This is one of those English phrases that confuses the Swedes around me. I used it today as my youngest step-daughter has come to stay for a couple of days and Lambi has abandoned me and glued herself firmly to Annelie.



I'm not sure where the image of dog as man's best friend comes from, nor the concept of the faithful dog, waiting by the fireside with his master's slippers. My dog is a pure opportunist, whose only thought is "What's in it for me" and "Who is sitting closest to the food".

I don't know the origin of the phrase about chopped liver. It seems to be used by Americans as well as Australians. But when it comes to pure Antipodean phrases, I do better with my Swede. He has taken to some of them like a duck to water and is quite happy to declare something "looks like a dog's breakfast", to tell me to "get my arse into gear", to be a little wary if something "looks a bit iffy", to stand there "like a stunned mullet" and to let me know that it is "time to bugger off" or when pleased to declare that he's a happy little vegemite. He even refers to me as the old ball and chain (thankyou, Ian for letting him know about that one!)

The one that confuses my guy the most is when I tell Lambi to "stop carrying on like a pork chop" when she barks at passersby. Lars-Göran has asked me to please explain the origin of the phrase and I can't. And I know it doesn't make any kind of logical sense. If anyone knows where this comes from (and yes, I've tried Google!) I'd be very grateful because at the moment I'm sure he thinks I made it up.

I'm off sailing again for the weekend - back late on Monday (which is a public holiday here). The weather looks as though it is not going to co-operate and overcast conditions with some rain are forecast. But if we wait for nice weather, we'd never go out at all. So we plan to wander around the nearby islands and if the weather sucks completely to simply drop anchor in some secluded bay, put on some classical music, fire up the heater, uncork a nice red wine and open a good book.