12 Jun 2024 21:14:53
Not much to banter about Forest-wise ATM. So, let me throw this out there as a point to ponder. Reading the news earlier about all the conflicts in the world and the threat of escalation in Ukraine, the Middle East etc got me thinking. Stokey will correct me if I'm wrong here - but I'm sure the ancient Greeks had a unique way of settling tribal disputes. Each rival would put up their best warrior to fight each other to the death. The winner would provide a total victory to his side, thus negating a massive loss of life for both armies on the battlefield. I think Ukraine would be confident if this philosophy was adopted with Usyk fighting their cause. As for us - I would wish Lenny McLean RIP was still around!
12 Jun 2024 23:05:35
You been watching Troy?. Not a bad film, how about who could build the better rocking horse.
13 Jun 2024 06:18:37
while everybody was watching the fight Russia, China and north Korea would bomb the rest of the world they would, nt be able to stop themselves crazy Barstools.
13 Jun 2024 07:13:42
I think they should just have a "Morris Dancing Dance Off".
No one gets hurt what's not to like?
???.
13 Jun 2024 08:15:10
It would hurt my eyes and brain to watch that up there with Barn Dancing ???.
13 Jun 2024 16:42:18
Legless mate, as someone who studied GRC ( Greek and Roman Civilisation) in Part One of my English Literature degree) I can’t bring to mind any ancient Classical examples of battles decided by opposing champions. The bit in the film Troy where Brad Pitt as Achilles slays his giant opponent is no where in the Iliad, although Homer does mention individuals duels with nothing but honour at stake. So Achilles slays the Trojans best warrior Hector in revenge for him killing his boyfriend Patroclus. Then pulls his corpse around the walls of Troy dragged by his chariot which can’t have done the defenders morale much good.
It would have been a good idea to decide the battle by a duel as the Ancient Greek city states like Sparta, Athens etc were very small with only a few thousand citizens.
The idea of duels runs throughout history (like David and Goliath, Robert the Bruce against the English champion Sir de Bohun before Bannockburn, ( home win unfortunately), even our own Robin Hood on meeting Little John. Actual duels with pistols or swords at dawn didn't end until the 19th century in England and as late as the 1920s amongst French, Russian and German aristocracy.
The first parachute was designed by Leonardo de Vinci in Renaissance Florence. The design wasn’t actually tested until recently ( with back up parachute and worked! The first actual successful parachute jump was by Louis Sebastian Lesnormand in 1793 France ( from a tower I believe).
As a footnote for those of you still awake, when I was a kid growing up in Radford my Dad told me that the whole of Radford and Lenton was patrolled by only 2 Police Officers who lived in Police Houses on the patch and were called Pc Black and Pc White. Nottm City Police, under legendary Chief Constable and war hero Captain Athelstan Popkiss, had a fine tradition of having an excellent boxing team which competed throughout Europe. These Officers were Olympic standard boxers and would apparently ask any troublesome groups or families to send out their best fighters who always ended up horizontal. Their fearsome reputation ( plus they ran a boxing club in Radford) usually nipped any problems in the bud. I can find no information on them in my ex colleague Pc Danny Hyndmans excellent book “The History of Nottm City Police” but there are loads of archive photos in it including a now notorious one of Nottm City Police s boxing team winning a competition against Stuttgart Police in the 1930s and giving the Nazi Salute in the ring whilst holding the trophy.
Incidentally Redsocks, Danny is a great collector of Police memorabilia including the Police Box which you were inside from the Market Square. It’s in his back garden along with the Tardis from Dr Who plus several vintage Police Cars from the USA, Germany and France.
Finally, in response to the entirely unwarranted comments on my character and tedious personality I can only reply in the words of Prince Hal ( later to become Henry 5th) in Shakespeare’s Henry 4th Part 1
“I know you all and will awhile uphold
The unyoked humour of your idleness “
???????????????.
13 Jun 2024 16:57:52
So does that mean sunak would be fighting for us? ????.
13 Jun 2024 17:06:38
Jesus christ my thumb is killing me, scrolling by that Stokie ? ??.
13 Jun 2024 17:11:44
I’m beginning to think changing Sunak for Starmer is a bit like changing your tie when youve sh?t your pants! ??????.
13 Jun 2024 18:19:38
Superbly informative post Stokey. I'm proud of myself for reading the whole thing without thinking about what I need to add to tomorrow's shopping list! I must have been thinking about the Troy scene I guess.
13 Jun 2024 19:19:37
Legless, mate, it is odd how one’s mind wanders when writing about my time studying GRC at St David’s University College Lampeter in the 70s. Rather than shopping lists I was thinking about my classics professor Frank Newte and his lectures. An old batchelor, he locked himself in his room in protest at the College admitting female students. We used to titter when he spoke of homosexuality as “ the unspeakable vice of the Greeks”. We knew he was ex military and thought of him as a dusty old don from Oxford University specialising in Latin.
However, after his death, it turned out he was in your mob, military Intelligence at the start of the War then in 1942 or 43 was seconded to Bletchley Park as a code breaker. It was a secret he took with him to the grave and it only came out because his name was mentioned in a book by the historian Asa Brooks, revealing how vital his work was.
Just shows you doesn't it? Even the most apparently boring people have other lives which we know nothing about.
13 Jun 2024 19:44:45
I didn't read that.
13 Jun 2024 20:01:04
Gazzi, I meant the historian Asa Briggs, not Brooke’s mate!
13 Jun 2024 20:40:58
I'm about to take in 40 degrees stokey
Lovely jubilee.
13 Jun 2024 21:07:38
Those people working at Bletchley were the unsung heroes Stokey. They provided so much valuable Int from their work that it probably swung the tide of WW2 in our favour. Personally, my brain wasn't wired for that kind of Int work. I preferred the more 'human' side of it (see earlier post to Skegs below).
Without blowing smoke into your nether-region, I do admire and appreciate your intellect Stokey - when I can keep myself awake reading your posts.
13 Jun 2024 21:10:52
Where in the world are you DTP mate? ??.
13 Jun 2024 21:22:50
Legless, stokeys journey from Stoke to the city ground on a matchday is a book read in itself, depending on who is going with him and where he drops them off on the way and who he meets if said people don't make the journey.
Simple walk train to Nottingham, meet up with brother and friends, drink go to match, drink catch train, walk and drink again??.
13 Jun 2024 21:56:22
Back garden stokey ??.
13 Jun 2024 22:24:39
Agreed DTP! I'm the same as you - do it as simply as possible, have some beers in the process, and get out again without fuss. Stokey has a different mindset, but each to their own - Ex-Coppers I suppose!
14 Jun 2024 00:14:56
My missus wouldn't let me sit still long enough to read a page never mind a book
Prefer to see the fruits of my work
Be it at home or work
But love to go out to pub aswell
Best knowledge places in the world as long as they haven't turned into eateries and children's playgroups
The great British pub still enlists if you look.
14 Jun 2024 11:53:51
I can't confirm this myself, but my brother's told me that the lads on my estate, after doing National Service and being well feed, and physically fit. Went to the Goose fair, and give the boxers in the boxing booths a good hiding. ?.
14 Jun 2024 19:41:44
I'm 24 yr old ?.
14 Jun 2024 20:11:29
I know the routine 79 done it couple of times with ya mate ?.
14 Jun 2024 21:08:37
Good job Ben knew the way home apparently? ??
Great day that one.
14 Jun 2024 21:11:57
Ps that's the one where me you Ben and jolly played darts and Ben threw one that put the dart board and the lights and everything on the floor
360
Got a round of applause, if only had it on camera, but then you'd never expect it to happen.
14 Jun 2024 21:59:14
??? class days out worth every mile mate ?.