Netty. Bog. Loo. Privy. Dunny. John...
No, these aren't suggestions for the 2005 Edition of the Book of Baby Names. Of course, specifically pointing out that it's NOT baby names probably won't prevent some people from naming their kid Bog... So, if you are out there: I'm really, REALLY sorry, Bog, that I unwittingly inspired your parents to name you after a slang word for a toilet.
Oh, and I promise not to tell your parents that the guy mistakenly credited for inventing the modern toilet is called by the unfortunate name of Thomas Crapper. (Yes, 'Thomas' is an unfortunate name indeed, isn't it?) But more about that, and him, later.
Anyway, yes indeed, all of those are words used worldwide and through the ages for a place that we are still surprisingly too coy about to call by its real name. Yet, whatever we call it and whether we are rich or poor, and no matter how much we try to shy away from admitting it, the fact remains that we all need one.
You may be wondering (or you may not be... I never know with you lot!) why I'm writing this potty post. (And no, it's not JUST because I've been on a gross post streak since yesterday.)
It's because today, November 19, 2004, is a very, very special day indeed, and hopefully I'll be the first but not the only one to say:
A really good post Red! I've always wondered about those things in the WC that one can never refer to in the typical sense of the word. (Well, not really).
Where is it called a "Netty" at anyway?
The Arabs call the place 'the house
Where everybody goes';
The Poms came up with that regal name -
'The throne room' - I suppose!
While us Aussies are quite funny, and call the place 'the dunny'
And as for the South Efrikans, well, they call it - who knows?
But we luvs our lav! we does,
We really really does!
So when you next sit on the toilet seat
And are putting up your feet,
Say, 'I luv you lav!' - just once - and just be-cos.
Thank you, dear Gretchen for being easily impressed! Yeah, I thought it was about time for us all to step out of the "Water Closet." Okay, that's very lame, but hey, that's to be expected from me!
As for answering your question about the Netty, I once again turn you over to the ever reliable BBC: "The Geordie netty is one of the best examples of the family toilet. It was located outside at the bottom of the yard or garden.
The waste fell into a pit or box full of fire ash. Every so often someone would take all the ash away and sell it to some local farmer as fertiliser.
More modern netties were flushable and can still be seen in some old English pit villages."
And TimT, nobody knows, because South Efrikans, due to our Calvinistic upbringing aren't allowed to speak about it.
Cheers and again, happy International Toilet Day!