Ship of Fools: When you call out my name.

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Thread: When you call out my name.

Albertus
Shipmate
# 13356

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:

You don't hear 'fancy man/woman' which is what my mother would have used for a presumed lover where the parties were of mature years.

I've always liked that term. Were I not very happily married to Mrs A I would be delighted to be thought of as someone's 'fancy man'.

Posts: 6498 | From: Y Sowth | Registered: Jan 2008 | IP: Logged

VirginiaKneeling
Apprentice
# 18414

Posted

I referred to my first MIL by her first name. I disliked my first FIL so much I generally tried to avoid being in his presence, let alone speaking to him. When I remarried, I referred to my in-laws by their first names, which was what they preferred. When the children were born, it became somewhat complicated, as they had on my side not only grandparents but a great-grandmother who was so firmly "Grandma" that nobody else could lay claim to that name, and on the other, a grandfather and step-grandmother, and a grandmother and her domestic partner. So my parents became Nana and Baba, and the ones on the other side were Grandpa John and Grandma Lu, and Grandma Liz and Zackie. My grandsons have nearly as many complications! To #1, who when he was born had not only the usual complement of grandparents but 5(!) living great-grandparents, I am Grandma J, while his other grandmother preferred Grandmama. The grandfathers were Grandpa and Grandaddy. My parents remained Nana and Baba, but I don't remember what he called the other great-grands. #2 and #3 have different fathers but the same mom (more complications!). One dad calls me Ms. J(first name), the other calls me Mom. Both grandsons call me Grandma and called my late ex Grandpa. #2 called his other grandmother Nanna and calls his other grandfather Granddaddy. They both call #3's grandmother, with whom they have a warm relationship, "Lita", short for Abuelita....that's the Puerto Rican side of the family.

And just to make things more complicated, after having been married twice each, my current partner and I have no plans to marry. I usually refer to him as "my gentleman" or sometimes as my partner, although I like that less. I've heard him refer to me when speaking to others as "my lady", which I like, but he often says "my partner". I think he'd die if I called him my "fancy man".

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Inasmuch as ye have done it to one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me..

Posts: 11 | From: Virginia, USA | Registered: May 2015 | IP: Logged

no prophet's flag is set so...

Proceed to see sea
# 15560

Posted

Nothing like dialect. A "fancy man" here means someone who is pretentious and pompous. Saying someone is "swish" means similar. The younger generation might say that "they think they're all that". "My lady" I have only ever heard as a term of address to a judge. Usually said milady, counterpart to milord.

Posts: 11498 | From: Treaty 6 territory in the nonexistant Province of Buffalo, Canada ↄ⃝' | Registered: Mar 2010 | IP: Logged

Piglet
Islander
# 11803

Posted

I'm always at a bit of a loss as to how to describe my brother's Significant Other; they've been living together for over 20 years (both having previously been married and divorced). At first I referred to her as his girlfriend, but as they're now both over 60 it seems to be stretching the term a bit, and "partner" seems the only sensible option.

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

Firenze

Ordinary decent pagan
# 619

Posted

Scots offers the additional option of 'bidey-in'.

Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Lothlorien
Ship's Grandma
# 4927

Posted

The term "de facto" used to be commonly used to describe such a relationship and couples used the term to describe their partner. Since such relationships are now treated basically the same as a couple who are married, the term seems to have disappeared. A long time since I have heard it.

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Posts: 9745 | From: girt by sea | Registered: Aug 2003 | IP: Logged

Piglet
Islander
# 11803

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Scots offers the additional option of 'bidey-in'.

Indeed it does. [Big Grin]

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I may not be on an island any more, but I'm still an islander.
alto n a soprano who can read music

Posts: 20272 | From: Fredericton, NB, on a rather larger piece of rock | Registered: Sep 2006 | IP: Logged

Sparrow
Shipmate
# 2458

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
I'm always at a bit of a loss as to how to describe my brother's Significant Other; they've been living together for over 20 years (both having previously been married and divorced). At first I referred to her as his girlfriend, but as they're now both over 60 it seems to be stretching the term a bit, and "partner" seems the only sensible option.

My BF and I have the same problem, being not married, definitely of mature years and not actually living together either. He doesn't have any problem referring to me as his girlfriend, which is nice, but "boyfriend" doesn't seem appropriate for a older man and I feel awkward saying "man friend". If pressed I have referred to him as "my chap".

[Confused]

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For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Posts: 3149 | From: Bottom right hand corner of the UK | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Ariel
Shipmate
# 58

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
I'm always at a bit of a loss as to how to describe my brother's Significant Other...

You've just done it, beautifully.

Posts: 25445 | Registered: May 2001 | IP: Logged

Zacchaeus
Shipmate
# 14454

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Sparrow:

quote:
Originally posted by Piglet:
I'm always at a bit of a loss as to how to describe my brother's Significant Other; they've been living together for over 20 years (both having previously been married and divorced). At first I referred to her as his girlfriend, but as they're now both over 60 it seems to be stretching the term a bit, and "partner" seems the only sensible option.
My BF and I have the same problem, being not married, definitely of mature years and not actually living together either. He doesn't have any problem referring to me as his girlfriend, which is nice, but "boyfriend" doesn't seem appropriate for a older man and I feel awkward saying "man friend". If pressed I have referred to him as "my chap".

In old fashioned books he would be your 'gentleman friend'

Posts: 1905 | From: the back of beyond | Registered: Jan 2009 | IP: Logged

Firenze

Ordinary decent pagan
# 619

Posted

There was a young lady of Joppa
Who came a Society cropper.
She went to Ostend
With a gentleman friend
And the rest of the story's improper.

Posts: 17302 | From: Edinburgh | Registered: Jun 2001 | IP: Logged

Golden Key
Shipmate
# 1468

Posted

"Long-time companion" is another possibility--though, IME, it gradually came to be used mostly for same-sex couples.

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Blessed Gator, pray for us!
--"Oh bat bladders, do you have to bring common sense into this?" (Dragon, "Jane & the Dragon")
--"Oh, Peace Train, save this country!" (Yusuf/Cat Stevens, "Peace Train")

Posts: 18601 | From: Chilling out in an undisclosed, sincere pumpkin patch. | Registered: Oct 2001 | IP: Logged

Sparrow
Shipmate
# 2458

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Golden Key:
"Long-time companion" is another possibility--though, IME, it gradually came to be used mostly for same-sex couples.

Rather a mouthful though.

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For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life,nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Posts: 3149 | From: Bottom right hand corner of the UK | Registered: Mar 2002 | IP: Logged

Zacchaeus
Shipmate
# 14454

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
There was a young lady of Joppa
Who came a Society cropper.
She went to Ostend
With a gentleman friend
And the rest of the story's improper.

lol

How about better half, or other half? Her indoors. himself?

No waiting for more Limericks...

[ 16. June 2016, 16:41: Message edited by: Zacchaeus ]

Posts: 1905 | From: the back of beyond | Registered: Jan 2009 | IP: Logged

Sarasa
Shipmate
# 12271

Posted

I wasn't married to my husband when I was pregnant with our son and was rather nonplussed when he was described as my 'consort' on my hospital notes.

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'I guess things didn't go so well tonight, but I'm trying. Lord, I'm trying.' Charlie (Harvey Keitel) in Mean Streets.

Posts: 2035 | From: London | Registered: Jan 2007 | IP: Logged

North East Quine

Curious beastie
# 13049

Posted

quote:
Originally posted by Firenze:
Scots offers the additional option of 'bidey-in'.

I use "bidie." Another option for male partners in Scots is "man" which applies equally to married or unmarried men e.g. "I see Jessie's man has a new car" "My man's playing golf the morn's morn" etc.

My aunt gave me the following piece of never-to-be forgotten advice when I was 17 "Books'll do you nae guid fan yir oxter deep in dirty hippens an' yer man crying on his tea" (Translation - Books will do you no good when you are up to your armpits in dirty nappies and your husband / bidie is demanding you cook him a meal.")

Scots also lets you use "wife" as a general term for women, not necessarily implying marriage. I think English used to do the same, hence words such as "midwife" and "housewife."

Posts: 6414 | From: North East Scotland | Registered: Oct 2007 | IP: Logged

Banner Lady
Ship's Ensign
# 10505

Posted

It seems that whatever one would prefer to be called, mostly it is one's children or grandchildren who decide. I have one sister who is such a stickler for "proper words" she refused to let them call our mother by any diminutive at all. They had to address her as "grandmother". Recently I saw my 98 yr old mother sign a letter to my sister...."your mother". It just made me feel sad. I call her Mum. My kids call her grandma, or GeeMa. My grandchildren call her great Grandma.

My mother-in-law likes it when I call her Mama. This is formal enough with the right accent. She is Nan, or big Nan to her many grands and great-grands.

My kids call me Mum, Mumma or Ma. The grandkids call me Nanna. My sons-in-law simply try to avoid having to address me by any name at all.

My father referred to his own parents as Mater and Pater. I called them Nanna and Pa. I did suggest I could be called Mutti when one daughter asked what her children could call me to differentiate from the other grandmother (they call her Baka). She was horrified by that, so Nanna it is.

One set of grandchildren already have a Nanna and Pa. They call us Nanna and Gang gang and most of their cousins simply followed suit. One son-in-law hated Gang gang as an option and insists on Grandad.

So now I simply leave it to them. Though occasionally at family functions my husband will announce: "You may all call me The Emperor!" [Razz]

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Women in the church are not a problem to be solved, but a mystery to be enjoyed.

Posts: 7080 | From: Canberra Australia | Registered: Oct 2005 | IP: Logged

Welease Woderwick

Sister Incubus Nightmare
# 10424

Posted

When my dad died my brother, the oldest of the brood, declared that henceforth he would be known as El Supremo. As he probably expected he didn't get his wish.

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Posts: 48139 | From: 1st on the right, straight on 'til morning | Registered: Sep 2005 | IP: Logged

Hugal
Shipmate
# 2734

Posted

First names in my case. I get on well with my in-laws. They get on well with my parents. That said my parents are Preston and my in-laws are in Llantwit Major South Wales so they are not exactly in each other's pockets.

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I have never done this trick in these trousers before.

Posts: 1887 | From: london | Registered: Apr 2002 | IP: Logged

Clarence
Shipmate
# 9491

Posted

Prior to our wedding, FD asked my cousin what he called his in-laws. "Des and Beryl", was the response. So, for many years, FD called my parents Des and Beryl, even though their names are Jim and Audrey. [Roll Eyes]