburgers wrap themselves in when they want to be eaten!

All in a country as small as England.

Then there is the conundrum of the crumpet/pikelet/muffin, the only difference is the town of Birth, sorry, frying.

Crumpet - Liverpool, Pikelet - Sheffield, muffin - not sure where.

Then there is the conundrum of the packed lunch, I have heard them called bait, piece or snap. There must be more.

[STEVIE]

In Aberdeen, a roll is a rowie, a bun's a softie and tablet is toffee.
Confused, you will be!
Steve.

[Taj]

Barm cakes is possibly a very old descripion of bread made centuries ago. Barm is the levening agent made from flour and beer allowed to ferment like sourdough. I've seen an eighteenth century recipe for barm that I might try one of these days.