I’m afraid not many folks go to the masses anymore Spitty, religion is on the way out, although they still get a fair crowd of the older folks at the 12oc mass on Sundays in my area.;-)
There is a long running soap over here watched by the wife (she only follows the one so I can’t complain) anyway they are beginning to use a lot of American expressions in it, it’s not set in New York, it’s set in Dublin City! Do the writers think this is trendy or what? The latest I heard last night was “I’ll take a rain check on that” Christ what next “Get off the sidewalk I can’t get into the drug store”
The sound and smell of steam engines makes you want to grin from ear to ear
I go steam whenever there is a chance to do so and one that does stay in my mind was some years back I had the pleasure of going on the Whitby steam bus Elizabeth and still remember how powerful it was. To be able to do this was only thanks to mechanical enthusiasts that keep these old steam engine running despite the age and cost.
The VERY one,Jem! Richar’d one is black N green,but exactly the same engine…good man,so y’are! We didn’t take out the fire this morning…we’re both children at heart and Rich’s time left is limited…so sod it-we went out again! I did the work getting the trays clean,re-setting the fire,building up pressure [all things Rich instructed me in,I had no idea-never been on one,let alone DRIVEN one,before. So we went around the island,then over the causeway,along through two villages,even up a hill [I was REALLY impressed at how effortless it makes hills seem] and returned just in time as the causeway was just starting to flood…BRILLIANT trime…I was grinning like a loon most of the way,imagining Miss Malone’s barely-clad boobs there with me…poop,poooooop!
Yes it’s a good job you don’t have to listen to me Dublin accent Gummy, you’d never figure out what I’d be saying, there are only a few real Dubs left now, In another two generations the accent will have disappeared for good, in the meantime I’m hanging in there with the last breath.
I can of course change my accent at the drop of a hat, like when I had classes on goldsmithing in many different counties up to a few years ago, that was a nice little earner for a retired chap, I used to use my Richard Harris accent for them jobs, but the pupils copped on when I accidently left my cake out in the rain. However I feel most comfortable using me own native Dublin accent, and one must be faithful to one’s origins.
“MacArthur’s Park is melting in the dark
All the sweet, green icing flowing down
Someone left the cake out in the rain
I don’t think that I can take it
'Cause it took so long to bake it
And I’ll never have that recipe again
Oh no!”
All the old street games have gone now, marbles, skipping, releavio, kick the can, jack stones, beds, the moul, scutting buses, etc.,everything moves on and one wonders where the human race is heading, my guess is that we reach a peak then the whole thing collapses caused by some huge disaster, then someone creeps out from under a rock and we all start from scratch once again, how many chances have we been given to get on with each other and still we keep making a balls to it, sooner of later the big fella will get cheesed off with the whole game and blow us all away forever.:shock:
Ah the smell of anthracite burning in a traction engine’s firebox. The gentle hiss of steam escaping from a sleeping giant. Full power at zero revs.
What force of supernatural magic is this?
Those were the exact words I was searching for when being near a steam engine. Mind you being at Speedway also gave you that same magical smell and sound. I had years of attendance bars and loved every race until I saw Tink Maynard killed.
RJ has arxed me to stand in-he didn’t say stand in what-so here goze;
There was a young lady from Rhyll,
Who gave every fellow a thrill;
“She’s marvellous” they cried
As they queued for a ride;
But weren’t so happy when they got the bill.
Now,BEFORE yez all go bang;I’ve been busier than a really busy thing today.
Been for another run around rural lanes in Rich’s traction engine,taken another mate for his chemo treatment,sorted out the hassle over a will between two warring factions [so much for sisterhood!]helped a nearby neighbour place support beams ready for his new snooker room’s roof and fully serviced our local midwife’s car…yes,honestly…and I’m not long home,knackered,a bit uneasy at how fragile Richard actually is-and it seems the runs with the traction engine may be his last…his cancer is MUCH more advanced and severe than he’s been letting on…so I feel a bit horrible,ergo,that silly limerick,which was straight ‘off the bat’,so-to-speak.
So-cheer me up,possums [!] How goes the world with you lot???
He’s been described a sleeping giant
Some say he’s quite defiant? [never!]
But when he starts a puffing out some steam
He just keep stokin up the fires
Roarin round the hills and shires
And beware the cars that find themselves between
He’s just a big big hearted chook
Mends cars and runs amuck
Steps in and holds the sisterhood apart
Taxis all the sick around
Staggers homeward homeward bound
And dreams of Molly and her big big double heart!
He’s just Pugsy with a ‘y’,
and we don’t know the reason why!
But his good deeds are all heard of round about
He’s as shy as shy can be
And says “ shucks, no that weren’t me
I just bump into all the trouble when I’m out?
Don’t worry chums I’m not going to write poetry, strictly prose today…
I have in my mind a picture inspired by Jem, of a future for the planet consisting of an apocalyptic event born of the Earth’s current torpid miasma of ,largely uncaring and unseen consequences.
More cheerful stuff later, possibly.
Pug you can give me back my coat & satchel you’ve been
Keep up the good work Pug as the do say “what goes around comes around” or summat like that. Who knows you could come back as a Flying Scotsman spare part.
I also have a picture in my mind that Jem conjured up.
Many happy hours spent playing beds (hopscotch) which was energetic and educational. You learnt to count, throw straight and survival techniques as if you fell over, the ground was harder than you and hurt like hell…
Same with marbles you learned never play the bigger kids as they cheated.
Nice one Gummy, that’ll be our Pug sure enough.
Your a decent man Pug and you will be rewarded for you kindness and consideration, if not in this world then surely in the next.
You can now stand out of whatever you were standing in, tink yo.
Who or what the hell is Cadenza? was he one of the three musketeers?
Some of us had to leave school at 14, we ain’t all edumacated college boys.
I feel a short verse coming on about my short spell on a messenger bike.
In days of old when boys were bold
And the messenger bike was invented
They carried their load along the road
And went their way contented.
Yes contented, and all for the princely sum of 25 bob a week. Begs the question “What happened to contentment?” It’s all gimme gimme now, and when they get it they still want more. I can never figure it out, I mean when is enough not enough?
Maybe they think like Eartha Kitt when she sang “If I can’t take it with me when I go I just ain’t gonna go”
God rest her soul, she died on Christmas day 2008, not a bad day to go if you want to be remembered for longer, and what celebrity doesn’t want that.
