I tell you Chai, it was the hardest physical work I've ever done (especially at Xmas) but it was SUCH a laugh.
The practical jokes were amazingly funny. The backslang that was used between us, so that the customer had no idea what we were talking about (usually something very naughty) - brilliant!
Backslang consisted of certain key words being spoken backwards, but even then, the pronunciation was changed. Unless you worked there, and were immersed in it all the time, you didn't stand a chance at understanding a word.
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Backslang - known as "kaycab gee-nals." (explanation to follow)
For instance....an affluent customer would approach the meat counter, and the butchery boss knew exactly what she was going to buy....say a joint of pork (she'd buy the same thing each week, and he'd known her for years)
He'd shout (as it would be pronounced)... "Eekat the eecrip fo the kay-rop"
That meant "take the price off the Pork".
Someone would then casually remove the ptice ticket from the pork, and the boss would then serve her, charging her a higher price per pound.
Not very scrupulous...but hey...it was a Market!
A naughty one would be.....as it's pronounced...."eevach a kool at the ell-rig ee-mocking nye the posh.
As it is actually spelt..."evah a kool at the lrig emoc-ing ni the pohs."
What it actually means......"Have a look at the girl coming in the shop"
You can see that, not only has quite a bit been spelt backwards, but the "ing" stays in the original place and most of the pronunciation isn't logical.
It still goes on now, and I have often had a laugh with a shocked Butcher, when I've told him what he's just said.
Ah, the good old days.....
