Hedganian

I had salmon jerky once. Weird. Not sure I'd recommend it.

That sucks.

That's true - although, unfortunately, the majority of the content is produced by the yanks so the spellings, pronunciation and even many of the words are wrong. A lot of people who learn English as a second language speak with an American accent these days, even some in Europe.

English has got to be one of the harder languages to learn as a foreign language - so many contradictory spelling rules and multiple meanings for identical words depending on context. I don't envy anyone who didn't grow up with it.

In this context, 'leave' means permission. A leave of absence means being authorised to be absent for a period of time. Hence the related phrase 'absent without leave' (awol) for military personnel who *don't* have permission but don't turn up for duty.

I shall investigate. Thanks for the info.

Never heard of it. Do explain?

I am now the Acting Detachment Commander for the next six months, as my DC is on a temporary leave of absence. The OC told me that if the Det is running well at that time, that he will leave me in charge and move him elsewhere. So it seems that Company HQ think I'm up to it.

I might put some on my birthday list.

I'm interested to try Maderia, but I don't want to buy a full bottle in case I don't like it.

Your point being?

When I joined the Reserves in 1999 at 18, I loathed the stuff. We had to drink it for toasts at dinners and I'd just wet my lips to go along with it and then pass the glass off to a nearby friend. Now I love it and regularly get port for any gift-giving event. I've got filters and decanters and all sorts now, lists of which years were the best, etc. etc... So yes, give it another try.

I didn't think you were, bud. No issues here.

Oh, I understand the rationale behind it.

Pretty much the same in any organisation - although in the forces its normally port or beer rather than cake.