Lexi,
This was sent to me recently.

What 9 letter English word can you keep removing a letter from and still make a word from the remainder, until you get to the last letter which is also a word.

It came in a video which I cannot give a link for but is clever.

STARTLING

STARTING

STARING

STRING

STING

SING

SIN

IN

I

Facinating is it not ?

My take on English, is merely a summary of the British series shown on ABC, called 'The English language.'
If you haven't seen it, I believe it was 2009 or 2010. It's available from the ABC shop or some DVD rentals. It makes fascinating learning.

Our rooster got out of the chook pen into the vegie garden.
My father ran out shouting, 'Shoo! Shoo!'
Our neighbour picked up his rifle and shot the rooster.
We no longer talk to our neighbour.

The Polly wants a cracker.
Or do we crack a joke.
So is the joke a cracker
Or is the pollie a joke.

Dear Poirot,

Thanks for that. Very amusing. I guess people see the words as pictures and they don't actually read the letters that's why they can scan a page much quicker than those that read the words.

Dear QL,

This brings back so many memories. Thanks for the poem. Especially the translation. It reminds me when I had the assignment in English Lit. on the Old English heroic epic poem, "Beowulf." I nearly cried. I couldn't make head nor tail of it until I managed to get hold of the translation.

Dear Banjo,

Very clever indeed. And it certainly is fascinating!

Dear Aquarius,

I do remember the series, "The English Language."
The joke is a cracker and the pollie is a joke!
Thanks for that.

I've got a few more. If you have a bunch of "odds and ends," and get rid of all but one of them, what do you call it?

In what other language do you have noses that run and feet that smell?

Or have people recite at a play and play at a recital?

What about the two letter word UP. It has many meanings.
Look it up in a doctionary.

It's easy to understand UP, meaning towards the sky or at the top of the list.

At a meeting why does a topic come UP.

Why do we speak UP and why are the officers UP for election and
why is it UP to the secreatary to write UP a report.

We call UP our friends. we wake UP, we use it to brighten UP
a room, polish UP the silver. We lock UP the house. People stir UP
trouble. To be dressed is one thing but to be dressed UP is special.

I'll now wrap things UP so it's time to shut UP.

As Banjo said, It is fascinating.

Lexi,
In the SW area of WA there are many places with the name ending with UP. Possibly 20 or more. I have heard various reasons for this.

One being that UP is the local aboriginal word for water and the places mean a place with water. Others have cast doubt on this theory so, for me, it still remains a mystery.

Lexi,
Have you heard the discription of the Ins and Outs of Cricket?

I can't recall it but someone here may know it.

Its worth reading.

Dear Banjo,

You've opened up a whole new world for me by taking the word UP even further and now I'm looking up all sorts of Aboriginal words and their meanings as a result. Thank You so much.

I've come across this website concerning some of the town in WA -
and their meanings ending with UP. It may be of interest to you as well:

http://www.albanyaustralia.com/history.htm

I have heard of the terms, "Ins and Outs" in cricket. You're "In" or you're "Out," but I'll let someone who's more familiar with the rules of the game explain it.

Again, Banjo, Many Thanks for the Aboriginal word ending reference.