Intellectual Talk at SPAM re 1707 Bribery

1707 Bribery

Last night, after an attempt at recovering from my day trip, I headed down the long road to the Liberal Club for some Liberal chat with the fellow members of SPAM.  As always the early birds were in first, as always good cheer and friendliness were abundant.

I soon stopped that nonsense.

It happened, I mention this in passing, that I was wearing a loose fitting T-shirt, one eminently suitable for the weather.  I also mention in passing, for you information, that across this blue T-shirt were emblazoned the words 'Scottish not British.'  This was fine in my book, and the attractive young barmaid greeted me warmly, as always, and with a smile.  As I took my seat without checking my change, it is not that I trust then barmaid, it is just that I am not arguing with her, again, a comment from one senior member excited the gang around him.  

"You believe in Scots going it alone?" 

"Yes indeed," replied I.

At this point 'Daily Express' educated nonce across the table cried out.

"You asked to join."

This nonsense was soon put in its place.

"You can't survive without Britain paying for you." (Note the use of 'Britain' here)

This nonsense was soon put in its place.

Voices were raised, as were a chair and table or two, until the attractive young barmaid got of her seat across the way and came over and belted us.

That brought the discussion to an end.

We moved onto safer subjects.  

One thing that became clear is the rising prices, with Brexit to blame, beginning to be recognised by the 'Daily Express' educated peoples.  They are beginning to understand, somewhat reluctantly, that Brexit was a lie, that it costs a great deal, and they are paying for it.  There remains a hope that the new liar in Downing Street will improve things, a faded hope at the moment as all agree none of the prospective leaders are worth having.  It appears that we will not have a new leader until September the 5th for reasons as yet unclear, but simply to allow Boris to ruin much more before he goes.  

It has to be said the Labour leader, whatisname, is bringing a motion to the House to demand his removal forthwith, using another couple of sex and bribery involving women as a reason.  There is however, no doubt that they lackeys will ensure this does not succeed, even those who wish Boris out will not be enough to ensure he is removed.  Keeping in with the important people is important for backbench MPs.  

  

With Jeremy Hunt promising to scrap the Ban on Hunting we moved on to circuses.  In days of yore all of us had seen animals in the circus, one member of out tribe related the abuse from anti-circus protesters as he drove to the big tent.  He was frightened by the banging on the roof and screaming abuse.  I indicated this was similar to the attractive young barmaid a few minutes ago, and he retorted that this mob was worse.  This caused us all to gasp!  

It appears a new, small zoo has opened up new Maldon.  This is a good thing, for those that can get there.  Maldon has seen large animals before, elephants in a circus came one year and were taken to the large pool there for a  wash.  The children were in there with them and all had a great time it appears.  Elephants are very family orientated and would love the attention and fun water games offered.  I doubt if such a thing would be allowed today, too many rules, H&S, and just generally spoilsports around to let kids have fun with elephants or other animals.  Mind you in 1936 a lion escaped from the circus here as it arrived, this took a few hours before it was captured.  I thought I had scribbled about this before but I cannot find the details.  Most annoying.  Just imagine wandering into the garden and finding a lion there!  

Having debated Scotland, zoo's, circuses,' various long gone public houses, varieties of beers, and the vicars daughters wedding in Indian style on Friday (apparently last Saturday a feast was held for this, table groaning with food, as indeed were those who attended while I sat at home with a cheese sandwich.) and the taxi with the wife in had come for our noble leader, we decided to depart. 

A mixed groaning as stiff knees and backs were removed from chairs, glasses trembled as tables were jarred, screeching as chairs were moved (on carpet?), and goodnights exchanged while we still knew who we all were.

And so to bed.

I appear tired today...

 

Soldiers Mascots

ITV

The Edinburgh Festival, and the accompanying 'Fringe,' bring many illustrious individuals into a city which can boast a great many already.  One major event at this time is the Edinburgh Military Tattoo in which bands and others from all over the world participate to rapturous applause, often in the rain!  This year once again one of Scotland's favourite nations, one in which ties were made stronger during the second world war, had soldiers representing their country at the tattoo.

Edinburgh Zoo is one of the most famous in the world, or at least in Edinburgh.  There are a host of animals confined here, some along with controversy it must be said, and there are also a host of Penguins, some of the zoo's favourite characters.  Each day since the early 50's a gate is opened and the Penguins, if they feel so inclined, wander out along a chosen path before being returned to their pen.  usually this occurs without incident and the Penguins feel happy enough it appears with the adventure.

One Penguin however has been Knighted!

Sir Nils Olav, a King Penguin, became the mascot and Colonel in Chief of the Norwegian Kings Guard in 1972 when the King's Guard were attending the Tattoo.  Originally given the rank of 'Lance Corporal' (Visekorporal) the Penguin was promoted each time the Guard attended the Tattoo.  Sir Nils passed away in 1987 and his successor , Nils Olav II, inherited his rank.  Sadly he too passed away in 2008 but Olav III also accepted with no hesitation the rank and position awarded his predecessors.  During the visit in 2008 Nils was awarded a Knighthood the honour approved by King Harald V.   On the 22nd of this month some 50 members of the King's Guard attended the Zoo and a crowd gathered to watch Sir Nils receive his next promotion this one making him a Brigadier!     

Such activities are not unknown, regiments often have goats or dogs as mascots, the Polish Division during the second world war inherited a brown bear cub called 'Wojtek' which not only continued with them through the was in Italy and France but was seen carrying ammunition during the Battle of Monte Cassino!  So helpful was he to morale and in carrying ammunition that he was enlisted as a soldier, reaching the rank of Corporal and having his own paybook.  With many Poles settling in Scotland after the war Wojtek entered Edinburgh Zoo where he happily ate cigarettes thrown to him by ex-Soldiers.  He ate them as there was no-one to light them for him!  He died in 1963 and I can remember seeing a Brown Bear in the zoo but I was not told this story.  A statue of bear and soldier  keeper now stands in Princess Street Gardens.
The UK, where important things happen!

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Fotos

Sloth and apathy have joined together to stop me offering a review of a book received at Christmas. You may cry 'Boo! Hiss,' at this point if you wish, what?.....oh!  It will turn up one day I tell thee!  So as the football is about to start I find I have no time to write and instead offer a foto of Edinburgh.  This was taken yonks ago and I find the conjunction of a Zebra grazing with the wild Pentlands looming (faintly) in the background somewhat incongruous myself.   You will know Scotias capital has lots of Zebras running around. People are always crossing them.  You will understand that I spent a wee while going through the old albums this afternoon.  This saved prevented me from working on the seven projects I ought to have been working on but allowed me to remember just how many poor fotos I have hidden away.  It is now unusual to finger actual prints, especially Matt ones, and as they have been encased in plastic for so long many show signs of wear, a wee bit like me.  Not that I have ever been encased in plastic....

So many fotos taken who knows when!  I think I took this up the Highlands some years ago but it may indeed be the Ochil Hills as seen from Edinburgh.  I asked the sheep to pose for me, I know I shouted "Hey ewe, over here," but they ignored me and kept chomping.  I suppose one hill looks like another to a 'townie.'   I canny mind taking it but in those days I dwelt in the centre of London and wide open spaces were a strange delight, indeed a few days of such views remain delightful, not many hills round here. 

The Thames about twenty five years ago.  I think that is Wapping over there and all those warehouses are high priced flats.  You can guess how much they cost!  Not very exciting but I like this sort of view. That afternoon was spent wandering along the south bank far from the tourist spots, finding those rough back streets which often contain historical treasures and one or two strange people.  Pleasure boats awaiting tourists and the occasional barge awaiting use. Just forty years ago all this was crowded with boats from across the globe carrying cargo one way or the other. Hundreds of 'lighters,' also and thousands of men nicking things as fast as they can assisting the economic development of the nation. The river is vastly cleaner than it was in those far off days, a huge effort to clean it, the loss of shipping leaving oil all help the improvement.  Had I been less lazy I could have kicked stones around the banks of the river and discovered odds and ends going back years, possibly to and beyond the Romans. If you know what you are looking for artifacts are constantly being dug up by man and tide, all you need is a wee bit knowledge and history is yours.  Of course you might just find sewage!   

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