[wwwebber]

I've just counted up all the coinage that I had stored away in a few large jars and have come up with over £500 !!!. My estimated delivery date is 20th May 03. Now that I have got more money I want to add the sunroof, but am I too late though ????. Please help.

[Martin L]

You should be OK, get onto your dealer tommorrow morning
I think the point of no return is about three weeks before your build date
You won't regret getting the sunroof, it's my favorite option

[COOPERation]

Reach out and call your dealer...they're waiting to hear from you...

Oh sorry, they're probably three sheets at the pub by now...

[Bonjour]

Get in touch with the dealer, I'm sure it'll be fine. I changed my spec. last week and my car's due on the 28th April so it should be ok for you to change yours.

Good call on the sunroof. My salesman demo'd it to me and there was no way I wasn't going to have it.

[love you dead]

I know this is off the subject a bit, but i couldn't resist after seeing COOPERation's usage of "three sheets.."

I'd not heard this expression until recently and am curious as to it's origins. I understand what it is supposed to mean, I just don't know why and my mind just will not put forth any reasonable possibilities. Any help?

Thanks in advance.

[jpringle819]

A quick search on www.ask.co.uk comes up with the following explanation for the phrase.

Three sheets to the wind

Meaning: Very drunk, highly intoxicated.

Example: The groom made it to the alter, but he was three sheets to the wind.

Origin: The phrase comes from 18th-19th century English Naval terminology. The original phrase was "three Sheets in the wind" and referred to the erratic behavior of a ship that has lost control of all of its sails.
In nautical terminology sheets are the ropes that adjust the position of the sails relative to the wind.

The speed and direction of a sailing ship is controlled by the number of sails raised on each mast, the angle of the sails to the wind (trim of the sails), and the position of the rudder. If the sheets used to control the sails are to break or are have been released, the sheet is said to be "in the wind".

One can imagine a sail thrashing wildly in a strong wind with its sheet (the control ropes) blowing about. It would be very difficult to regain control of such a sail.

Prior to the 1810's it was common for ships to have three masts, (fore, main, and mizzen). If the sheets on all three masts are "in the wind", the ship loses all steering control.

The ship's lack of control is likened to that of a stumbling drunk.

This website has a explanations for a lot common phrases.

James

[Maquis]

Quote:

Originally posted by wwwebber
I've just counted up all the coinage that I had stored away in a few large jars and have come up with over £500 !!!

The bank are going to love you - £500 in small change - every bank workers nightmare I expect.

[love you dead]

jpringle: umm...wow. thanks so much. not only for the extremely detailed explanation, but also for the link. now i can spare the users of mini2 from most of my stupid questions.