The subject changed before I could ask her what "Sheilaism" is. Maybe I should crosspost the question in unAmericans - since it has got to be an Australian term.

I confess I don't know what they mean by 'Sheilaism', and not having read the Da Vinci Code I couldn't hazard a guess, but 'Sheila' is simply slang for a woman, as in 'She's a beaut Sheila'. It'd be derived from that somehow.

Ah, already crossposted to unamerican. According to google Sheila refers specifically to young women - though I always thought it referred only the women. Take your word over google on matters Australian in any case.

Wait, I've found more, and it looks like it's not an Australianism at all, but actually derived from a person called Sheila; Check here: [link] It seems to refer to an individualistic religious position (as opposed to one where membership in a religious community as central).

Edit: And I even found a reference to it on my old church's website, in an article titled "Pentecost and Crocodile Dundee": [link]

Ah, already crossposted to unamerican. According to google Sheila refers specifically to young women - though I always thought it referred only the women. Take your word over google on matters Australian in any case.

No, no, young woman is a fair description. It's not quite that simple, but I'd say that's the core of it.

Ah - thanks those links helped. I now know what Sheilaism refers to. If I had read the Da Vinci code I'd know how it relates to the Da Vinci code.

Bah. Evan Hunter (Ed McBain) died. [link]

8 more days, 8 more days....La la la.

I know! The only thing we have flagged in our phrasebook so far is "Where can I find an English language novel?" in Italian. Procuring a copy is going to be our Saturday morning adventure in Florence.

Still, I'm afraid we may be screwed until we get to Dublin.

I'm so cited. And I'm trying to forget the potential spolier stuff I read.

I'm number 182 in the library hold line!