A strangely couched phrase, for a complicated subject. During WW 2, I used to laugh when I read that Montgomery said he was a simple soldier, he was about as simple as a Chubb lock. I, on the other hand, am a simple fellow, who, when he is not on top of a subject, goes… Continue reading Random Thoughts, 24a, Why Is Inflation?
Month: August 2007
Belfast 1946 to ’50 in order, Chicanery in The Old Days
In spite of what follows, I still stand by what I have previously said, working for the Council is still preferable to direction from Central Government. Not only for the worker who has immediate contacts and sees the work in detail, but for the public he serves. When I was looking for my first engineering… Continue reading Belfast 1946 to ’50 in order, Chicanery in The Old Days
Belfast 1946 to 50 in order. Change should not be inspirational
It Is A Prescription For Disaster I worked with a man, Fred, who, upon demob, took a temporary job to feed himself and his family. He became a civilian clerk to the Royal Army Service Corp. The barracks where he worked was a ‘Holding Company’, somewhere to take soldiers in between periods of active service.… Continue reading Belfast 1946 to 50 in order. Change should not be inspirational
Royal Navy 1941 to 46 in order, Glenlea and the Doodle Bug
My mother was living in a house called Glenlea in Dulwich. It was a huge house standing within its own grounds and had been taken over by whatever Department of the War Office was responsible for receiving, training and returning Dutch escapees from German occupied Holland, who wished to become saboteurs and Resistance Fighters. A… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to 46 in order, Glenlea and the Doodle Bug
Royal navy 1941 to 46 in order, Hypnotism
Since my Naval days I have never been remotely interested in hypnotism as entertainment. I would go so far as to say that I disapprove of the practice. When my daughters were young and we were on holiday, on more than one occasion they and Sophie went to the theatre to see a hypnotist and,… Continue reading Royal navy 1941 to 46 in order, Hypnotism
I Answer to Comments on Random Thoughts 22
Before replying to the comments, I would like to tell of an occurrence which has a bearing. A friend of very long standing, started life as a tea planter in Assam,, only to have to return to takeover the family business. Within a short time he had expanded what had been a fairly large grocery… Continue reading I Answer to Comments on Random Thoughts 22
Randon Thoughts 24, Dont believe evertyhing!
Don’t Believe a word they say dear!’ was something my grandmother said to me regularly. She was a tough old bird with the heart of a Raspberry Ruffle – you would have liked her. Yet, clearly not new, I still am taken off guard by the sheer level of current deception, Take waiting times for… Continue reading Randon Thoughts 24, Dont believe evertyhing!
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Living Ashore
I don’t think I ever entirely accepted the Navy philosophy of calling any accommodation, be it a house or a concrete bottomed wreck, a ship. I could never thought of myself as being ashore when I went out the gate. In fact I thought the whole concept childish and foolish, but it was surprising how… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Living Ashore
Random Thoughts 23 , Booze
I come from a family that thought it was wicked even on Christmas Day to drink more than one Sherry. I was first introduced to real alcohol when I joined the Navy and I never turned back. I find the subject fascinating because it has so many facets, there is the pleasure of drinking, there… Continue reading Random Thoughts 23 , Booze
Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Teaching Navy Style
The examination techniques we adopted at the Royal Naval Signal School should have been the norm for the Country’s education system in genera . Education is not a case of knowing information, but knowing where to find it and how to apply it. The Leydene examination organisers had obviously taken this theory to heart. We,… Continue reading Royal Navy 1941 to ’46 in order, Teaching Navy Style