Well, picture the scene, you have 2 small kids in the car, if you say "we are going to........." and it doesn't happen, then all hell breaks loose, so husband decided to use Code to me (remember I hadn't seen the sign, so had no idea what he meant).
Conversation goes:
Husband: "We could go to that place which begins with MONmouthshire"
Okay, I think I've got that bit........MON (so far so good)
then Husband says: "and ends with the thing you close a door with"
........?!?!......I'm thinking hard and he has to repeat it a couple of times, but Ah - I get it, and I'm thinking
......HANDLE !
(doh! you 'close' a door with a 'handle' - made complete sense to me)
but I'm still thinking, how is that a word?
Of course, husband is slightly perplexed that I haven't cottoned on yet
In the end, he decided I had better say what he had tried so hard to keep in Code.... so I said:
"but what's a MONHANDLE ?" to which husband and the kids laughed .....and husband says, in between laughing and trying to drive....
"MONKEY, you daft bat"
I STILL TO THIS DAY, believe his clue was wrong! I think he should have said:
"What do you lock a door with" - not - 'close' a door!!
and, to this day, we always refer to Monkeys as Monhandles! Oh, and by the way, we did get to stop and visit and had a lovely day, with lots of laughing at my expense.
Thank you Robin for reminding me.