You might have heard about Casper the cat in Plymouth, who regularly goes for a jaunt on the number 3 service.
Mr Scribbles and I have a cat who disappears for most of the day. She's quite an independent free-spirited little Miss, and so one day I fully expect to see a piece on Midlands Today about a black and white fluffy cat who spends her days propping up the bar in the Crown and Anchor drinking Bacardi Breezers and cadging fags off people. That'll be our Betsy.
In honour of Mr Harry Patch, Britain's last living Tommy, who died recently.
Tommy
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o'beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's ``Thank you, Mister Atkins,'' when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's ``Thank you, Mr. Atkins,'' when the band begins to play.
I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.
Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap; An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy how's yer soul?" But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll, The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll, O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.
We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints:
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind,"
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir," when there's trouble in the wind.
You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country," when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
But Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool - you bet that Tommy sees!
Rudyard Kipling
Birmingham weather over the next four days
DAY 1: Heavy Rain Shower
DAY 2: Light Rain Shower
DAY 3: Sunny Intervals (in between the rain)
DAY 4: Light Rain Shower
Been to B&Q today 'cause I've decided to build an ark.
The other week when we had a heatwave (British version, with lots of rain) I saw an expert on telly saying that he was more worried about the amount of people who would die of the heat than he was about the amount of people who would die of swine flu. Now I've just seen an expert on telly saying swine flu could be a bigger threat to national security than terrorism. Worst case scenario 30% of the population might get it, with a possible 65,000 deaths - I just hope that they don't mean all at the same time because that could mess the country up somewhat. Although, looking on the bright side, at least the traffic would be lighter.
I live in Birmingham and the bloody thing is everywhere. For once, I'm not with those who think this is media hype. The thing is so infectious from where I'm sitting the 30% figure looks an underestimation.
I do wish however that the media would stop saying in such comforting tones that the only people dying from swine flu are the ones with underlying health conditions. I shouldn't imagine that's of much comfort to people with underlying health conditions.
Until today, the heatwave was pretty crap here in Birmingham. The weather succeeded in being very wet, dull and muggy, which is all the bad stuff about a heatwave with none of the good. It is very odd to drive to work in fog and then have to run to the office from the car being pelted with rain harder than pebbles and hotter than my morning shower.
Today was an improvement. It was actually sunny and it was heartening to see sunrays bounce off those cars - my office overlooks a carpark, which is alright, but I'd prefer a lake or the ocean maybe. I didn't actually get to experience the sun until I got home at 6pm. It's a very sad thing only to get to look at sunlight and not actually be in it.
I note that the year Wimbledon gets a rain-proof roof-thingy, it turns out to be hot and sunny. Ha! Weather has sense of humour.
