The language of Chaucer and Shakepeare lives on

Yes I only used some this very morning in my workshop.
“Could you kindly f*ck off please, as I’m busy.”

To two sinister looking (and persistent) representatives of yell.com.
I actually thought they might be round selling ‘insurance’–but apparently they thought I needed a website.
I already have one.

Andy

The whole summer has been pretty much a washout.
Last weekend was about the best one weather wise we’ve had.
I can’t imagine Fairford has been much fun this weekend (or Silverstone, or Mallory park–Festival of a Thousand Bikes, or The Gravenhurst Gallop–something very close to home). The real shame is how much work–often voluntary, goes into these events, just to see them washed out.
A.

As an aside, regarding the recent deaths of the three British soldiers in the so called green on blue incident. What a colourful way to illustrate the fact that three british soldiers were murdered by their allies.

Kev, I couldn’t agree with that sentiment more.
I also noticed (sadly as ever) that far more ‘important’ news stories preceeded that item on the ‘News Show’, although what could really be more important I’m almost at a loss to say.

As to the state of our funny little island, I think what we are feeling is the apparent lack of leadership in key areas.
Whether it be politicians, the police, the armed forces, the media, even dare I say the banks and financial sector, we seem to have arrived at a point where at best, mediocre people have got to the top.

The other day, at a very local level to me, I saw a man take charge of a situation that required some courage, at a very difficult time for himself and others.
I won’t embarrass him or the others (for he was not alone in stepping up to the plate) by describing the events in detail, but what I saw went a small way towards restoring my faith in human nature.
I’ll also add that I’m substantially proud to be able to call this man (and the others) my friends.
What it did illustrate most I think was that given the chance, the people of this country can be quite magnificent. They have been before and may well have to be again one day.

Andy.

You know chat show hosts regularly resort to all sorts of similar things these days but you dont watch any of them.

….right. I guess someone must have told you.

Well actually I don’t.
The last time I watched a chat show would have been about 1998–it was fronted by a slightly fat balding know all who had once apparently been a lawyer. I can’t at this distance recall his name. Although I did subsequently hear that he was rude to the Bee Gees.
Even then much of what I stated above was the case.
Since then I’ve given up television almost completely.
This week I watched the documentary about RAF Bomber Command. It hasn’t been switched on since.
I made the assumption that things had deteriorated since the nineties.
When the current set dies, it won’t be replaced.

Right, back to ‘Legends’.
I hope those who attended it enjoyed it.

Andy

I didnt appreciate last year the stuff about how the French Air Force thinned out the Luftwaffe during the Battle of France to an extent that we were able to win the Battle of Britain. He was being serious.

Why not?
Sources vary a little, but generally agree that Luftwaffe losses in the battle for France were about 1200 aircraft with about 350 of them being fighters. if you take out the number shot down by the RAF air component, then the Armée de l’Air must have made a significant contribution to that number.
By the start of the Battle of Britain, those numbers had been made good in front line German units, but it seriously depleted reserves, and of course the loss of well trained pre-war aircrew was keenly felt.
So, what he says, does make a valid point. Or is it that this is just another cheap ‘dig’ at the French?

Nor did I appreciate this year, the use of the ‘F’ word over a public address system in reference to the meaning of ‘snafu’.

Well thanks to the wit of our parents generation, that’s what it means. I tend to agree that it doesn’t need constant iteration though–we all get it.
However, unless you currently live in the outer Hebrides or share a hut with tribesmen in the Amazonian basin, then I might suggest that it isn’t anything your average teenager hasn’t been exposed to (and worse) in what passes itself as ‘culture’ in the modern World.

He’s got to go.

The people who organise and run ‘Flying Legends’ apparently think otherwise.

A.

From my favourite flying film….

Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: And I’ve arranged for the Frenchman to be detained by a lovely young lady.

Courtney: Ho, ho, guvnor, I’ll bet she’s a bit of all right.

Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: You should know, Courtney, she’s your daughter.

Courtney: But guvnor, she’s an innocent young girl!

Sir Percy Ware-Armitage: Not IS, Courtney, WAS!

RIP Mr Sykes.

why else was the Labour govt elected imediately post war?

As Kev says, the war wasn’t over and it looked like a lot of people were going to be killed finishing Japan. Also as John says, looking at the losses on Okinawa, the losses would have been horrendous.

But also too, it was ‘the khaki vote’ which turned the election of 1945. Rather than wishing to wash any hands, the many who had served thought a brave new World was needed. Despite the way history has remembered Churchill, at the time he was often less than popular.
The perception being that after ordinary folk had done a lot of fighting and dieing, perhaps the old rulling class needed moving to one side.
And let’s face it, the changes that election brought forward have benefitted our generation to a large extent.

All this of course doesn’t change my opinion that all politicians are self serving wasters.

Andy