As happy as a sandboy – Brislin

The Brislin Family Crest or Coat of Arms.

The Irish surname Brislin is an Anglicized form of the Gaelic patronymic name Ó Breisláin, or “descendant of Breisleán.”

Early Origins of the Brislin family:

The surname Brislin was first found in Donegal (Irish: Dún na nGall), northwest Ireland in the province of Ulster, sometimes referred to as County Tyrconnel where the O’Breislein Sept, branch of the Cenél Enda held the district of Fanad, located in the Barony of Kilmacrenan. They were one of the principal Brehon families of Ireland, mentioned frequently by the Four Masters. Brehons served as judges, ambassadors and negotiators, brokering deals and treaties, and settling disputes between the feudal lords of medieval Ireland. They were the interpreters of Brehon law.

 

As you can see my family has two ‘coats of arms – ‘family crests‘.

Business English Word of the Week:

Geschäftsenglisch Wort der Woche:

In a letter to a client/supplier etc. “I will confirm that in writing.” or “Can you confirm that for me in writing?

to fill out or to fill in a form“, = the missing spaces – you fill in a form by filling it out; you also fill out a form by filling it in = write/type in the information requested.

 

Vocabulary for Contracts:

Wortschatz für Verträge:

Variation of price (VOP)
Payment terms that provide for a change in price triggered by defined events – for example, an increase in the volume of sales above a defined level, or an increase in input costs as measured by a specified price index. Alternatively, a VOP clause may specify how any agreed change in the work to be done is to be priced.

Variety reduction
Reduction in the number of types, sizes, grades, etc. of products purchased or held in stock. See also Standardisation.

Vendor Rating
A form of supplier appraisal: a technique that awards ‘marks’ for a supplier’s actual performance on a contract against a list of significant factors, with the supplier’s ‘scores‘ on the various factors, totalled to give a broad indicator of overall performance. Aspects of performance is critical to the buyer may also be weighted to stress their importance.

Warranties/conditions (not applicable in Scotland)
It is important to distinguish between clauses that are fundamental to the contract and those that are less vital. The former (fundamental ie going to the heart of the contract) are conditions, and the latter (less vital clauses) are warranties. An injured party may repudiate the contract without further obligation in the case of a breach of condition. A breach of warranty is not repudiatory and the claimant must continue the contract and claim damages.

 

Vocabulary for Negotiations:

Wortschatz für Verhandlungen:

To Bargain for the price – to Reduce the price.

Bedrock price – the Lowest possible price.

Commitment –  Engagement or undertaking: to commit oneself.

CompromiseEach party gives up certain demands in order to reach an agreement.

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Word of the day: Wort des Tages:

Shade = German ‘Schatten‘. However, the word ‘Shadow‘ is slightly different. The simplest way of explaining it is as follows, when the sun is shining and it’s hot then some people may wish to seek the “Shade” to get out of the direct sun. When the sun is shining on you, then if you look on the ground you can see the outline of your body, this is your “Shadow“.

 

Phrase of the day: Satz des Tages:

To be “Directionally Challenged” means you get lost easily.

 

Idiom of the day: Redewendung des Tages:

As nutty as a fruitcake” means completely insane. to be a very strange or crazy person. Crazy, idiotic, as in Anna‘s nutty as a fruitcake if she thinks she can get away with that. The adjective nutty meaning “insane” was first recorded in 1821; the similarity to fruitcake, which literally contains nuts as well as fruit, was first recorded in 1935.

 

British (B.E.) / American (A.E.) Vocabulary:

Britisches Englisch / Amerikanisches Englisch Wortschatz:

A Tap = B. E.  /  a Faucet = A. E. (ein Wasserhann).

 

Special Grammar tip of the week:

Spezieller Grammatik-Tipp der Woche:

This and That is Singular.

This = in my hand or very near to me.

That is used when the thing is a little distance or a long distance away from me.

These and Those are plural.

This is the same principle as used in This and That.

These = in my hand or very near to me.

Those = is used when the thing is a little distance or a long distance away from me.

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NOTE Brislin team: This is a picture of the Brislin football team that I put together to challenge “all comers” and we were all are “as nutter as a fruitcake” – but none of us were family – not a true Brislin – in the sense of the word. What a happy day this was  –  in my younger days. I am the Brislin last on the far left of the picture.

 

Pronunciation tip: Aussprachetipp:

Oven‘ (Ofen) is pronounceduh·vn’ (other words which are similar = furnace, stove, or kiln).

 

False Friends Tip of the Week: Falsche Freunde Tipp der Woche:

Kontrollieren / to control to check something.

Überprüfen / to check something.

 

Slang word of the day: Slangwort des Tages:

Cattywampus – a crooked thing, an extremely unuseful word, but I like the sound of it.

😁 Grinning Face with Smiling Eyes Emoji | Smiling eyes, Eyes emoji, Grinning face

 

Wit, wit, wit – Drink and Other Drugs:

Witz, Witz, Witz – Trinken und andere Drogen:

“All roads lead to rum” Quote by W. C. Fields. (The word should be ‘Rome’ in this famous phrase, however, W. C. Fields was as nutty as a fruitcake on alcohol).

Colloquial / Colloquialisms:

Umgangssprache / Umgangssprache:

Poppycock– this word means something ridiculous and possibly untrue, I like the sound of this too!

 

Cockney rhyming slang: Cockney Reimender Slang:

Someone is telling “porkies“. Porky Pie (s) = a lie (eine Lüge) (lies).

 

Quote of the week: Zitat der Woche:

Nothing tests your integrity more like temptation.

John Kilpatrick.

(Here below is another quote just for good measure:) by Sir Winston Churchill, some of you may have heard of him…..

 

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