Joanne wrote:

"I reckon", placed after the mention of whatever he's supposing, might be a possibility, but I have an almighty doubt that the phrase has had much usage by the Poms in recent times; and it seems to be fading out of Australian usage too.

Oh, I'd forgotten that! I keep being told by non-Brits on this list that we don't use "reckon" any more, but I regard it as perfectly normal. I actually associate it with a Yorkshire accent (it's pure George Barford), but I wouldn't notice anything odd about it in any English accent.

Re the commandos, I made a guess at what it might mean after about half an hour's off-and-on thought, and turned out to be right, but that does sound a bit risky if you want to be understood first time.

Nico wrote:

Oh I don't know, depends on how he says it. He could say in a resigned way "You really are a bastard, Avon." And he could think it.

cf Rumours of Death:

TARRANT: Avon, you really are a prize - AVON (displaying a touching regard for pre-watershed sensibilities): Yes, Tarrant, I really am, so shut up and let me do what I came to do!