I love it when readers point out something they have noticed in my photos...often an item that is not the focal point of the photo. You see, I love to look closely at photos too, picking up details that are not so obvious. And so it was with photos in my last post. Cynthia from South Carolina noted that the portable toilet on the building site was similar to those in the US. Cynthia commented that theirs are known as 'Porta-Johns'. I smiled at that name and of course thought of the name that ours are generally called, 'Porta-loos'.
(Photo brazenly borrowed from the Internet!)
Darn! That black mesh was in the way and I wasn't tall enough to put the camera above the fence!
Hmmm...a problem here. I didn't want to go home and get DH to come down just to take the photo for me...then I had an idea...
I could stand on the pink brick things that the temporary fencing was slotted into. (Photo cropped from one taken early last Dec, hence no black mesh)
And I still had to stretch up a bit but I got a photo! I guess if anyone was watching they would be wondering what I was up to! Lol
So Cynthia, this toilet is rented out by 'dunny.com.au'. Dunny is old Aussie slang for toilets; the term originating in the times when toilets weren't the nice 'flushing ones' we take for granted now, but little buildings (outhouses) down the back yard. But it's often used to generally describe toilets now by some. I found my male students delighted in using that term! 'Please miss, can I go to the dunny?' Thus making the rest of the class snigger! 'Yes, you MAY go to the TOILET'! .
And which Aussie readers remember the Aussie movie, 'Kenny' which was about a family owned company which hired out portable toilets? There were scenes in that movie that had me laughing till my sides hurt...hope that doesn't mean I'm odd??
Now Cynthia's comment prompted this blogpost so it would be remiss of me if I didn't say how much I enjoy reading (and learning about the US from) her blog. Cynthia is a retired teacher who loves to travel. Her latest blogpost found here,is called 'The Sunshine State', and it's about her trip to Florida, (not Queensland); some great photos!
And which Aussie readers remember the Aussie movie, 'Kenny' which was about a family owned company which hired out portable toilets? There were scenes in that movie that had me laughing till my sides hurt...hope that doesn't mean I'm odd??
Now Cynthia's comment prompted this blogpost so it would be remiss of me if I didn't say how much I enjoy reading (and learning about the US from) her blog. Cynthia is a retired teacher who loves to travel. Her latest blogpost found here,is called 'The Sunshine State', and it's about her trip to Florida, (not Queensland); some great photos!
I don't think laughing at "Kenny" makes you odd - that was such a funny movie!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading this I want to see the movie "Kenny". Here we refer to these as 'porta-potties'. I really enjoyed your post, Maria. :)
ReplyDeleteOh boy you come up with some bonza blog posts Maria !! Now I'm going to have to try and find that movie "Kenny" as I don't think I've seen it and from your comments, it sounds like a lot of fun. xox
ReplyDeleteNow I am wishing I could see Kenny, too! On our way to Florida we saw a porta-john that had been tipped on its side along the side of the road. We speculated on who the lucky person was who would have to clean that up!
ReplyDeleteAnd while we are on this subject, Maria, the word "toilet" is not polite in the US. We use euphemisms like restroom, ladies' room, gents. It was always a big giggle when I took students abroad for the first time and on a fancy door someplace there would be a sign saying Toilet.
Thanks for mentioning my blog.
Love your posts Maria - and I always have to read the comments too!!
ReplyDeleteI have a friend in New York who often publishes "I Spy..." photos and you have to find what IT is...I'll let you know . . .you'll enjoy the detail...
well I have not come across anyone taking photos of porta-loos before! Have not heard dunny for years you certainly went to great effort to photo it, cannot imagine what passers by thought!! So enjoyed this blog!!
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