Overheard

[shewhomust]

Returning from a very enjoyable lunch with friends, just as we turned down the vennel that leads to our front door, I overheard a gaggle of youngsters behind us, who seemed to be delivering the local paper door to door:

Boy (assertively): Gordon Brown. Gordon - Gordon...
Girl (plaintive): I trapped my fingers in a letter box.
Other girl: Oh, that mega-hurts!

I don't know why I find this so very diverting (I don't think it's just the excellence of the lunch).

Comments

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Is "vennel" much used locally? Chambers says it's Scottish...

[shewhomust.livejournal.com]

It does seem to be the Durham usage, not just me. The café tucked in behind Waterstone's is 'Vennels Café'

[desperance.livejournal.com]

Oh, so it is. We shall ascribe it to cultural leakage.

[durham-rambler.livejournal.com]

There have actually been protests at the Water House and the Head of Steam (two public houses, m'lud) referring to their vennels as ginnels. See also the Durham Daily Photo for 9 December last year.