Hmm, Iraq. Not a good place to be. And back in 1951-53? Well I shouldn't think it was party time then, either (although there was probably more of it standing in the vertical). But my dad was sent there to do his National Service and look, that's him, on the right, preparing to jog the short distance to Baghdad one sunny afternoon after, as he always used to tell me they did, frying some eggs on the pavement (for years this appeared to be the only anecdote that arose from two years in the RAF).
He didn't expect to end up in Iraq, as his brief notes from the time in question explain,"It's really strange and funny trying to work out what your destination is when no one tells you where you are going."
Before they knew it a bunch of lads having fun at RAF Lytham (handy for days out at Blackpool, apparently) were bunged on an Avro York plane and, via Malta and Egypt, landed up at RAF Habbaniya. The photograph is one of a bulk load brought back from me old mums. Told her I'd scan the best ones in and type up dad's words of wisdom for all the world to see - a process I started today. So, if you like pictures of short bespectacled men in skimpy military clothing, including knee-length socks, visit my flickr page.
The Adelphi may well have a pivotal role to play in Hull's live music scene but it's not the kind of place you expect - nor particularly want - to spend your Sunday afternoon. Still, with Hull FC's victory over Hunslet a foregone conclusion and a general lack of cash to fund alternative excitement I thought I should take up my invitation to a showcase of up 'n' coming young talent that's nurtured at a music project based at the Ainthorpe Youth Centre. And very good Beef, Forever Awake and The 303s were too. Special mention has to be made of The 303s drummer Chris, who's an amazing little kit-bashing dynamo. If I've started feeling old at gigs of late I felt like a geriatric great-great-grandfather watching all these young gents in action. Most amusing - but, frankly, a little bit weird - moment was seeing and hearing The 303s launch into their cover of Primal Scream's Rocks watched by some very proud parents - Dealers keep dealing, Thieves keep thievin, Whores keep whorin, Junkies keep scorin, Trade is on the meat rack, Strip joints full of hunchbacks, Bitches keep bitchin, Clap keeps itchin. Well, what did you expect was going to happen when you bought him that guitar? Huh?
Most April Fools nonsense bypassed me but I did enjoy Google's attempt which will, sadly, have been missed by those that rely on the office to provide a Monday-Friday connection to this interweb thing. Still, those that did feel the need to Google on a Sunday were met by a tempting ad that promised...
New! Get FREE breakthrough broadband with Google TiSP (BETA).
Fantastic stuff was to be had on the How TiSP Works page:
Google TiSP (BETA) is a fully functional, end-to-end system that provides in-home wireless access by connecting your commode-based TiSP wireless router to one of thousands of TiSP Access Nodes via fiber-optic cable strung through your local municipal sewage lines.Excellent effort.
2 comments:
I was in the Royal Air force too, travel the world they said. I got half an hour in Northern ireland and an hour in Germany. Taught me how to drink copiously though.
Planes and uniforms, not so sure about. But drinking copiously, now you're talking!
Post a Comment