that whole loo roll thing

Curry_Queen

Anya wrote:

Think this is right but in India or somewhere like that you either don't shake hands or use only your right because the left has been used to...... yep you guessed it?!

This has made me feel quite ill especially considering how many street vendors they have making and selling food ... and all by hand!!! :eek:

Anya

Don't panic it might not be right - can't remember where I got it from!!! It might not be India it could be Africa!!! - You don't get curries in Africa - I don't think!!!

Ticklemouse

With regards to the whole 'left hand' thing, Mr TM has a friend who is a Moslem and last year he was invited to attend a really special function at a top mosque. Whilst there, Mr TM asked his friend where the loo was. His friend asked him, basically, if he wanted '1's or 2's' and when Mr TM asked why (he just wanted a wee anyway) his mate told him that they didn't use loo paper and hadn't even any for guests. He sent Mr TM to use the disabled loo, as it was more as he was used to but explained that that was the reason they had taps next to the loos - you 'wiped' with your left hand then washed it.

Just you watch - they eat only with their right hands because their left hands are for 'cleaning' themselves with. (His friend does use loo roll at home, I'm assured)

Anya

Thanks Ticklemouse I knew I'd heard it somewhere!!! That might explain why there are basins in the cubicles and outside them at our local hospital.

filigree_2

I saw an item on Blue Peter of all places about toilet habits in Bangladesh, where they said that it is traditional to wash down below with a special water bowl used just for that purpose. The bowl looked unnervingly like a gravy boat.

I can't remember what the bowl was called. I tried Google but I couldn't find the answer (found a few I didn't need :eek: ).

LondonDiva

Wonderful!

re the left hand, in Asia & Africa the left hand is generally what you are suppossed to use for doing all the mucky jobs - moving dead cats, bum wiping etc. To offer someone something with the left hand or to give the left to shake implies that you regard them in the same light as what you would do with the left hand!

I do have to add that with that there is also a culture of washing hands more thoroughly and regularly (whatever you have used it for!) than we tend to do.

I'm in a dire database training session & this thread has made it really difficult to keep a straight face!

Diva:D

FranDan

LondonDiva wrote:

To offer someone something with the left hand or to give the left to shake implies that you regard them in the same light as what you would do with the left hand!

Perhaps someone should have told Lord Robert Baden-Powel that a 100yrs ago....!!

Austin_Allegro

If you have a bidet or a bath/shower in the same room as your lav, you can get away with using hardly any paper if you just have a quick wash afterwards.

The idea of wiping your bum with paper dates back to the days when the privy was a t the bottom of the garden and you only had a bath once a week. It seems a bit odd nowadays when soap and hot water are readily available. I suspect the continued use of of bog roll is due to the influence of the manufacturers, because of its huge markup potential. (no pun intended on 'markup'... )

I was interested in the Roman habit of using a sponge soaked with vinegar on a stick. Wasn't this the same thing that the legionaries shoved up at our Lord when he was on the cross?

eml_3

This thread has really amused me - cheers!

On the subject of wet wipes for kids, if you do buy them, be careful and don't do what my friend's husband did. He used the loo and reached round without looking for a Kandoo wipe but got a Flash bleach one instead and had a quick wipe. The roar of agony was heard for miles around!

moggins

For those who like moist wipes and shop at Wilko's take a look at their Cheeky Monkey Small Peoples wipes. These are like Kandoo, they are flushable and they smell of banana

They're much cheaper and often on BOGOF.