Tartan Woman is now Toilet Woman

I realise that working in a science centre means that I'm going to be working with interesting people, with interesting degrees who have published interesting papers.

I also realise that being on the same site as the old sewearge pumping station is going to lead to me learning some interesting facts, mostly related to poo.

I also know that I am sometimes too convincing with my looks of interest when someone is talking about something that I'm not particularly interested in (either I'm too nice or I'm a good liar - I have a feeling I know which).

Tartan Woman (who is fascinatingly crazy) cornered me yesterday to tell me about her publication where she had researched the different 'male' and 'female' signs used on toilet doors, and then produced a poster about it for the celebration here for 'A hundred Years of Flushing' (yes, that is the sort of thing we celebrate here).

There are three different types of signs: object symbols, such as cigars vs. powder compacts; clothing symbols, which comes down to skirts for girls, pants for men; and genital symbols. Once she said the magic 'g' word I become more intersted and was willingly led to see the poster (which they sell in the shop here).

It was kind of cool, although I'm a little bit scared that I've shown too much interrest on two different occasions and that she's going to make me her research assistant for the next wacky project.

I do find find it interesting when you visit a restaurant or club and they have witty signs for the toilets, but am confused when it is something like sharks versus tigers - which am I?

Has anyone else noticed random toilet door signs??