AFVOA Newletters of Year 2005

Page 59 of 75 gala (‘milk’). Through Late Latin the term was borrowed into English as ‘galaxy’ in the late 1300s. The first recorded use was by Geoffrey Chaucer in his poem The House of Fame . 64. “Touch Wood” - This expression, as well as the gesture itself, invokes good luck. It may hark back to the Druids, a pre-Christian order of priests who lived in Gaul, Britain and Ireland, and regarded certain trees as sacred or as housing benevolent spirits. According to another theory, the phrase comes from an ancient chasing game in which any player who touched wood (the material from which Christ’s crucifix was made) was safe from capture. 65. “Rain Cats and Dogs” - Several suggested origins have been proposed for this colloquial expression for heavy rain. One relates to the poor drainage systems of the 17 th century and earlier. Flooding was a common occurrence in heavy downpours, causing the deaths of unwary cats and dogs, which would then float down gutters with other debris. According to another suggestion, the expression relates to the superstition, that witches take on the appearance of cats when flying about during storms. The mind, the forest, and the retired corner are the three places for meditation ~ Sri Ramakrishna Laugh it Off!!! 66. Ten Great One-Liners • Regular naps prevent old age… especially if you take them while driving. • Having one child makes you a parent; having two makes you a referee. • Marriage is a relationship in which one person is always right and the other is the husband. • They said we should all pay our tax with a smile. I tried - but they want cash. • Don’t feel bad. A lot of people have no talent. • Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote. • My wife and I always compromise. I admit I’m wrong and she agrees with me. • Those who can’t laugh at themselves leave the job to others. • It doesn’t matter how often a married man changes his job, he still ends up with the same boss. • They call our language the mother tongue because the father seldom speaks. Editorial Team Contributions/Assistance from Brig SP Balachandran Tele: 52184916 Col A Krishnaswami, VrC, VSM** Tele: 24911233 Maj Gen C Govindaswamy Tele: 22345106 Brig NB Subramanian Tele: 24903934 Annexure to Newsletter 4 of 2005 (Para … refers) Amendments to “Hello Veterans 2004” (Issue No.1) Ser No Page Existing entry Correction entry Remarks