Is it George Orwell’s 1984, or Craig Phillips biography?
one guess only spittie not two - you’re splitting your definitives
I’ll go for George Orwell 1984 - I win!!
Winning the battle over self
Seriously the toughest battle one is likely to endure & one in which we normally don’t win.
Can you identify this
“No one would have believed in the last years of the nineteenth century that this world was being watched keenly and closely by intelligence greater than man’s and yet as mortal as his own; that as men busied themselves about their various concerns they were scrutinised and studied, perhaps almost as narrowly as a man with a microscope might scrutinise the transient creatures that swarm and multiply in a drop of water.”
It was our George well done, have you read "Down & out in Paris & London?
I love this passage concerning toast…
Dirtiness is inherent in hotels and restaurants, because sound food is
sacrificed to punctuality and smartness. The hotel employee is too busy
getting food ready to remember that it is meant to be eaten. A meal is
simply ‘UNE COMMANDE’ to him, just as a man dying of cancer is simply ‘a
case’ to the doctor. A customer orders, for example, a piece of toast.
Somebody, pressed with work in a cellar deep underground, has to prepare
it. How can he stop and say to himself, ‘This toast is to be eaten–I
must make it eatable’? All he knows is that it must look right and must be
ready in three minutes. Some large drops of sweat fall from his forehead on
to the toast. Why should he worry? Presently the toast falls among the
filthy sawdust on the floor. Why trouble to make a new piece? It is much
quicker to wipe the sawdust off. On the way upstairs the toast falls again,
butter side down. Another wipe is all it needs. And so with everything. The
only food at the Hotel X which was ever prepared cleanly was the staff’s,
and the PATRON’S. The maxim, repeated by everyone, was: ‘Look out for the
PATRON, and as for the clients, S’EN F–PAS MAL!’ Everywhere in the
service quarters dirt festered–a secret vein of dirt, running through
the great garish hotel like the intestines through a man’s body.
you go first spittie !
I think it is War of the Worlds.
I think you are right!
Correct. too easy huh.
how about…
‘Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…’
I can’t be sure if that was Wuthering heights or Jane Eyre RJ, but I’m pleased I got the first two right even if it was too late.
I can’t remember ever battling with meself, you are what you are and that’s it, “Take me or leave me and let things take their course” As I said to the missus many moons ago, I’m sure she didn’t regret it.
And now for a real problem.
I can't do my bally bottom button up,
Can't do my bally bottom button up,
And it's so tight and it serves me right,
Must have eaten too much grub last night,
I can't do my bally bottom button up,
And though you think it's fun,
What's the use of buttoning the other bally buttons,
When the bally bottom button's undone.
What's the use of buttoning the other bally buttons,
When the bally bottom button's undone.:-D
(Ian Wallace)
I can’t do my Belly Button Up
You might think I’m talking Guff
I really can’t
Cos the Bastards full of Fluff.
“I’ve Been Everywhere”
I was totin’ my pack along the dusty Winnemucca road,
When along came a semi with a high an’ canvas-covered load.
“If you’re goin’ to Winnemucca, Mack, with me you can ride.”
And so I climbed into the cab and then I settled down inside.
He asked me if I’d seen a road with so much dust and sand.
And I said, “Listen, I’ve traveled every road in this here land!”
[Chorus:]
I’ve been everywhere, man.
I’ve been everywhere, man.
Crossed the desert’s bare, man.
I’ve breathed the mountain air, man.
Of travel I’ve had my share, man.
I’ve been everywhere.
I’ve been to:
Reno, Chicago, Fargo, Minnesota,
Buffalo, Toronto, Winslow, Sarasota,
Wichita, Tulsa, Ottawa, Oklahoma,
Tampa, Panama, Mattawa, La Paloma,
Bangor, Baltimore, Salvador, Amarillo,
Tocapillo, Baranquilla, and Perdilla, I’m a killer.
[Chorus]
I’ve been to:
Boston, Charleston, Dayton, Louisiana,
Washington, Houston, Kingston, Texarkana,
Monterey, Faraday, Santa Fe, Tallapoosa,
Glen Rock, Black Rock, Little Rock, Oskaloosa,
Tennessee to Tennesse Chicopee, Spirit Lake,
Grand Lake, Devils Lake, Crater Lake, for Pete’s sake.
[Chorus]
I’ve been to:
Louisville, Nashville, Knoxville, Ombabika,
Schefferville, Jacksonville, Waterville, Costa Rica,
Pittsfield, Springfield, Bakersfield, Shreveport,
Hackensack, Cadillac, Fond du Lac, Davenport,
Idaho, Jellico, Argentina, Diamantina,
Pasadena, Catalina, see what I mean-a.
[Chorus]
I’ve been to:
Pittsburgh, Parkersburg, Gravelbourg, Colorado,
Ellensburg, Rexburg, Vicksburg, Eldorado,
Larimore, Atmore, Haverstraw, Chatanika,
Chaska, Nebraska, Alaska, Opelika,
Baraboo, Waterloo, Kalamazoo, Kansas City,
Sioux City, Cedar City, Dodge City, what a pity.
[Chorus]
(I’ve been everywhere)
No you ain’t, what about Lower Gornal?
Nor Ballyfermot either, eh Spitty.
On the road to Mandalay, wasn’t that a song?
Reminds me of the campaign of ’68, there was was I carrying full battle kit trudging through the Burma jungle, swiping the Mosquitoes off me tender youthful neck, man eating Frogs swirling under me feet in the poisonous swamp water, Spiders as big as Octopus snapping at me head from overhanging branches, painted natives carrying deadly blowpipes watching me every move through the tall thick reeds, but was I scared? not a bit of it, Although I did get a fright when I fell out of the bed ducking an Anaconda.
Ok I think those other two buggers are trying to skirt around this one - was it Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier??
I nearly got it, but was distracted by a Rhythm Stick.
Morning all. I think we deserve recognition for our efforts in this reading of classics revival.
I’m not used to so many responses to my posts these days, so the ones from us Musketeers are doubly welcome.
Well, Jem you’re on the right track with Mandalay, but totally wrong, it’s Manderly…I like your dismissal of the angst in some of us , but we are who we are as you say. Give thanks for being different, though speaking as one who can’t tell his alto from his oboe, what do I know?“And now for a real problem” I luvvit, there goes a man happy in his own skin. Regarding the campaign of 68, by my reckoning you’d have been 22, was that national service? Oh and blowpipes, wrong continent,lol.
Spitfire . consider yosself lucky you can see your belly button, i haven’t been able to anything under my waist for years. “I’ve been everywhere” Spitty but that sure is a long one.
Gummy , Rebecca is spot on.
Rhythm stick (NB no VOWELS) was it ELVIS COSTELLO (Who’d of guessed his real name was Declan Patrick MacManus)
Now some more of me poetry
A MONOLOGUE.
FRIENDS
A friend is someone who
Comes into your house
Sits on your favourite chair
Drinks your beer
Grunts and leaves,
Adding when they leave
Without so much as a
If you please
“Don’t suppose you could do this for me”
“I’m in a bit of a
Fix you see”
Or is a friend is someone
Always there
And
After the passing
Of the years
Shares your joy
And your tears
Knows when your down
When you pretend
To be a clown
Remembers your birthday
Though it was last Tuesday
Takes you out to lunch
When he has a hunch
That all is not well
He’s the one you can tell
When Your day is
Pure hell
He keeps all your secrets
He thinks
you’re the greatest
And raves over your skills
What’s your idea of a friend?
Yes I got it wrong, that’s one down for me.
Well I was on the right track, I knew it was one of those period every word perfect books, Daft knee wrote in the same style as Steve Austin and the Bronco sisters, furthermore none of them were ever on the road to Mandalay, so put that in your woggle and wiggle it.;-)
What is a good friend? good question RJ. everyone has their own ideas on that one. I suppose it would depend on what the individual requires in a friend, if for example you could buy a friend like you buy a new jacket what would you be looking for, and how much of yourself would you be prepared to give for it?
High on my list would be loyalty followed by good humour and truthfulness in matters serious. We all have had and probably still have many friends in our lifetime, but I have to come across all slushy now and say the best friend I have and always had is the missus, she’s got all I ever needed in a friend, we sometimes don’t realise this and think of ‘Friends’ as something completely different, something outside of a relationship altogether.
Drinking buddies are a different kettle of fish, but after a while you get to know who’s who and I suppose those who understand you and your ways become closer to you than others, like when you first go to school you will always find someone you will click with. Then you have the loners, very hard to figure them out and too much work involved trying to break through, you soon cop on and leave them alone which is probably what they want anyway.
Selfishness and serious liars are probably the biggest reasons for the breaking up of friendships, in my opinion.