Witches and broomsticks

[Fenton]

So I was reading something today and it said that the depiction of witches riding broomsticks comes from the idea of witches being in league with the devil and was portraying the witch coupling with Satan and if you forgive the crudeness "Riding the Devils Dick"

Which suddenly makes any discussion about Quidditch slightly awkward

[Sandinista]

 

[Steve J]

Well you learn something everyday! As for Quidditch.....

[O Dinas Powys]

I've decided to keep mostly quiet on the grounds of "taste and decency", but I will comment that it was traditional to depict witches riding with the brush end forwards... 

[Techno]

For the umpteenth time........

My Mother in law was a test pilot in a broom factory, during the war.

This is true (from yesterday afternoon.)

We had some branches taken off a tree, yesterday.

"What did you have those branches taken off for, Phil ?" (Sez MIL)
"Because you said they were banging on the roof of the annexe, Mum, and keeping you awake."
"Oh.....Well, I couldn't hear them."
"You were complaining about it, before."
"Was I ?"
"Yes."
"Well, I couldn't hear them." (Again)
"That's because your hearing is so bad, now"
"Pardon ?"
"I give up". (Exits stage left, muttering to himself.)

Cheers - Phil

[FierceKitty]

Another reason to marry a foreigner - my mother-in-law and I can't understand a word of each other's languages.

[fsn]

This is true (from yesterday afternoon.)

Exits MiL to have a nice cup of tea and a Rich Tea biscuit, chuckling to herself. "Got 'im again."

[Orcs]

Another reason to marry a foreigner - my mother-in-law and I can't understand a word of each other's languages.

Bearing in mind the ingrained "respect your elders" the oriental (am I aloud to say that in this mad PC world??) peoples have I am sure your mother in law would make herself understood with a swift" clip to the ear" if you did offend her.

[Orcs]

For the umpteenth time........

My Mother in law was a test pilot in a broom factory, during the war.

Can I quote you on that next time I send a parcel ?? 

She must have been good friends with my MIL then

[fsn]

I love the way that what Techno describes to us as a "cowshed", he refers to as "an annex" when talking to the dweller.

Is her name "Ann"?

[Techno]

Nobby.

You wouldn't believe what her full name is. (Ann doesn't enter into it, at all)

And yes......The annexe IS the old cow shed attached to the main house.

Cheers - A damp Phil, who has been waiting for over two days for some (we'll be round in a few hours) firm to unblock a storm drain......Lucky I've got a petrol pump to clear the 'Olympic sized swimming pool' outside the back door......I'm totally peed off. 

[fsn]

Feast or a famine with you isn't it? Or rather a drought or a deluge?


Hope you're safe and secure. 

[Techno]

Yeah (sigh).

Just feeling rather 'washed out'.
Cheers - Mr Zombie.

[Westmarcher]

Before relating this (true) story, I wish to put on record that I don't think my mother-in-law is a witch. Alas, my 89 year old mother-in-law is now in a Care Home. She suffers from dementia, cataracts and is extremely deaf. With her memory problems, poor soul doesn't know at times if its New Year or New York.
Before going into care, her main carer was my 94 year old father-in-law. He, too, had eyesight problems and was deafer than a post (but, unlike my mother-in-law, his mind was still as sharp as a tack).
Latterly, they relied on Community Meals ("meals on wheels") for their daily sustenance. Every day, the anticipated arrival of the Community Meals man (or woman) was a big event and, every day, lunch and dinner, my father-in-law would sit in his chair looking out the window waiting patiently for the arrival of the Community Meals Van.
One day, the meals delivery was taking longer than usual. Time ticked by ... and still no sign. Should have arrived by now. Quick visit to the loo. Back in chair. Time went by. Slowly. Tick. Tock.
2 o'clock and still no delivery.
He gave in.
"Well, Jeanie. Looks like it'll have to be the cold meat and yesterday's loaf."
Gets up. Walks into the kitchen ... and there, sitting on the worktop is today's (now cold) "meals on wheels" offering.
Yes. While he had been away to the loo, the "meals on wheels" delivery man had come in, spoken to my mother-in-law, delivered their lunch and gone back out again.

Of course, with her dementia, she had immediately forgotten about the whole event.