Eric:

Amazing what can be found on the web:


Anorak, a term of abuse
A.no.rak noun. [Esk. (Greenland) anoraq] a heavy jacket with a hood.

In the UK this form of coat was worn by all children in the 1970s, but worn
now only by socially dysfunctional adults who still wear the trousers they
wore to school (despite the fact they never covered their ankles even back
when they were 14 years old).

also

Train.spo.tting verb. [UK] the activity of recording with pen and paper, the
serial numbers from the side of railway locomotives.

Trainspotting was a common childhood pursuit of British children in the
post-war period, it comes under that category of hobbies that involve
collecting. It is possible to buy books listing the serial numbers of all
the railway rolling stock in the country and then check off each one as it
is seen. Adults who practice this activity are naturally seen as dull, and
immature, because the majority of people find other pursuits more attractive
once they have passed the legal age for sex and alcohol.

These two phenomena in British society have given rise to a new use for the
term 'anorak' (an article of clothing often worn by 'trainspotters') to mean
any dull individual, or someone with a boring hobby.



Raphael Warshaw


"Eric Greenwell" wrote in message
...
Chris Rollings wrote:
John, if I didn't know you were an excellent pilot
and instructor, I'd swear you were an Anorak.