back to old ambulances

Paul D Smith wrote:

You don't even need an "official" car. Our "works car" used to be a white
sierra estate, no flashies, markings or anything - regular car throughout.
With two "white shirt and tie" professionals in the front, I was amazed at
how many motorway drivers slowed down and pulled over as we approached them.
Whether they realized their mistake as we went past I don't know but clearly
they weren't taking any chances.

A good few years ago I was driving my red Volvo 245 to a fancy
dress party. I had on a black jacket and flat hat, devoid of any
significant markings (Postman Pat was the idea). It was
noticeable how courteous other drivers were.

Chris
--
Chris J Dixon Nottingham UK


Have dancing shoes, will ceilidh.

Oh, and don't use the G word - it's racist.


No it isn't http://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

In article ,
Paul D Smith wrote:
You don't even need an "official" car. Our "works car" used to be a
white sierra estate, no flashies, markings or anything - regular car
throughout. With two "white shirt and tie" professionals in the front,
I was amazed at how many motorway drivers slowed down and pulled over
as we approached them. Whether they realized their mistake as we went
past I don't know but clearly they weren't taking any chances.

I have a BMW 5 Series with the 'angel eye' sidelights. Same as the MP ones.
When the MP first got them I couldn't understand why others would slow
down when I approached them at night. And mine is dark green rather than
silver.

--
*Ah, I see the f**k-up fairy has visited us again

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 at 10:59:48h +0000, Dave Plowman explained:

I have a BMW 5 Series with the 'angel eye' sidelights. Same as the MP
ones. When the MP first got them I couldn't understand why others would
slow down when I approached them at night.

Is that because you find it difficult to understand why anybody would
hold an MP in such regard?

"Doctor D" wrote in message
o.uk...

Oh, and don't use the G word - it's racist.

No it isn't http://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

Is too. Try referring to a dictionary, rather than some amateurish website.

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember Bill Wright
saying something like:

Just to dispel one common myth, when an ambulance leaves service and is
put on the open market the various sirens, horns, and blue flashing
lights are always removed. So tales of people using the 'blues and twos'
to get through a traffic jam are pure fantasy.

Nope. I know of one where it went through the auction still fited with
blues and twos.
Anyway, not exactly beyond the pikey wit to fit Bs &2s, is it? Easily
available off the shelf, and for the past few decades.

In article ,
j r powell wrote:
"Doctor D" wrote in message
o.uk...

Oh, and don't use the G word - it's racist.

No it isn't http://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

Is too. Try referring to a dictionary, rather than some amateurish
website.

Collins GEM English Dictionary
Gypsy n., pl. -sies. member of a travelling people found throughout
Europe.

--
*Acupunctu a jab well done*

Dave Plowman London SW
To e-mail, change noise into sound.

On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 at 18:10:12h +0000,
Jamie Robert Powell (posting as the fake ) commanded:

Try referring to a dictionary

Is Merriam-Webster online dictionary acceptable?

QUOTE

Gyp·sy noun \ˈjip-sē\
plural Gypsies
Definition of GYPSY

1: a member of a traditionally itinerant people who originated in
northern India and now live chiefly in south and southwest Asia,
Europe, and North America

2 : romany 2

3 not capitalized : one that resembles a Gypsy; especially : wanderer
See Gypsy defined for English-language learners »
Origin of GYPSY

by shortening & alteration from Egyptian
First Known Use: 1537

UNQUOTE

Is dictionary.com acceptable?

QUOTE

Gyp·sy  [jip-see] 0

–noun

1. a member of a nomadic, Caucasoid people of generally swarthy complexion, who migrated originally from India, settling in various parts of Asia, Europe, and, most
recently, North America.
2. Romany; the language of the Gypsies.
3. ( lowercase ) a person held to resemble a gypsy, esp. in
physical characteristics or in a traditionally ascribed freedom or
inclination to move from place to place.
4. ( lowercase ) Informal . gypsy cab.
5. ( lowercase ) Informal . an independent, usually nonunion trucker,
hauler, operator, etc.
6. ( lowercase ) Slang . a chorus dancer, esp. in the Broadway theater.
7. ( lowercase ) gyp1 ( def. 4 ) .

–adjective
8. of or pertaining to the Gypsies.
9. ( lowercase ) Informal . working independently or without a license:
gypsy truckers.

See images of gypsy
Also, especially British , Gipsy, gipsy.

Origin:
1505–15; Â*back formation of gipcyan, Â*aph. var. of Egyptian,
from a belief that Gypsies came originally from Egypt

UNQUOTE

Or Wiktionary

QUOTE

Noun gypsy (pluralÂ*gypsies)
(offensive, sometimes pejorative)

An itinerant person or any person or group with qualities traditionally
ascribed to Romani people, including suspected of making a living from
dishonest practices or theft etc.

I will look on your treasures, gypsy. Is this understood? Borat

Gypsy, a member of the Romani people, or one of its sub-groups (Roma, Sinti,
Romanichel, etc), traditionally thought to have originally from India and
entered Europe in 14th or 15th century, etc. Compare Bohemian, Romany,
traveller.

(archaic) One of a vagabond race, not necessarily Romani

Adjective

gypsy (not comparable)
(pejorative, offensive) Of or having the qualities of an itinerant
person or group with qualities traditionally ascribed to Romani people,
including suspected of making a living from dishonest practices or
theft etc.

If anyone questions them, they'll fold up faster than a gypsy roofing
company.

(sometimes pejorative) Gypsy, of or belonging to the Romani.
(archaic) Of or belonging to the Gypsy race (Webster).

UNQUOTE

There is nothing any of those three sites which claim that the noun is
racist, but that sometimes the adjective is used in a perjorative sense.

Or do you consider all three of these to be "amateurish" websites?

On Thu, 2 Dec 2010 18:32:51 +0000 (UTC), J G Miller
wrote:

On Thursday, December 2nd, 2010 at 18:10:12h +0000,
Jamie Robert Powell (posting as the fake ) commanded:

Try referring to a dictionary

snip

Your research does you credit, but do you *really* expect to get a
rational answer from the little ****?

His idea of discussion is:

1. Forging using other peoples' names and message headers.
2. Cutting and pasting to steal other peoples' work
3. Call someone a pikey, and then accuse the same person of using
racist language.

Best just to let him go and fester.

"j r powell" wrote in message
...
"Doctor D" wrote in message
o.uk...

Oh, and don't use the G word - it's racist.

No it isn't http://www.gypsy-traveller.org/

Is too. Try referring to a dictionary, rather than some amateurish
website.

Try asking gypsies and travellers rather than pontificating!