Tim Dowling's linguistic luggage has been weighed down by 35 years in the UK – and it's still giving him a bit of a headache! A recent gig with his band at Victoria Hall in North Yorkshire was followed by a comedy of errors involving a 'valise' and some good-natured teasing from his mates.
The chaos unfolded when Dowling discovered he'd been left off the late-night lift to their accommodation. Fortunately, Amber Lilly and her partner came to the rescue, prompting him to retrieve his trusty overnight bag – which, it turned out, was nowhere to be found in a sea of suitcases and bags.
As he frantically searched for what he called a 'valise', Dowling's bandmates and crew couldn't help but burst into laughter. Even after all these years, the veteran musician still hasn't quite grasped the nuances of British English – or at least not this particular term.
The mystery was finally solved when the guitarist tracked down the missing bag in a car, with Dowling's 'valise' being playfully ridiculed as he made his way to their destination. It wasn't until he was safely ensconced in Amber Lilly's partner's car that he asked for clarification on the term – and got a good-natured ribbing for his ignorance.
As he later quipped with his wife, 'It literally doesn't' hold all when you're struggling to find it! The band's drummer wisely suggested Dowling had been using 'holdall' as a synonym for 'duffel bag' – and that 'Gladstone bag' or 'grip' might be more accurate terms for his specific type of structured, peaked bag. Let's just say Tim won't be needing to dust off the old 'portmanteau' anytime soon...
Despite the linguistic mishap, Dowling remained in high spirits – and so did the rest of the band as they continued to tease him about his 'valise'. After all, laughter is the best medicine – especially when it's been a long tour.