Skip to main content

Flat Ballooned

I always thought the word "flat" sounded very posh. Over here, I heard it used for "apartment" all the time but it just seemed to have a much nice ring to it.

So, when we moved into our place in Belfast, I was so happy to give our address because I was able to tack "flat" at the beginning of it.

I proudly wrote it on all applications. In e-mails to friends, I made sure to write "flat", using the excuse that "that's what they call it here" when really, I was just so giddy to be using the quaint little word.

I am always getting "caught out" here for using the wrong word for the wrong thing. I've written before about the blank stare I frequently get from people. I always panic wondering if it's my accent or the actual word that people are not understanding.

I routinely get frustrated but not in an arrogant-tourist way just in a tired-I-live-here-we-speak-the-same-language-and-you-STILL-have-no-idea-what-I'm-saying way.

But "flat" has always been one of those words I was happy to adopt. It just made my little home seem all that more special.

And I was showing my pride of place when I began to give my address to the lady who stopped me on the street and asked if I'd like a catalogue.

I proudly spelled out my address to her, almost emphasizing that it was "flat" number.

She was such a friendly lady with a sweet disposition. It was the only reason I decided to get it in the first place as I figured she had a quota to fill and it was my birthday so why not give a gift back?

After she filled it out, she clarified:

"So it's an apartment then"

I looked a bit confused.

"Well I guess but..."

No no - it's a flat. It's a luxurious little cutesey posh flat!

"An apartment is in a building," she explained. "We use the word flat for.." and this is where her smile got diplomatic.

I interupted as it seemed she was trying to be nice.

"Oh, well, I'm Canadian and we don't have the word 'flat' we just use apartment for everything and..." I trailed off.

"Well, a flat is....well, an apartment is a bit upper level than a flat. Flats are more...well," with a smile "lower class."

And with a wave of her hand she smiled, proud that she had taught a foreigner the RIGHT way to describe a home. I guess I didn't look like the type to her who would live in a flat.

She wished me a happy birthday and I was on my way.

All these weeks of proudly proclaiming my residence, thinking I was decribing something fancy when it was actually the opposite.

Next time, I'll stick with what I know. Canadian.

***************

As for a birthday update, had a wonderful long weekend, got to chat with some of my bestest buddies, in addition to my mom and my grandma, and went shopping.

Then, a romantic dinner with D. Our 8th year out and still laughing my head off.

What more can a girl ask for on her birthday?

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

I'm baaaack!

Hard to believe that last entry was almost three years ago! Many moons ago, I set this blog up to chronicle our journeys. Once we were grounded a bit more, it kind of lost its way. I spent some time working on my writing offline, taking on different projects and working full time as a technical writer. It was difficult to keep this blog up. Not for any real reason I can articulate. Just had my words redirected to other avenues for awhile. But, I'm pleased to say, after over a decade away, we are back in the UK, living and re-experiencing a place we enjoyed in the mid-2000s. Social media has certainly changed the way we look at blogs. I'm excited to navigate this new world, explore just what people post, what people read. What's better on one of the many new platforms and what's still appropriate for good old fashioned blogosphere. For now, here's a peek at where we're staying -- in a pretty little village just outside of Oxford. A temporary home ...
2 comments
Read more

Room with a view

We've been in our new home for 10 weeks nos and it's feeling more like home than ever. Every day, I sit down at my desk to the most inspiring view. A collection of stories is building. This space makes it easy to gather my thoughts. I've been consumed with a few work projects and am looking forward to collecting my thoughts soon. Writers club is still going ... I was on a bit of a hiatus but hope to get into my routine for fall. For now, boat gazing is helping.
Post a Comment
Read more

In Remembrance

" In Flanders fields the poppies blow       Between the crosses, row on row, ." When I was eight years old, I carried the Canadian flag in the Remembrance Day parade for our Brownie unit. I can't really remember when I realized the importance of November 11 but I can only imagine that somewhere between learning about that day at school and taking part in a very solemn ceremony that it must have been ingrained in my head to always mark this day.    "That mark our place; and in the sky    The larks, still bravely singing, fly" I remember growing up, the assemblies at school, always with a older veterans, in those days many from both World Wars, would attend. When I got to high school, I remember not being able to fathom how these decorated men and women, had once been my age, had once stood up and fought, and had made these decisions during the same years I would try to decide which route to take from En...
1 comment
Read more