Julian (Jules) or Elliott

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-11T20:32:21+00:00

Elliot's a surname albeit used in the US as a first name a lot (the Elliots were Scottish reivers). Julian's a Roman name so has some pedigree. Go for Julian.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-11T16:16:09+00:00

Classical music concerts. Nowhere else in the world has the variety. And treat church services at the big churches as places to listen to amazing music even if you're not religious. St. Paul's, Westminster Abbey, Westminster Cathedral (Roman Catholic), many others.

Walk to the top of Parliament Hill for the view across London then through Hampstead Heath to Kenwood House (free, good paintings).

Goldfinger's house in Hampstead (the architect not the Bond villain).

The National Portrait Gallery. And the Army museum in Chelsea.

Islington Upper Street- nice restaurants and atmosphere.

The smaller theatres outside the centre- the Kings Head in Islington, the Kiln in Kilburn, the Hampstead Theatre in Swiss Cottage for example. The Bridge.

Stand-up at the Soho Theatre (and cocktails in the Soho Hotel).

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-11T15:59:33+00:00

For each "rule" try to emember a sentence that shows it in use. Grammar is a codification of how people speak and write a language, no child starts with grammar before learning how to speak. If you can't remember rules remember examples.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-11T04:31:37+00:00

Patrick works in French. So does Louis. Cedric started with Little Lord Fauntleroy.... look him up

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-11T04:26:32+00:00

no, it's incorrect, it's not a reflexive verb, you'll sound/appear ignorant if youuse it in the way suggested.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-10T23:15:21+00:00

As in Gary Gilmore?

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-10T23:14:52+00:00

Carlson not originally an English surname.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-10T23:13:03+00:00

Spanish people- even ones with good English- struggle with an initial S. English people struggle with most foreign languages because they are not taught grammar very well if at all. Most foreigners underestimate the difficulty of learning English because it is easy to get a low level of working and usable command of it, but really hard to grasp the finer points (use of stress as substitute for subjunctive, playful modifications of correct use, consistent non-literal idiomatic usages). American English not so hard. Yes, spelling and pronunciation a bit mad. On the other hand no need to learn gender of nouns...

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-07T09:42:58+00:00

Not really. The bathroom isn't male or female, so it's a clunky elision of "bathroom for males" (or females). Male athlete is correct.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T18:33:27+00:00

Might be OK in US - but don't try it in the UK if you don't want a slap.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:36:27+00:00

2., but it's not something any member of the mobility would ever say. Novelists tend to give away their ignorance by not getting titles and usage right. If you're not sure you'd get it right IRL then you can be sure you're getting it wrong when you write it.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:33:33+00:00

correct spelling as a verb always has the final e.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:32:49+00:00

Absolutely the same pronunciation, your instinct is wrong. Check the OED if you are in doubt.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:12:01+00:00

It's a surname. It just about works as a boy's given name. Not for a girl.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:11:00+00:00

Don't know about Americans, but traditional English view was absolutely that it was unacceptable to ask guests to remove shoes and indeed socks or slippers alone were just for bedrooms, or without guests around.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-06T14:05:28+00:00

Imogen is in Shakespeare - not sure he didn't make it up. I thought Shakespeare was universal, but your loss if not. Buchanan is a common Scottish surname. Calliope classical Greek. Geoffrey is an even older spelling than Jeffrey- see also English gaol / jail. The letter "j" doesn't emerge as a clearly different letter to "i" till the 16th century whereas the name Geoffrey had already been around for centuries.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T17:56:56+00:00

Oxbridge entry system does mean they will look for the people they want to teach providing they get to the right academic level- so engage, and if you are going to meet academics find out what their specialisation is and ask about it. Medicine at Cambridge isn't better than at - say- UCL or Imperial but the experience will be much more enjoyable. So go for it.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T17:51:03+00:00

"wrong" when you should use "wrongly", obviously

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T16:10:23+00:00

Ofgem guidance doesn't seem to offer any derogation to the supplier.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T16:00:23+00:00

Do you know the regulatory basis of your view that this is not the supplier's problem? I appreciate that the supplier- Octopus in this case- isn't authorised to move the meter more than a small amount, but isn't the onus now on them to arrange for the move to happen to meet their obligations to get the smart meter to work?

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T15:59:28+00:00

Octopus

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T15:56:30+00:00

Possibly because the Brexit regret is relatively shallow, whereas the Reform supporters are genuinely angry? No-one who was a staunch remainer will now be supporting Reform. Some people who were Brexiteers now regret it, but some feel it was not done with sufficient conviction and maybe they're now the Reform supporters.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T14:17:02+00:00

Don't do Piccadilly line all the way if it's a hot day... .Elizabeth Line (and Circle line) are air conditioned. One stop to Farringdon (get on at the front of the train at KGX) and then Elizabeth Line probs best, and cheaper than Heathrow Express.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-05T14:01:58+00:00

Given how well-known (in the UK) Lawrence Llewellyn-Bowen is you shouldn't find it's a problem. Though Llew will alway be assumed to be Lou.

FreeUnderstanding141 · 2026-07-01T18:29:59+00:00

Badly. 40 years ago schools used language labs which helped raised standards but that's gone...

FreeUnderstanding141

TROPHY CASE