Mailwatch(ed) Forum

I was at school with a Darren (born1964) as far as I can recall, he's the only one I've ever met.

I taught quite a few Darrens between 1973 and 2008. Mostly, it must be said, in the 80s.

Yeah we had a few in my schooling in the 80s/90s.

As well as the Darrens, there are quite a lot of Darryls around, too. I always thought Darryl was basically a Murrikan name.

The only Darryl I've ever met was in my class at primary school.

I know a couple from my former workplace.

I know a few. Male and female (the latter born during the peak of Daryl Hannah's career), all born in the 1980s.

There's Darryl Jones the long standing Rolling Stones bass player who's too black and American to be bumped up to full member.

Don't get me started on Jordan, J'ordan, Geordan, Jorden or Ghordan...

A teacher once took me through the sliding scale of Rhys and its variants. Rhys at the top and likely to do well, and at the bottom some real WTF spellings.

Not good names for the self employed if you want a website. Bill Fox is.

Youngian wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:08 pm There's Darryl Jones the long standing Rolling Stones bass player who's too black and American to be bumped up to full member.

There could be other reasons: Not being as wrinkly as an inuit's bawbag.
It took 15 years for Ronnie Wood to make the grade.

And he IS as wrinkly as an Inuit's bawbag, and has been for years...

Bones McCoy wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 9:43 pm

Youngian wrote: ↑Wed Jan 21, 2026 4:08 pm There's Darryl Jones the long standing Rolling Stones bass player who's too black and American to be bumped up to full member.

There could be other reasons: Not being as wrinkly as an inuit's bawbag.
It took 15 years for Ronnie Wood to make the grade.

Still a young whippersnapper in his mid 60s. Darryl's been a sideman since the early 90s but he is in demand playing for other big names so perhaps didn't want to be a full time Stone.

Ronnie Wood didn't want to be a full member. When he joined the band weren't doing brilliantly so he was better off on wages for years.

It's time for this old favorite.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/ ... nka-series

English cricket remains a metaphor for the country as travelling circus rolls on
Jonathan Liew

English cricket remains a metaphor for the country at large: hollowed out and stripped down, a place of VIP queues and boarded-up high streets, pristine public school fields and “no ball games” signs on housing estates. A place where people are slowly tuning out, living paycheck to paycheck, bored of experts.

Australia isn't exactly short of social contrasts or precariat, is it? It's not like we just lost to Norway. I expect online shopping has had an effect in Australia too.

Why would there be "No Ball Games" signs, right by people's windows? It's a mystery.

"Writing about cricket is very much like making love to a beautiful woman..."

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 7:42 pm "Writing about cricket is very much like making love to a beautiful woman..."

Stay at the crease for longer than expected?

Tubby Isaacs wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 7:11 pm It's time for this old favorite.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2026/ ... nka-series

English cricket remains a metaphor for the country as travelling circus rolls on
Jonathan Liew

English cricket remains a metaphor for the country at large: hollowed out and stripped down, a place of VIP queues and boarded-up high streets, pristine public school fields and “no ball games” signs on housing estates. A place where people are slowly tuning out, living paycheck to paycheck, bored of experts.

Australia isn't exactly short of social contrasts or precariat, is it? It's not like we just lost to Norway. I expect online shopping has had an effect in Australia too.

Why would there be "No Ball Games" signs, right by people's windows? It's a mystery.

If England had won the ashes would this have still applied?

Andy McDandy wrote: ↑Thu Jan 22, 2026 7:42 pm "Writing about cricket is very much like making love to a beautiful woman..."

You are Henry Blofeld - and I claim my five pounds.