[Magdalen] Plain Speech.

[Cantor03 at aol.com]

Being a native Midwesterner (USA), I'm fond of plain speech:  calling  a
spade a spade.
 
I thus have a combination of irritation and amusement at my  development's
habit of referring to what I would call the roadside ditch, a "swale"  which
they apparently think is fancier than, "ditch".
 
The authorities here are fixated on keeping "the swales" clear and  clean,
and there was yet another general notice to this effect in the mail
yesterday.
 
Actually, my swales were widened and deepened several years ago
along with all those on this street, and then lined with stone.  This  was
not asked for or really needed, but it does look good.
 
In the process of this swale-surgery, the several little stretches of
"cat-tails" were also removed.  This is too bad, because I always  loved
the cat-tails, even in the winter when all you saw was a golden brown
patch of long leaves.
 
You can't fight city hall.
 
 
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Typha
 
 
David Strang.