@*#xx%<@&$**!!

Expletives are strange things, aren't they? Which ones you use - and most people DO use them, even if they only say "bother"- depends on a number of variables, chief among which must be where you grew up and how old you are.
In some areas and with some age-groups, the F-word is dropped into every sentence without the speakers even being aware they are doing it - cut that word from their memories and they would be struck dumb. I ran a youth club for many years where swearing was banned - the kids would police each other - "Don't swear in front of Liz" - so they at least learned what was acceptable behaviour.
Yet I can remember being chastised for saying "damn", and "bloody" was absolutely forbidden in my house. My father, if he was wound up past endurance, would let fly with an exasperated, "Oh, for Heaven's sake!" and my mother would tut, "Not in front of the children, dear."
Now I must confess I occasionally use the F-word - I think because I hear it so often I have become immune - but the other day, when a white van cut me up at a junction, I was surprised to hear myself exclaim, "Dear Lord Above!"
Some of my upbringing must have stuck after all!
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