life, liberty and the pursuit of geekiness

Are any of the names on the Colquhoun/Colhoun/Calhoun/Calhoon/Cahoon variation not pronounced 'Ca-hoon'?

Also, is speak-as-you-spell sending Dee-yell the way of Mackenzie? Though in a small sample size I have noticed that Dalziel seems to be the original pronunciation more often than Dalzell.

What other disconnects between spelling and speaking are there around?

This time last week I was busy reading.( Spoilers )

I was walking along the street today: hole in the ground, water gushing up and streaming down the nearest four gratings, gang of workmen sunning themselves on a fag break. Digger, van: Water Service. Our Water Is Precious.

I LOL'D.

In International Date Line, Potterdämmerung was happening

I'm imagining a sort of line of fire moving westward, leaving the Earth blackened and post-apocalyptic in its wake, and a rumpled CNN anchorperson gravely announcing, 'First it took New Zealand, and now Australia's gone, and Russia's going and it's reached India...and something really weird happened in Beijing...'

I'm going offline now, because there will definitely be real spoilers, and I've held out so long. So, see you tomorrow.

I sold a book on Amazon to someone in Helsinki yesterday, and her surname looks like it came straight out of Quenya. It's the other way round, of course.

I finished my re-read of HBP last night. I'd been doing the chapter-a-day thing, but as I came close to the end I wanted to finish it quickly. It's only about the third time I've read the last chapters straight through; I usually skirt Dumbledore's death.

I hope a Potter-free week might foster a little detachment. I feel so fond of Harry and friends at the minute. In that case I probably shouldn't go and see OotP until after next Saturday. Then if Harry dies in DH, I'll have saved a fiver.

Actually I think the death of any of the Trio + Ginny would seriously affect my enjoyment of the series. If Neville, Luna, Remus, McGonagall, Hagrid, Tonks or any of the rest of the Weasleys die, I'd be upset but I could probably handle it. The only spoiler I'd be amenable to is an Everybody lives! one.

I wonder if, when my copy arrives, I'll be able to read it through and not turn to the last chapter before I get to it.

Because this is the last chance, I want to go unspoiled for Deathly Hallows.  If you have a spoiler filter, I don't want on it. I hope I'll be strong enough not to click. I bet I'll get spoiled on the radio or something at the last minute. Perhaps I should become a hermit for a week until Royal Mail deigns to get out to our house....


Well, maybe if it's "Harry Ron Hermione and Ginny all live" I could handle it.

The Sun says:

( Cut in case you don't want to read Doctor Who predictions by Mystic Meg )