"Seriously, does anyone ever refer to people as 'pal' these days?" ************ Cetrtainly - In Yorkshire it can be, and is used as a form of greeting, something like this (on 2 Yorkshiremen encountering one another).... "Eyup old pal, tha reet" (Translation = "Good morning my friend, and how are you on this fine day?") :-) Agreed it isn't used as much as it used to be, but it is still around... Cheers Steve