Friday, 6th May 2005.

Single entendre

I was standing by the HP Laserjet a few minutes ago, examining the PDF I'd just printed: white streaks running down through the black text. Alison came over to join me.

"Ali, you may need a reprint. Bloody printer's playing up again. I think it's the toner."

I went back to my desk. Alison called out, "If it's the toner, we may need to work our usual magic. Can you get it out and wiggle it, do you think?"
I looked up. "Excuse me?"
"Can you pull it out and wiggle it about a bit?" she went on in a loud voice, apparently completely oblivious. "Or should I do it for you?"
"Could you?" I said. "Just give it a tug and then shake it around for a moment or two. That should do the trick."

Alison sat down, wondering why everyone was staring at her. I explained. For the next half hour her face resembled a large beetroot.