BMW X5

BMW X5 (image courtesy of Wikimedia)

Today we went for a drive round Loch Rannoch. For those unfamiliar with the road in question, it is a rather twisty-turny affair, single-track and only wide enough for two cars to pass in a few places. Despite its single-track nature, I don’t think it’s officially so, therefore there are no proper passing places. Because of this, many drivers don’t seem to bother either slowing down or pulling over slightly when faced with an oncoming vehicle.

A large proportion of the vehicles we passed were of the 4×4 variety, or SUV, if you prefer. Of those, I’d say two thirds were BMW X5s. I don’t know what changes occur in the brains of the people that drive these beastly machines, but getting behind the wheel of one seems to induce an overwhelming sense of superiority. Indeed it would seem that other cars become invisible.

When driving in this part of the world it is necessary to chill out a little bit. You’re never doing to get anywhere in a hurry, and manners are the order of the day. Perhaps the Bavarian company should include a little section on manners in their handbooks.

Loose and lose

I’m sure I’ve mentioned this one before. From dictionary.com:

lose

verb (used with object)

1. to come to be without (something in one’s possession or care), through accident, theft, etc., so that there is little or no prospect of recovery: I’m sure I’ve merelyl misplaced my hat, not lost it.

2. to fail inadvertently to retain (something) in such a way that it cannot be immediately recovered: I just lost a dime under this sofa.

3. to suffer the deprivation of: to lose one’s job; to lose one’s life.

4. to be bereaved of by death: to lose a sister.

5. to fail to keep, preserve, or maintain: to lose one’s balance; to lose one’s figure.

loose

adjective

1. free or released from fastening or attachment: a loose end.

2. free from anything that binds or restrains; unfettered: loose cats prowling around in alleyways at night.

3. uncombined, as a chemical element.

4. not bound together: to wear one’s hair loose.

5. not put up in a package or other container: loose mushrooms.

no, Now and Know

To kick off my Annoyances section:

 

No – it’s the opposite of yes.

Now – Happening at this moment. Not yesterday, not tomorrow.

Know – I have KNOWledge of something.

I’d never seen anyone make mistakes with these words until the arrival of Facebook. I suspect that laziness has a lot to do with it, but when anyone says “i no” to me, it makes me cringe. It infuriates me even more than “there, their and they’re”.

annoyances

My blog has been a bit stale of late. While I’ve had heaps of things I’ve wanted to say, I’ve refrained from doing so because I didn’t want to come across as a miserable, cantankerous old bastard. However, if the cap fits…

I’m introducing a new category entitled “Annoyances”, under which I will file short posts about things that I find somewhat irksome. Expect strong language.