Observations on life Page 1
I think East Enders is a State sponsored programme by the Government to make us all feel that our lives are not so bad after all!
This is Wellington, full brother to his Teetotal brother Napoleon. He is a constant and loyal companion, if a little authoritive on occasions.
I watch football but am a Rugby and Cricket man really. I just have to say that these woofta footballers of today would not have lasted 2 minutes in Finchley's Extra A (3rd) XV of old. And they were basically old! What a lot of namby pamby, overpaid, jokes some of them are. They should try a Rugby International to see if a brushed eyelash would engender a penalty! Men are men.
For me, the most endearing moment of my life came in Lanzarote in September of 2007, before Elizabeth, our Granddaughter, became four. Walking slowly back from our early morning shop she said, very seriously, "Nannad, I’m so glad of you" I cried, quietly, of course. Well, my darling Elizabeth, I have news for you. I’m so, so, very, very glad of you!!
To see her run 50 yards, at flat out speed, down the arrival area of Terminal 3 at Heathrow, several times when they had been out with Ant in Dubai, and launch herself into my arms with no peripheral vision whatsoever sums it up...and the bear hug squeeze at the same time is something else!
This is a copy of an original cartoon I bought from the Evening Standard in 1972/3, I think, for FINA, my old Company, at the time of an earlier oil crisis then. It was by JAK, the famous cartoonist and it seems entirely appropriate today! The second is just a copy of one from around the early eighties. Plus ca change, c'est la meme chose!
(My old chum, Roger S, pointed out recently that crude oil was $2.40 a barrel in 1972!)
EMail to Anthony, 23/05/08, Son-in-Law, who is in Dubai until end May 2008:-
Ant
Deserted by the women folk yesterday chez vous, they were using the Jeep to dump stuff - sad about your nice undies old boy, I was left with the latest Horsham Philosopher, Elizabeth Clare Graham. When we had got through the "I Want to marry you Nannad" trials and the "get the crisps out, Nannad, they'll never know" phase, she sat on my lap and pronounced: -
"Joyful thoughts are better than Ice cream or Ice Lollies Nannad"!
Where the hell did that googly come from? Amazing. You done well boy (sic), she is a constant joy to us oldies if, undoubtedly, a challenge for you two for the next 25 years! (By the way, don't challenge Sheila on the Wii at Bowls - she is a killer at 63!)
x
Rich
7th June 2008
Tollington Grammar School 50th - Class of 53 leaving - Reunion at the old school in Muswell Hill. Dreadful journey from West Sussex as North Circular closed and West London gridlocked but the event was great. Around 50 old boys and a few girls met up, (became mixed just after I left end '57 - they waited until I was gone), with some wives, and it was truly marvellous to meet some dear old friends. Thanks to Clive, Jenny and Bernard. Just a picture of a Barry Cullen trying on his old blazer 50 years on - amazing, it fits!
By the way, this was a real School with correct punishments and fine Masters. I despair of what I hear today. Not necessarily the teachers, just what they have to cope with from odd parents and, so called, expert advisers. Mind you, I'd pay a good teacher £50,000 plus compared to a diving footballer at £6 million!!
Blair/Brown
How clever was Blair? I am a rank Tory, deep down, probably shading Communist now I am 66, but old Tone really shafted that awful man Brown in truth. He timed his get out perfectly because it was all destined to go wrong and hasn't it just! I have no time for Brown but I have to admit he inherited, and only half reaped, the whirlwind!
EGO - my new slogan for Toyota:-
BUGGER THE EGO, USE THE AYGO
We have a 2000 X Reg Jeep 4.7 Grand Cherokee which we used in Cornwall and is now worthless but has only done 48,000 miles and is in superb lick. It actually went off road, once, in a lay-by just outside Newquay. We will keep it until it rots. We also have an newish AYGO which does 64 mpg, drives superbly well and is a great little car and a very good buy for today's needs.
PRIDE - 14th June, 2008
Just seen a little of Trooping the Colour. I know I am (getting) old and of a different World but I have to say, thank God I was British, or English. We may have had a lot to answer for but my guess is that what we gave the World far outweighs the bad things. I am sure many will disagree with me but I really mean it. Sad to say that I doubt many in the future will say that.
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