Well, me too. I didn't know it, though the more I let it float around in my brain I wonder if it's been raised before, linked to The Sting?

Same as Jackie. I would expect sylvan to be known (though actually used little these days), but probably not silvan.

I was glad to hear news of Alonzo, Paula, but hadn't liked to ask, so thank you.

How frustrating his current situation is for him. I am so thankful that although there are things I can't do, I can at least communicate via email, play sudoku - and enjoy Chi!

"Country town syndrome"

I wonder what you think of my examples, Jack?

I've said before that I lived on Islay in the Hebrides for a few years when I was young. The islanders would be talking in English as we went into a shop, and would switch seamlessly into Gaelic once they were aware of us. I think this is common in many places, so it's not one of my examples. (Does make you feel awkward, though.)

Some things stick in my mind that I think might outrank a country town.

1. My brother came home from school one day,  rather perplexed. He had had an art class, in which they were told they had a choice of drawing either Something-I-can't-remember or a foreigner. My brother said alĺ the class looked at him and drew him. He didn't understand why.

2.  The first year I was there, I came top of my class. I chose my book. Then later my mother sat me down and said the other parents had been so angry at the school's giving an outsider 1st prize that a number had gone to the school and complained. So my little certificate in the book has "equal" squashed in after "1st" in different handwriting - a compromise. I didn't care two hoots, but my mother was upset for me.

3. About 20 years ago, during a visit to Islay, I wanted my daughter's hair cut (may have mentioned this under a midge thread). The hairdresser, well into her 30s, said her parents had been born on the island and had always lived there, but she was unintentionally born on the mainland during a family visit and didn't get back to the island for a few days. She said sadly that the islanders still treated her as an outsider. They had a word - which I cant remember - to describe people born as she was.

I didn't play that game. I know passim and would have accepted it without a blink had I read it in an article.  But I'd probably not have thought to play it except in desperation because I had forgotten that it had passed into English as ergo has. I've not met it for years.

Speaking further of vegemite, the only vegetable elements I've seen listed as ingredients are onion and celery flavourings. Yet the aftertaste for me is like a faint smell of overcooked cabbage. Or perhaps broccoli. Does anyone know which vegetable flavourings are actually used?

If anyone in Britain is interested, and they use Ocado: Ocado is flogging it off at half price for a few weeks.

"Palmy days" - well-known expression to someone my age!