OoP - A "mate" question for the Brits

[sjlupin]

No: HPFGUIDX 65464

--- In HPforGrownups at yahoogroups.com, "darrin_burnett" 
<bard7696 at a...> wrote:
> Ok, did anyone else get really tired of Ron saying "mate" every 
> other sentence?
> 
> That's the first time I can recall Ron calling Harry "mate" and I 
> don't think -- though I could be wrong -- anyone else has ever 
> called him "mate." (Maybe Fred and George did, but I don't remember.)
> 
> My question for any British folks, is whether or not "mate" is 
> something guys don't say to each other until age 15 or 16.
> 
> I know, what with all the other stuff in the book, this is 
relatively small, but I'm re-reading it now and it is really annoying me. :)
> 
> Darrin
> -- No band name is allowed to have the word "mate" in it, from now 
on.

Darrin - I agree completely!!! I also thought it was a small thing, 
but it totally annoyed me. I don't ever remmeber hearing Ron saying 
that before and this book open only about 4 weeks after the last 
ended - so where did that come from all of the sudden? I am anxious 
to hear any responses from our British friends.  

In general I found that I had to keep reminding myself that this book 
did not start 3 years after the last, but 4 weeks. :)