Nice gesture to servicemen!
perhaps there is a case for a misty-eyed old Cold War farts sub-section? I never wore my just-in-case uniform except for fitting, but a lot of us did something like my:
Nicosia during 1960 end of EOKA then Turks v. Greeks Round 1,
Guetersloh when Czecho was invaded,
all the way up and down Eastern England moving home average every three years for 41 years, trying to teach aircrew some Met. [medal needed for that?]
HQ 1 Gp for the Falklands War
JHQ for the Balkans ...........
yes we volunteered, yes it was well paid, yes the perks were great but some of us at least believed we were doing a public SERVICE.
On a lighter note I too gave preferential treatment. After failing to get the requisite slack handful of A levels for University, I did a 6 month stint as a bus conductor [remember them?] on a big red double decker on the south coast.
Any likely looking girl with low-cut top and lots of leg was sent upstairs with a wink from me, and travelled free. The trick was to be at either at the bottom or top of the stairs as they left: there was often a nice view.
When the Ticket Inspector invaded he usually only checked the lower deck. If he ascended, the girl had, of course, only just boarded. Of course.
Those were the days.
Nicosia during 1960 end of EOKA then Turks v. Greeks Round 1,
Guetersloh when Czecho was invaded,
all the way up and down Eastern England moving home average every three years for 41 years, trying to teach aircrew some Met. [medal needed for that?]
HQ 1 Gp for the Falklands War
JHQ for the Balkans ...........
yes we volunteered, yes it was well paid, yes the perks were great but some of us at least believed we were doing a public SERVICE.
On a lighter note I too gave preferential treatment. After failing to get the requisite slack handful of A levels for University, I did a 6 month stint as a bus conductor [remember them?] on a big red double decker on the south coast.
Any likely looking girl with low-cut top and lots of leg was sent upstairs with a wink from me, and travelled free. The trick was to be at either at the bottom or top of the stairs as they left: there was often a nice view.
When the Ticket Inspector invaded he usually only checked the lower deck. If he ascended, the girl had, of course, only just boarded. Of course.
Those were the days.
Last edited by langleybaston; 18th Jun 2013 at 16:59.
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About 10 yrs ago I was on duty in Rome for a couple of days. Booked to fly home on BA early on day 3. Ran into a tricky situation late on day 2, which included the theft of my wallet.
With the help of the Italian Air Force I reached the Airport later on day 3 and bumped into a Flt Sgt who had been in our party but had been scheduled to RTB later than us. I explained what had happened to me.
BA ground staff insisted that I needed to pay for my flight back to Blighty because I had "no showed" earlier. Trouble was - no wallet. Flt Sgt, bless him, said not to worry and he paid my fare with his Access Card.
When I boarded, cabin crew had heard about my incident and upgraded me to 1st class. Poor old Flt Sgt was still stuck in cattle class!
Sometimes life really, just isn't fair!
Rgds SOS
P.S. I did pay him back when I got home.
With the help of the Italian Air Force I reached the Airport later on day 3 and bumped into a Flt Sgt who had been in our party but had been scheduled to RTB later than us. I explained what had happened to me.
BA ground staff insisted that I needed to pay for my flight back to Blighty because I had "no showed" earlier. Trouble was - no wallet. Flt Sgt, bless him, said not to worry and he paid my fare with his Access Card.
When I boarded, cabin crew had heard about my incident and upgraded me to 1st class. Poor old Flt Sgt was still stuck in cattle class!
Sometimes life really, just isn't fair!
Rgds SOS
P.S. I did pay him back when I got home.
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About 10 yrs ago I was on duty in Rome for a couple of days. Booked to fly home on BA early on day 3. Ran into a tricky situation late on day 2, which included the theft of my wallet.
With the help of the Italian Air Force I reached the Airport later on day 3 and bumped into a Flt Sgt who had been in our party but had been scheduled to RTB later than us. I explained what had happened to me.
BA ground staff insisted that I needed to pay for my flight back to Blighty because I had "no showed" earlier. Trouble was - no wallet. Flt Sgt, bless him, said not to worry and he paid my fare with his Access Card.
When I boarded, cabin crew had heard about my incident and upgraded me to 1st class. Poor old Flt Sgt was still stuck in cattle class!
Sometimes life really, just isn't fair!
Rgds SOS
P.S. I did pay him back when I got home.
With the help of the Italian Air Force I reached the Airport later on day 3 and bumped into a Flt Sgt who had been in our party but had been scheduled to RTB later than us. I explained what had happened to me.
BA ground staff insisted that I needed to pay for my flight back to Blighty because I had "no showed" earlier. Trouble was - no wallet. Flt Sgt, bless him, said not to worry and he paid my fare with his Access Card.
When I boarded, cabin crew had heard about my incident and upgraded me to 1st class. Poor old Flt Sgt was still stuck in cattle class!
Sometimes life really, just isn't fair!
Rgds SOS
P.S. I did pay him back when I got home.
as for the young lady, well I don't know what happened.
Last edited by NutLoose; 18th Jun 2013 at 19:12.
I can not follow any of the exotic locations, but, as Beagle related as the OP, I remember a really surprising event when "I were a lad". A Sergeant, and sent to Nottingham on the first firemans strike. After a couple of weeks, we were stopped one day, in our Green Goddess whilst on a "training run", by a bunch of striking firemen. Expecting trouble we were all surprised to be invited to the local WMC that evening for a couple of beers. We went, they were great fun to be with, no animosity, an appreciation that we were doing what we were ordered to and some very helpful advice about getting around the local area. None of us were allowed to pay for a beer all night, it was a treat. I like to think that some of that was to say thanks for keeping the fire cover going, a lot of them didn't want the strike in the first place.
A few years later, whilst at Waddington, and with the secondary duty as OIC the Waddington Golf Club ( Yep, a Sgt as OIC, we had no Officers who would volunteer), I was able to invite the Nottingham Fire Brigade Golf Society for a match. The Après "cross country hockey" was most enjoyable, with Food from the mess and free beer all evening. Giving way to the taxiing Vulcans on the Third hole was a novelty for them, and we all enjoyed the day. I just remembered the kindness shown to me previously.
It's easy to criticise, the likes of the train conductor Beagle talked about. I think his attitude was "I can't do much myself, but I can upgrade someone who would welcome the comfort". It's a shame some feel that putting your neck on the line is not worthy of such treatment. Me, I reckon the conductor has it about right. Respect to him for that.
Smudge
A few years later, whilst at Waddington, and with the secondary duty as OIC the Waddington Golf Club ( Yep, a Sgt as OIC, we had no Officers who would volunteer), I was able to invite the Nottingham Fire Brigade Golf Society for a match. The Après "cross country hockey" was most enjoyable, with Food from the mess and free beer all evening. Giving way to the taxiing Vulcans on the Third hole was a novelty for them, and we all enjoyed the day. I just remembered the kindness shown to me previously.
It's easy to criticise, the likes of the train conductor Beagle talked about. I think his attitude was "I can't do much myself, but I can upgrade someone who would welcome the comfort". It's a shame some feel that putting your neck on the line is not worthy of such treatment. Me, I reckon the conductor has it about right. Respect to him for that.
Smudge
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Irony
Interesting development BEagle. You talk about childish attitudes yet your response to views that differ from yours is to "pull the thread". A bit like an 8 yr old getting beat at football who picks the ball up and marches home with it just because he owns in.
Tom Joad picked up on a link I too had made where you commented on this thread about unpleasant and irrelevant posts yet your own toxic views of the Scots are made all too clear on the Scottish UDI thread with your unwarranted criticism of anything North of the border.
Ironic yet somewhat surprising that you think such extremes would go unnoticed. Personally, my money's on you pulling this thread to save some face.
Tom Joad picked up on a link I too had made where you commented on this thread about unpleasant and irrelevant posts yet your own toxic views of the Scots are made all too clear on the Scottish UDI thread with your unwarranted criticism of anything North of the border.
Ironic yet somewhat surprising that you think such extremes would go unnoticed. Personally, my money's on you pulling this thread to save some face.
I think this thread has certainly identified some of the precious ones who are unable to differentiate between child-like and tongue-in-cheek remarks.
Last edited by Haraka; 19th Jun 2013 at 05:32.
Thread Starter
Nope, OutlawPete, I won't delete the thread.
Feel free to dribble on about unilateral declarations of independence if you wish on that tedious thread; however, it's never going to happen. Whether you're a 'soft southern shandy drinker' or someone living north of Hadrian's Wall, you're British. Those of us living in Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Wessex accepted the benefits of union well over a thousand years ago; a pity that Salmond and his ilk are so far behind the times.
Toxic views of Scots? Nope - only toxic views of 'nationalists' who spout nonsense about UDI. Who are almost as bad as 'English' EDL nationalists.
Enjoy the midges.....and sorry about Wallace. Although that was 700 years ago!
And now, back to the original thread.
Feel free to dribble on about unilateral declarations of independence if you wish on that tedious thread; however, it's never going to happen. Whether you're a 'soft southern shandy drinker' or someone living north of Hadrian's Wall, you're British. Those of us living in Northumbria, Mercia, East Anglia, Essex, Kent, Sussex and Wessex accepted the benefits of union well over a thousand years ago; a pity that Salmond and his ilk are so far behind the times.
Toxic views of Scots? Nope - only toxic views of 'nationalists' who spout nonsense about UDI. Who are almost as bad as 'English' EDL nationalists.
Enjoy the midges.....and sorry about Wallace. Although that was 700 years ago!
And now, back to the original thread.
Last edited by BEagle; 19th Jun 2013 at 05:43.
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Apologies BEagle. My intention was not to upset you or draw you into a debate on Scottish politics but more to illustrate the double standards seen on this thread.
As you said, back to the thread.
As you said, back to the thread.
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Sorry Beagle but you have been measured and found to be wanting. Your op complains about rude and childsh comments. Withouth question given the evidence of your own words hypocritical by any standard. The debate that you so rudely condone is a democratic process. That you should seek to deny its legitimacy says a lot about your condition. Thankfully there are others on the thread who take a more considered and educated view. If you find it tedious then hey dont read or comment on it it really is that easy. Whatevere you choose to do please refrain from your derogatory comments, they are offensive and do you no service.
You have been measured and found to be wanting
please refrain from your derogatory comments, they are offensive
when flying from Edmonton to UK via Toronto. Sadly the Toronto UK leg was fully booked, so it was back to cattle for me
And edited to add:
WRT to the OP, I think that it's a very nice touch from the Train Manager. Good on him.
Last edited by Roland Pulfrew; 19th Jun 2013 at 09:42.
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Whilst eating Breakfast with my Right Seater, on an early Sunday Morning in some Bar, - including a few 'debrief' beers. I attempted to pay my bill, but someone else in the crowd had already arranged its payment.....totally anonymous I might add. Made for a refreshing change given the carnage that we had witnessed (and inflicted) for the pre-seeding 8 hours...and would return to later that night.
Last edited by 39 Squadron; 19th Jun 2013 at 09:21.
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Only last week I was travelling from Glasgow - Bristol on EZY jet. Wearing No2s and having been saluted by two homeless folks in the morning (!) myself and my Army colleague (dressed in combats) reported for the flight and were informed that we should occupy seats 1A & 1C. The check in lady was also despatching the flt and made sure we were all ok. On boarding we were the only folks on the front row and when one of the other pax tried to move after take off, he was told to sit back down as the front seats were for VIPs only!!!
No drinks or food (it was EZY after all), but a pleasureable flight and a good gossip with the stewardess during the flt!
Jamesman
No drinks or food (it was EZY after all), but a pleasureable flight and a good gossip with the stewardess during the flt!
Jamesman
Thread Starter
The debate that you so rudely condone is a democratic process.
Negotiated independence, such as in Africa in the 1950s and 60s is something entirely different.
Haraka, too right, me old....
And remember this quote from elsewhere (not mine):
Porridge is what you eat if you can't understand the potato.
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Roland of course in my opinion that is what we do we post our opinions. Now you can dress this up whatever way you want fella, but if you read Beagle's post you will clearly see he was in disdain by agreement of childish and rude comments. As somone once said what has been written has been written. And just in case you were in any doubt yes in my opinion he has been found to be hypocritical.
Last edited by TomJoad; 19th Jun 2013 at 11:27.
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Unilateral Declaration of Independence is far from democratic - it borders on the treasonable. In any case, I condemn debate about UDI, I emphatically do NOT condone it!
Negotiated independence, such as in Africa in the 1950s and 60s is something entirely different ....rtive!
Negotiated independence, such as in Africa in the 1950s and 60s is something entirely different ....rtive!
Last edited by TomJoad; 19th Jun 2013 at 11:54.
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20 years or so ago, the boss and I flew to Brunei for the Jungle Warfare Instructors Course.
We strapped in with BA and played with the vents and read the bumph as the seats around us filled up. I felt a nudge; 'I need to take a leak' he hissed, so I shuffled out and off he went. A hostess approached; "Are you RAF?" she asked ".. if you like, I have one seat upfront that I'd be glad to let you have.. my dad was in the RAF". A quick combat appreciation was required. I glanced towards the occupied cubicle a few metres away and towards the front.. time was running out. I nodded quickly. Times dulls my memory but I like to think he appreciated the small bottle of champagne I sent back at breakfast. Judging from my subsequent 6442 though, I don't think so.
We strapped in with BA and played with the vents and read the bumph as the seats around us filled up. I felt a nudge; 'I need to take a leak' he hissed, so I shuffled out and off he went. A hostess approached; "Are you RAF?" she asked ".. if you like, I have one seat upfront that I'd be glad to let you have.. my dad was in the RAF". A quick combat appreciation was required. I glanced towards the occupied cubicle a few metres away and towards the front.. time was running out. I nodded quickly. Times dulls my memory but I like to think he appreciated the small bottle of champagne I sent back at breakfast. Judging from my subsequent 6442 though, I don't think so.