Now that makes you think

Yesterday I said a volunteer flying with Bomber Command had a less than 50/50 chance of survival. Well, true ish. But on checking the statistics on a more accurate site I find out of a hundred aircrew flying a 30 mission tour of duty with Bomber Command the actual figures averaged out during the war were:

Taking an example of 100 airmen:-

55 killed on operations or died as result of wounds

3 injured (in varying levels of severity) on operations or active service

13 taken prisoner of war (some injured)

2 shot down and evaded capture

27 survived a tour of operations

Yes 27 survived out of 100. That is higher than the German U-Boat service who were recognised as being the highest rate of loss in the German Forces..

Truly a terrifying and of course we have to factor in training accidents. Making it a lot more than 56000.

And let us not forget the 26000 American Bomber crews lost on daylight operations flying from East Anglia. And that is just the heavy bomber war.. goodness knows what the total RAF/USAAF loss figures were for the war. Lest we forget. 

In other news. Tis the end of the month and the end of my first year in Lincolnshire following the sad demise of my long relationship with a lady who no longer feels the need of my company! 

It has been a good move and I find much in common with the people of lincolnshire. I think my forebears were fen or lowlanders as my name is a derivation of Flanders. Low land and wold folk have a determined streak near obstinacy tempered with a kindly disposition. In the main they are slow to rise and quick to laugh. 

The countryside is hard worked farmland and can be cruel when the wind blows in those racing storms from the sea. However, it is an easy county to stand tall in with big canvas skies that show the coming weather an hour before it arrives.

I live betwixt the sea and the wolds, an ideal location for two totally contrasting vistas. The north sea and in my case the Humber Estuary are the extent eastwards for me and the thin strip of land between there and the wolds contains many charming coastal villages. The wolds is frankly beautiful with folding valleys and constant undulation of topography it would be very hard to tire of. 

I never tire of exploring the region and finds are thick and fast. The names of the villages and the delight to find that many of them still have their own pub reminds me of an England I last remember in the 1960's. There is a pride in the people and a quiet strength that tolerates outsiders. I like it and think as a place to retire there is none better. 

Ill write more of my explore in the coming weeks. 

So, what of my first year away from those I once loved? It has been hard and many nights were spent getting used to being alone. I will say right now that if it had not been for the company of my old and dearest friend Bob then it would have been very much harder. Also, I think I got lucky in the house I brought.. It feels a happy house. Its no luxury villa, but it is a roof over my head and a warm place with the fire on to contemplate the past and hope for the future. 

I can but hope that the year ahead will be a gentler and happier time and give time to heal wounds I thought I would never have. I really was in my marriage for the long haul and it was most surprising and heart breaking to loose one who I had placed such faith in. 

Still, it is better to have loved and lost than never to have loved at all. I guess! 

I was looking into the history of some of the local airfields around here and settled on RAF Ludford Magna..It was known at the time as Mudford Magna. 101 Squadron flew from there and sustained the highest casualty rate of any Bomber Command Squadron.

All that was 70 years ago and is of passing interest to the young of today you may think. However, I had occasion to take a young 15 year old girl and her Father to East Kirby and have a look at the museum there. Part of the display is a small chapel of memorial to the two squadrons that flew from there. The girl looked at the list of those missing and I could see it dawning on her that there was a lot of names.

Over a brew I asked a now thoughtful girl. "did you do world war 2 in history at school" she said no just world war one.

I said "well you probably did the Somme". She said "yes" and I said "well Bomber Command was an all volunteer force and made up of young kids who in the main were too young to vote, drink or drive a car". They took the highest casualty rate of any force in the British or for that matter German Forces. Nearly fifty percent died and many more were wounded. You had more chance of survival as a young 2nd Lt on the Somme than you did of surviving 30 mission  with Bomber Command". She looked very thoughtful and then i said.. Would you fight for your country with odds like that and to her credit she said "Yes I think  I would".

There is an airfield in UK every 11 miles.. Next time you pass one give the spirit of those young men that still inhabits those now cracking runways and buildings a nod and thank them for what they did. One girl did and it was good to witness.

As to schools not teaching world war two.. Well, thats beyond me.

Anyway, to them a salute and a link formed from the young of 2015 to the young of 1939-45. Bless em all.

The List of Huntingdonshire Cabmen

Many Moons ago a simply superb chap invented a list of registered Cabmen domicile in the great county of Huntingdonshire. It was published weekly in the Express under the name of Beachcomber. It was simply a list of names thus:
Wackbender M.S.
Fottingbladder T.
Wotnot S.
Snide F.


In honor of Beachcomber I have decided to re-instate the list with a twist and thus:

List of Huntingdonshire Cabmen Week ending My 29 2015.

Awarded first gear
Helmut Welbent
Sidney Potterton-Greased-Nipple
William Snottswot

Awarded Second Gear

Wendy  Wandsworth Gently-Daft
Prentice Prat

Awarded Third Gear

Teddy Bear
Elvis Braggwort-Muchbinding

Top gear
Baden Iron-Dirigible

Over drive in waiting

Lord Crispin Terribly-Earnest
Shake Bin liner
Hadrian the Terrible (Danish Chapter)

Over drive with Oak leaf Clusters Honoury Award.
Grevell Wilson Marmalade Dignitas DSO RIP
Herr Flottilla Kapitan Eric The Suicidal Krapanpants. Ritter Kruize mit Germuse. (German Chapter)
Countess Constance Mumbles Third Bog Brush in Waiting to HMG.

Cabmen Amendements:

Died suddenly of a car crash
Ford Dent

Died suddenly of a Tuesday
Prentice Prune M.B.E and rash.

Pictures of John Morten (the real deal) and dear old (I told you I was ill) Spike who loved him. As I do.

Sad news from Alsace:
The last surviving ball of fluff died last night. Sad but we can content ourselves that the two siblings died surrounded by the love that should be afforded to all. For to die unloved an alone is a terrible thing. Bless Katy, Phil and his Father for affording the we trumps the time and love to die as befits any of Gods creatures.

That could I suppose bring us naturally to the recent news item surrounding the re-introduction of the bill on assisted dying.

I have nothing much to add to that debate, other than a need to some for of very firm control to stop older people (particularly those alone) from opting for death simply because they feel a burden. Something the elderly are prone to.

Other than that, I can see the logic and simple compassion inherent in the argument and as long as that is the sole driving force behind the bill and not expediency then I concur. QED.

No News is good news

My friend in Alsace reports no news with Dash. Katy bathed his eyes with saline solution to help the wee fella and see if he could open his eyes, but nothing yet. 

Fingers crossed for Dash. 

Such as shame about wee Dot leaving us yesterday, Now there is only one pussy. Lets hope he makes it. Katy and Phil live in a lovely farm house in the Alsace and need a put cat to keep down Le Vermin! Here is the last photo of brother and sister together. Fingers crossed. 

Last night I spent watching Paddington Bear. What a lovely film that is. Reminded me very much of young love. I remember meeting a very special girl under the clock at Paddington station one evening. I gave her a Paddington bear which she still has. Unfortunately she kept the bear and gave me the push.  Such is life folks. Tis probably better to have loved and  lost than to have never loved at all. 

Why did we part... Probably too much alike in some ways, we could argue like cat and dog. But we loved each other and ironically still do, probably always will. I guess we just didnt sit down and try and work it out hard enough. Possibly and no doubt she would disagree. But what lovely eyes folks and you know shes the one when she smells right. Peaches and cream and puppy dogs. 

Right, talking of dogs... best get mine walked.. 

No News Is Good News

Young boy cat is still with us. My friend bathed his eyes with very weak saline solution to see if she could help him open his eyes, But nothing yet. Fingers crossed.

hops for dot dashed!

Well viewers, poor wee dot died during the night and at the time of writing dit is not doing so well. They were abandoned very early in life and without Mum things do not look sooooo good. We keep our fingers crossed for Dit and hope he survives the day.

Old mates, are they a blessing or ? They say one should never go back and visit times gone by. A very dear friend of mine, with whom I spent many interesting hours has contacted me out of the blue and with some trepidation I have replied. I could now face a visit from him and that I confess fills me with trepidation. Lets hope it all turns out for the best. As I type memories tumble back of early days in the RAF at Benson and our travels around the world. Both good and bad times, living the life of a gypsy in uniform, we traveled in our Land Rover and trailer with just a map and young eyes at a life far less complex than it is now.

Many was the sight we saw and many the tale we could tell of the girls we chased and the nights we sang for our supper. Happy warriors were we. I introduced him to his wife and he was my best man. So, Im honor bound really to push out the welcome mat. Fingers crossed that old age has not mellowed or tempered that easy banter and laughter we once shared.

In other news:

How to loose friends. I believe I mentioned that I have form when it comes to restoring old cars. Well, a friend asked me to help her buy and restore a MK3 Land Rover she brought on Ebay. Well, I said I would help, but it would be money up front once we had assessed the work required. This is far from Unusual when contemplating the inevitable money pit that old cars are. You would have thought I had shouted "shit" in church as she went on at some length concerning 25% now and the rest on completion. Like some super banker dealing on the stock exchange and not asking a friend to tie up his time for a considerable length and get plastered in farm muck and rust.

No matter how I tried to bring her back to the reality of life in Lincolnshire and that money talks while credit offends, she would not get it.

True she lives I Oxford, where once I did and experienced the disconnect that life there brings.. Its a bubble of well spoken Guardian readers intent on the cafe life and wine bar posing! Well, I left it thus "them the rules and if you want it done then money up front, if not then please fix it yourself".  It may offend, but at least I dont get lumped with a rusty heap of non degradable refuge and without the money to fix it.

Some folks just do not live in the real world do they. Well, the world where we are all a couple of pay days away from.....???

Weekly Round-up

Funny old world, watched Eurovision song contest last night, along with 200,000,000 other poor buggers. Dear oh Lord, what a racket.. nothing but Ballads sung by a collection of Balladeers dressed by TKMax and fronted by and estrogen fueled Bisexual bearded Transvestite Diva whose every utterance and movement seemed to be accomplished with such pain as to wrench the soul from the poor wretch. I suppose there must be some connection with Ireland of all places hoisting the pink flag. Never thought I would see the Micks mince.

Now dear reader dont get me wrong I am not against vertical horticulture in the privacy of your own dungeon, but I tire of the more militant gay agenda. Usually and now boringly repetitive it is verbosely and arrogantly delivered at considerable cost to the quieter majority, who have enough and probably more urgent problems than IVF for Lesbian couples and foster grants for Homies.

Similarly I tire of radical Islam on our streats calling for Sharia law in UK. No not while I breath. If you feel that radical then go and live in an Islamic state.. Do not turn my home into one.. Enough. Which is why I firmly believe we should let them go to it in Syria and the middle east. It is for them to sort. Not my kith and kin. Enough of those have fallen over the centuries for good or worse. I must have relatives who followed the drum buried all over this globe. I do not wish to see anymore. Especially on the alter of a religion I respect but would under no circumstances follow, or be bound by its laws in my own country.. Hell no! All I ask is that you respect my country and my law as I would yours in the country of your birth, "When in Rome".

In domestic issues, dear friends in Alsace discovered two tiny tot kittens who are so small it will be a struggle for them to get through the week. We are all fingers crossed for their survival. Pray for Dot and Dash. As I write Dot (the girl) is not doing so well.

Today's irritant: Double sided sticking tape that don't

This weeks major decision: To sell the MX5 or not to sell.

Well, I'm fat, 60, bald and not in my prime and I own a wee cracker of a car. Its a mark one MX5 and its just the most fun you can have with your trousers on. I do love it, but look a right pudding in it. Some say the MX5 is a hairdressers car, but speaking as one who has had a few cars in his time, I can say that it is the bet handling and most fun little car I have ever had and leaves most things for dead on a curvy road. Sticks to the road like poo to a blanket and is more than fast enough for B-Road blasting. Lovely car. Handling wise I would say its up there with the Honda CRX my ex owned and that was a proper pocket rocket.

But all things must end and I cannot afford two cars. Parting will be such sorrow and a close to a part of my life I enjoyed greatly. I am a devout petrol head and yes that idiot Clarkson deserved to be sacked. But I do miss the prat on a sunday.

Well, have a nice week chaps.

Early Morning Rant

Funny old day. Thunderstorm caught me and Bob out. He hid under the car and I in it! Very strange, nothing would entice him inside the car. I began to feel like he knew something I didnt!

Defence (yes American spell checker DEFENCE) of the realm is bugging me again. How can we stop anyone intent on no good with an army that could be outnumbered by a capacity crowd at Wembley..

PLUS, we are an island and have no maritime patrol aircraft. Every time a Ruski sub is noted around our shores we have to ask the Norwegians or French to go have a look now. What pudding worked that one out!

However, the prize for Best dickhead in a factual based f...k up at the MoD has to go to the prize nob who sold the Harrier jump jets to the Americans. Now we have a brand new shiny aircraft carrier with no aircraft and will probably lease the great white elephant to the Yanks to fly the Harriers we sold them off it. You could not make it up could you.

Nothing new mind you. I remember when they took a complete squadron of Nimrods (maritime patrol  aircraft) spent a mint on them to upgrade them to airborne early warning planes and it did not work and they all had to be scrapped. Then they scrapped they did the same again with the rest of the Nimrods when they nearly completed upgrade was costing too much.  Hence we now have no maritime patrol aircraft.. I could go on but me blood pressure!!! Still, we may not have any conventional forces but we can always nuke the bad guy.. Bit OTT mind you.. But cost effective.

Then there is proportional representation. I voted UKIP there I said it.. and so did nearly four million other Brits.. Now how the hell did we end up with only one MP.

My favorite bit of BS this week is now apparently there is something called authority disorder and its real.. Some kids (sorry young adults) can have it especially when disciplined..... Well, so do adults and Im getting it. Only its called Stroppy Kid Avoidance Disorder. Can I have some counselling please?

Cars

Its amazing how we take the modern car for granted. They regularly do over 200,000 miles or more. When I was a kid a car had to be constantly attended to and greased. To "grease one's nipples" and carry out daily inspections of oil, water and tyre pressue was as normal as cleaning ones teeth.  Everybody carried a tool kit and had to be able to get out and get dirty when "the old girl" had a paddy. Any trips were planned like military campagnes with map compass and itinery.

I recall one such trip when my father was stationed in Germany with the army. It was the christmas of 1961 and due to pressure of a home sick wife he decided to go home on leave. We had a Morris Minor at the time and its little 0.9 litre engine was basically the most amazing power house ever invented. Known as the A series by British Motor Corporation (BMC) it developed a lovely noise as it pottered us about the German countryside. The A series was in everything BMC made from the Morris Minor, Austin A30 -5 -40 MG Midget and the 1100/1300 and Mini. Easy to maintain and simple in operation it still today is one of my favorite engines of all time. We have had many cars with the A series and only recently sold a rather nice Riley pictures above.

Days out were something to savour. Mar would produce vast amounts of cheese sandwiches and in the winter tomatoe soup in tartan thermos flasks. The Moggy did about 30 miles to the gallon and we did a murry mint per mile. Naturally a trip of some 600 miles would be a challenge not only to Mars abillity to produce that many sandwiches, but the little car had to make the trip through really awful weather. My Parents, brother, plus baggage, sandwiches, soup and tool kit managed to cram into the car and with the snow falling thick and fast we set off for the Auto-bahn and UK. The weather just got colder, the snow thicker and the poor little window wipers could hardly keep up, while the skinny tyres fought for grip. On we chuffed into holland the heater pushing out a thin stream of warm air to stop us all freezing in our car rugs. Mar wore her fur hat and I her fur coat. My brother wore a balaclava and my dad his flat cap and driving gloves. Once we had to dig ourselves out of the snow and nearly ended up in a ditch more than once. Mar just sat there humming and passing out the cheese sandwiches while dag set his lips in a determined line and pressed on.

How we got to the Hook of Holland Ill never know

hello again

Been a while since last I tapped out a missive. Since last I wrote the dear wife has decided after 20 years that she has tired of my company and I have moved to the wonderful Lincolnshire wolds. Bob and I are now retired lotus eaters intent to stand and stare. I continue to wonder why the world refuses to learn from history and look at amazement at the mess my country has become, due to Political Correctness, Health and Safety replacing common sense. The election bored me stupid and lets face it, until PR replaces first passed the post democracy is dead. Case in point UKIP registered 4 million votes and got one seat in parliament!!!!

Well, I promise to write more frequently, now I have the time.. Todays thought; Is the world getting more violent and if so why? I seem to recall less war and more peace in the cold war...

On another subject: I have been separated now for some 18 months from the old gal and miss the old cuddle and tried a computer dating site... My God.. what a nightmare that was. Full of women looking for cheap holidays, Players up to no good and strange types who left their husbands of many years to find green pastures and have now decided that the old man was not so bad and are looking for a reasonable clone.

Perhaps I should go back to lurking around the root veg in my local supermarket. I met one women who had been injected with that much bottox that she had be embalmed and another with who had recently had a complete personality by-pass operation.. She just sat there for 45 mins like a startled rabbit. My favorite, however, was a psychiatrist who really needed one.

So, top tip.. Dating sites... They lie folks..Ohhh and "likes to lay before an open fire" means they are up for indoor sports..

Have fun.