I was in town yesterday, and the only people I seen wearing red roses and waveing the English Flag were wait for it the BNP one was ex para with Seven Medals. The Police came spoke to one of them, and left them to get on with it. makes you wonder eh. -------------------------------- Paddy H
Right wingers here,left wingers there,you see what they did in Germany and Russia,personally I'll steer well clear of all radical parties.But I do understand how the subject has been brought up! ----- Don
Another National day goes by and this time it passes off with a whimper rather than a bang. Why is that?, When I arrived at a regular group gathering yesterday morning I wished all the English members -men and women- a Happy St.georges day only to be replied with a mumbling and the moment passed away. It made me think about how we in the 'Home Countries' celebrate our national days. Living in Scotland, as I do, I must admit that ,at least in this part of the country St. Andrews Day ( Nov) passes off without a great deal of celebration. On the other hand Robert Burns is remembered with gusto . Many are the 'Burns Suppers' which take place around the area and in fact world-wise. I have no experience of how the Welsh celebrate St. Davids Day, but I can visualise gatherings where poetry is recited and of course songs are sung and the Dragon, instead of being slayed is venerated..Is that so?. The Irish make a big thing about St. Patricks day and even cause chaos in many cities world-wise by holding parades. I wonder how other countries celebrate thier days. So all you ex-pats inform us by letting us know about the subject in your adoptive countries. Paddy
January 26th. Australia Day (Landing of the First Fleet) or as our Aboriginal Bretheren call it: "Invasion Day". Of course it's a Public Holiday. We have about eleven per year including the Queens Birthday (wonder what will happen when we become a Republic). I digress. Anyway, The public have a day off, but don't ask them why and what it signifies. April 25th. ANZAC Day. In remembrance of our and NZ troops that died a Gallipoli ('nother day off,. But not this year as it was a Saturday). This a day for all ex-Servicemen and women. It starts with a Dawn Service (0445hrs.) at all the War memorials throughout the country (our area has a population of 6,000 and we had about 400 attend). After the Service we retire to the local Bowls Club tohave a 'Gunfire Breakfast' which of course includes tea or coffee heavily fortified with Rum! Then at 1030hrs. we assemble for a march to the memorial and a "Service of Remberance". The local schools march too. All up this year we had about 750 (including spectators). After the service back to the Bowls Club for a few beers a nibbles. Of course in the cities it's a much larger affair (the parades normally take about two hours to complete) and various Services and units Commandeer (?) various watering holes throughout the city for the day. All veterans travel free on Public Transport. That'll do for the time being. Will tell you about Remembrance Day (11th.Nov) later. alex (kev)
Interesting Kev. I bet you all look forward to the 'Gunfire' breakfast. Perhaps one day we in Britain will get a bank holday to celebrate something. Which reminds me of the days when we served 'Gunfire' on Christmas Day. I wonder if the custom is still practiced or has it gone by the way as has the daily tot of rum in the RN. Anyone know? Paddy
Jim sadly 'gunfire' disappeared years ago. We had a St George's Day dinner here in Spain. The dinner was a three line whip (for all serving personnel), this was not appreciated by a certain taffy (I offered to pay his bill which twinged his conscience and he paid up and shut up).
The thing that always amused me about serving 'Gunfire' was that we were sworn at by those whom we woke up to give it to, but we were sworn at even more by those who we missed out. It was a no win situation. Sorry about your Welshman Ian. By the way how do you class yourself, Scots or English? Paddy
Jim not sure how we ended up on the BNP site, I suppose it really should be the SNP site. With regard to your question on nationality, there can't be anybody more mixed up than me. My father was a Scot born in Coatbridge, my mother was Welsh born in Treherbert. I was born in Lancaster. As you know Olive is a Scot born in Castle Douglas. Both my children (hardly kids both in their 30's) were born in Dumfries but I think I've convinced them they are English, and both have London accents. In summary, English first, Scottish second, Welsh third and having served 2 years in HQNI Irish fourth and god forbid having spent 13 years in Belgium a Walloon (French speaking Belgian).
Strewth! Talk about a mixed up kid. I suppose 'Eclectic' would be an appropiate word to describe you. Sorry that you can't make the reunion. Jim (Paddy).
As I don't need to attend the dentist for annual checkup's (I post my denture's in a jiffy bag), I think Jellied haggis etc sounds most acceptable. On second thoughts can the big white hard bits on the end of the leek's be removed, I hate floaters under my denture's.
hi
ReplyDeleteis this a joke
Happy St. Georges Day to all our English comrades
ReplyDeleteTo-day is the day to slay a dragon. No. I didn't mention Mothers-in Laws.
Paddy
NO JOKE
ReplyDeleteI was in town yesterday, and the only people
ReplyDeleteI seen wearing red roses and waveing the
English Flag were wait for it the BNP
one was ex para with Seven Medals.
The Police came spoke to one of them,
and left them to get on with it.
makes you wonder eh.
--------------------------------
Paddy H
Right wingers here,left wingers there,you see what they did in Germany and Russia,personally I'll steer well clear of all radical parties.But I do understand how the subject has been brought up!
ReplyDelete-----
Don
Another National day goes by and this time it passes off with a whimper rather than a bang. Why is that?, When I arrived at a regular group gathering yesterday morning I wished all the English members -men and women- a Happy St.georges day only to be replied with a mumbling and the moment passed away. It made me think about how we in the 'Home Countries' celebrate our national days. Living in Scotland, as I do, I must admit that ,at least in this part of the country St. Andrews Day ( Nov) passes off without a great deal of celebration. On the other hand Robert Burns is remembered with gusto . Many are the 'Burns Suppers' which take place around the area and in fact world-wise. I have no experience of how the Welsh celebrate St. Davids Day, but I can visualise gatherings where poetry is recited and of course songs are sung and the Dragon, instead of being slayed is venerated..Is that so?. The Irish make a big thing about St. Patricks day and even cause chaos in many cities world-wise by holding parades.
ReplyDeleteI wonder how other countries celebrate thier days. So all you ex-pats inform us by letting us know about the subject in your adoptive countries.
Paddy
January 26th. Australia Day (Landing of the First Fleet) or as our Aboriginal Bretheren call it: "Invasion Day". Of course it's a Public Holiday. We have about eleven per year including the Queens Birthday (wonder what will happen when we become a Republic).
ReplyDeleteI digress. Anyway, The public have a day off, but don't ask them why and what it signifies.
April 25th. ANZAC Day. In remembrance of our and NZ troops that died a Gallipoli ('nother day off,. But not this year as it was a Saturday). This a day for all ex-Servicemen and women.
It starts with a Dawn Service (0445hrs.) at all the War memorials throughout the country (our area has a population of 6,000 and we had about 400 attend). After the Service we retire to the local Bowls Club tohave a 'Gunfire Breakfast' which of course includes tea or coffee heavily fortified with Rum!
Then at 1030hrs. we assemble for a march to the memorial and a "Service of Remberance". The local schools march too. All up this year we had about 750 (including spectators).
After the service back to the Bowls Club for a few beers a nibbles.
Of course in the cities it's a much larger affair (the parades normally take about two hours to complete) and various Services and units Commandeer (?) various watering holes throughout the city for the day. All veterans travel free on Public Transport.
That'll do for the time being. Will tell you about Remembrance Day (11th.Nov) later.
alex (kev)
Interesting Kev. I bet you all look forward to the 'Gunfire' breakfast. Perhaps one day we in Britain will get a bank holday to celebrate something. Which reminds me of the days when we served 'Gunfire' on Christmas Day. I wonder if the custom is still practiced or has it gone by the way as has the daily tot of rum in the RN. Anyone know?
ReplyDeletePaddy
Jim sadly 'gunfire' disappeared years ago. We had a St George's Day dinner here in Spain. The dinner was a three line whip (for all serving personnel), this was not appreciated by a certain taffy (I offered to pay his bill which twinged his conscience and he paid up and shut up).
ReplyDeleteThe thing that always amused me about serving 'Gunfire' was that we were sworn at by those whom we woke up to give it to, but we were sworn at even more by those who we missed out. It was a no win situation. Sorry about your Welshman Ian. By the way how do you class yourself, Scots or English?
ReplyDeletePaddy
Jim not sure how we ended up on the BNP site, I suppose it really should be the SNP site. With regard to your question on nationality, there can't be anybody more mixed up than me. My father was a Scot born in Coatbridge, my mother was Welsh born in Treherbert. I was born in Lancaster. As you know Olive is a Scot born in Castle Douglas. Both my children (hardly kids both in their 30's) were born in Dumfries but I think I've convinced them they are English, and both have London accents. In summary, English first, Scottish second, Welsh third and having served 2 years in HQNI Irish fourth and god forbid having spent 13 years in Belgium a Walloon (French speaking Belgian).
ReplyDeleteStrewth! Talk about a mixed up kid. I suppose 'Eclectic' would be an appropiate word to describe you. Sorry that you can't make the reunion.
ReplyDeleteJim (Paddy).
Just a thought - wonder what Ians favourite food is?
ReplyDelete-----
Don
Jellied Haggis, with mushy peas and Leeks??
ReplyDeletealex(kev)
Sounds Scrumptious.
ReplyDeletePaddy
As I don't need to attend the dentist for annual checkup's (I post my denture's in a jiffy bag), I think Jellied haggis etc sounds most acceptable. On second thoughts can the big white hard bits on the end of the leek's be removed, I hate floaters under my denture's.
ReplyDeleteYou'll wonder where the white bits went
ReplyDeleteWhen you clean your teeth with pepsodent!
----
Don