Grumpy Angler. Molesworth hey?; seventeen years in The Parachute Regiment might gainsay that conclusion and I left early, which was my decision.
Mancunius. I did hear something about those Scottish Scamps and the transmogrifications which occurred. Surprised me, I thought they wore kilts because the sound of zips might frighten the sheep? In Malta we had our own bagpiper, a coloured guy, good soldier and I enjoyed his playing on the parade square of a morning. Loved also listening to the piper at Loch Lomond during one trip oop North. Also spent a brilliant Burns Night with the Scots Guards. We came away pissed as rats.
Talking of which, for the first time in the nine years we have been together my wife saw me drunk the other night. She said she had to put me to bed, I chortled the next day – that’il larn her! My choice of poison is usually cheap blended whisky with lemonade, Bushmills or Jameson now and then and very occasionally an expensive malt.
Reminds me of the time I came home from the Warrant Officers’ and Sergeants’ Annual Reunion Dinner. Said to my ex the next morning ‘Well. I couldn’t have been too bad I managed to put my suit away.’ Her response ‘Did You?’
Phaasch Yes, DT showed a maturity far beyond his years, but then again – genius sets it’s own limits.
Foxoles, I enjoy your reviews and I would reply in the comments (which nobody reads) but I do not find the time to comment. I spend quite a lot of time on GP and GP related activity. I am retired, I have so much to do ensuring my little world revolves on it’s sometimes wobbly axis! Another snippet from Marvell : ‘Had we world enough and time………..’
Mizake. Yes, Visicalc but I also used Supercalc which was released by Sorcim in 1980. – around 1982 that would be, had a little dabble with Lotus 123 as well. The Wikipedia writings on early spreadsheets are a load of arse and very misleading.
Chrissie. I agree with you, life without bacon would be unthinkable. I did occasionally buy bacon rolls in the market and sometimes rolls with pork sausage; now she doesn’t bat an eyelid. My country, my rules.
The repartee on GP is sometimes unreal, you are nuts, but it’s brilliant.
Back, unfortunately to the real world. I cannot stand to look at nor listen to TTK. I gather that he actually stated that patriots could be arrested for flying the country’s flags. If so that is absolutely disgusting, petty, and other words I do not wish to use to spare the blushes of our ladeez. What a See you next tuesday he is!
That fire in the Labour politicians’ ‘Office.’ The picture I saw indicated a good sized spread bordering on the palatial. How much of the upkeep of that estate are we paying for? We should be told.
Several references to scouts and brownies. I was a cub and then a scout and thoroughly enjoyed that time. Learnt some very useful things – viz, all points of the compass. How to find North by the moss on trees. Telling the time by the sun. Some other survival skills – building shelters, identifying edible plants. I recall snaring, killing, and skinning a rabbit and roasting it in my hand built field oven in which I also baked some bread.
Bob a Job was good in may ways. I remember me and my three years senior brother cleaning an old gas cooker, that was a nasty dirty job. Happy days!
We had so much freedom in that time long ago – traipsing over the hills, building rafts, out most of the day. No worries about invaders or peados. This was us.
Childhood
Trotting there behind them
scampering down the strand
us four little brothers
happy little band.Roaming over hillside
creeping through the fields
down the brambled chalk-pit
cardboard for our shields.Woods give up their secrets
holes and burrows ‘splored
cutting trees and swinging
out across the ford.Birds roused from their slumber
on a Summer’s day
wander through the wide world
many games to play.Fields and fields of harvest
poppies by the score
corn ripe in the sunshine
who could ask for more.Little stream that sparkles
gliding over sand
try to hook the minnows
tickle trout by hand.Rafts sailed on the water
such a scary ride
sneak away from big ones
in the bushes hide.Apples when in season
hole that’s in the fence
back with pockets bulging
got more eyes than sense.Days and days of sunshine
night comes very late
wish that we could linger
wish the dark would wait.Oh what fun we had then
oh what joy unbound
slips away our childhood
and never more is found.
My birthday today (23rd). Number two daughter sent me a Moonpig Card ‘Having googled his symptoms it turned out he just needed everyone to piss off.’ She has always managed to send to the pointcards.
What is the point of 20 mph roads? Been here in Wayells for a while but I now see some in Inglerland. Is it to help those with no valid driving licence and no insurance?
Was chuffed to see a bus named ‘Sir Harry Secombe’ which I took he other day. I asked the driver was he going to treat us to a chorus or two of ‘If I ruled the World’ but he declined. Nostalgia ain’t what it used to be but those were happy days listening to Sellers, Secombe. Bentinck and the absolute force of nature that was Spike Milligan on the Goon Show.
Superb ‘ahhh you have deaded me’ Oh, he’s fallen in the water.’ Absolute and utter surreal entertainment,I yeran for those days when life was simple and pleasant.
© Gillygangle 2025
