Grumpy Old Men

[Eric_Olthwaite 0]

Has everyone seen this? I love it...

 

http://www.grumpieroldmen.co.uk/forum/phpBB210/index.php

[nidnoyham 30]

Dunno why, but my son bought me the book for Christmas. I will insist he reads it after me, to get an insight into how I view the world from my 37 year advantage.

[scarface 0]

Funny site Eric. Nice one.

[monkeyman 1,604]

I wondered where they went after they logged off here.

 

be seeing you

grumpyman

[nidnoyham 30]

I should be at LHR now, checking in for the TG917. But my dog sitter, is too busy to look after Herbert, so here I am. A Grumpy Old Man.

 

Think I'll be grumpy about the schools nowadays- Yep that will do.

 

My garden backs onto the school I went to 43 years ago. Much has changed, I'm not just talking about the Air-raid Shelters being taken away and replaced with tennis courts- Tennis ! We never played tennis at school, that was for posh people. Football and cricket were the two sports for us. In my day the school was Boys and Girls, now it's mixed, a great mistake. My son argues that if it wasn't mixed all the boys would be queer. It's as well he wasn't around to say that 43 years ago. In those days, it was illegal to be a Homosexual, now it's illegal to critisize one. Being Gay,meant you were care free and happy.

 

We had an all male staff, most of whom had seen National Service and Combat in WWII. This gave them a sense of discipline, no one was addressed by anything, but their second name, now the opposite is the norm. Teachers now want to be your freind, but as my Dad always said " Familiarity, breeds contempt " As well meaning as it is, if we had a young female teacher calling us by our first names, the lesson would have to be bloody interesting for us to learn anything. We took it for granted that men and women were different- they still are, but you musn't say so.

 

Race, was the whole of Humanity together, now its everyone divided. I had no idea, that I was of a different race, from the two Scotsmen living either side of me, on our Council Estate, their kids looked, spoke like me and were just as daft. In later years we all went off to Wembley to support England. All that time they were "Foreign"

 

We had the Ultimate Deterrent too - the cane, I got it for talking in class, sodding about, forgeting my homework and throwing snowballs at the Prefects at lunch time- see, its still in my mind 40 years later... crime and punisment.

 

There were assemblies every day too. A few hymns, prayer and the Head telling us that the latest craze of spitting in the playground, must stop. Conkers are only allowed in the playground, not in class. Once you had all been told, there was no excuse for doing either..

 

School dinners were horrible, but nutritious. Now it's Burgers and chips or Chicken Dippers. They were sometimes the only decent meal a kid had then, probably is now I expect.

 

We all wore grey trousers with dark blue jumper. Most of us lived in them, now they all wear Trainers and Tracksuits after school,but are about a quarter of the fitness we were. We had to walk and cycle everywhere, now it's Mums Taxi.

 

I feel better now, it could be worse, West Ham could have lost to Cardiff. Bad enough about the Rugby. That's another thing- How come England is the only country in the U.K that sing the National Anthem ? Scotland- Flower of Scotland, Ireland- Danny Boy and I don't know what the Welsh sing ' cos its in Welsh. Why can't we have Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory- even Swing Low Sweet Chariot?

 

See, the English arn't allowed to be patriotic, I reckon we have too many Scots in the Government. How many English in their Assemblies ?

 

NNH-Grumpy Old Man.

[Eneukman 1]

I should be at LHR now, checking in for the TG917. But my dog sitter, is too busy to look after Herbert, so here I am. A Grumpy Old Man.

 

Think I'll be grumpy about the schools nowadays- Yep that will do.

 

My garden backs onto the school I went to 43 years ago. Much has changed, I'm not just talking about the Air-raid Shelters being taken away and replaced with tennis courts- Tennis ! We never played tennis at school, that was for posh people. Football and cricket were the two sports for us. In my day the school was Boys and Girls, now it's mixed, a great mistake. My son argues that if it wasn't mixed all the boys would be queer. It's as well he wasn't around to say that 43 years ago. In those days, it was illegal to be a Homosexual, now it's illegal to critisize one. Being Gay,meant you were care free and happy.

 

We had an all male staff, most of whom had seen National Service and Combat in WWII. This gave them a sense of discipline, no one was addressed by anything, but their second name, now the opposite is the norm. Teachers now want to be your freind, but as my Dad always said " Familiarity, breeds contempt " As well meaning as it is, if we had a young female teacher calling us by our first names, the lesson would have to be bloody interesting for us to learn anything. We took it for granted that men and women were different- they still are, but you musn't say so.

 

Race, was the whole of Humanity together, now its everyone divided. I had no idea, that I was of a different race, from the two Scotsmen living either side of me, on our Council Estate, their kids looked, spoke like me and were just as daft. In later years we all went off to Wembley to support England. All that time they were "Foreign"

 

We had the Ultimate Deterrent too - the cane, I got it for talking in class, sodding about, forgeting my homework and throwing snowballs at the Prefects at lunch time- see, its still in my mind 40 years later... crime and punisment.

 

There were assemblies every day too. A few hymns, prayer and the Head telling us that the latest craze of spitting in the playground, must stop. Conkers are only allowed in the playground, not in class. Once you had all been told, there was no excuse for doing either..

 

School dinners were horrible, but nutritious. Now it's Burgers and chips or Chicken Dippers. They were sometimes the only decent meal a kid had then, probably is now I expect.

 

We all wore grey trousers with dark blue jumper. Most of us lived in them, now they all wear Trainers and Tracksuits after school,but are about a quarter of the fitness we were. We had to walk and cycle everywhere, now it's Mums Taxi.

 

I feel better now, it could be worse, West Ham could have lost to Cardiff. Bad enough about the Rugby. That's another thing- How come England is the only country in the U.K that sing the National Anthem ? Scotland- Flower of Scotland, Ireland- Danny Boy and I don't know what the Welsh sing ' cos its in Welsh. Why can't we have Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory- even Swing Low Sweet Chariot?

 

See, the English arn't allowed to be patriotic, I reckon we have too many Scots in the Government. How many English in their Assemblies ?

 

NNH-Grumpy Old Man.

Sorry to hear about your problems nidnoyham.

 

Think you forgot to mention that your old school now had indoor toilets! When I first went to primary school, the boys' toilet was outdoors - close by the bike shed. It was certainly a sure way of ensuring that you went at break time, particularly in the winter.

 

I'm all in favour of England getting its own national anthem. In the Commonwealth Games, England uses "Land of hope and glory" for it's national anthem. As much as I detest that song, why can't England's football and rugby teams follow suit? They could use another song such as "Swing low, sweet chariot" if they so desired. I mean, anything would be better than that awful dirge that is the current British National Anthem. I'd love to see that replaced with something more stirring - but - hey that's likely to be a bit too revolutionary for some. .

 

As someone once wrote (sung to the tune of Johnny Lad)

 

"Now Johnny he's a nationalist

But Johnny he's no fool

He says all our problems will be solved

When England gets home rule"

 

 

Alan

[johnh101 0]

I feel better now, it could be worse, West Ham could have lost to Cardiff. Bad enough about the Rugby. That's another thing- How come England is the only country in the U.K that sing the National Anthem ? Scotland- Flower of Scotland, Ireland- Danny Boy and I don't know what the Welsh sing ' cos its in Welsh. Why can't we have Jerusalem or Land of Hope and Glory- even Swing Low Sweet Chariot?

Nidnoyham,

Generally the Scots took offence to singing a song which had this chapter

 

"Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,

May by thy mighty aid,

Victory bring.

May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush,

Rebellious Scots to crush,

God save the King"

 

We would rather hum the Archers theme ! !

 

Cheers !

[nidnoyham 30]

Nidnoyham,

Generally the Scots took offence to singing a song which had this chapter

 

"Lord, grant that Marshal Wade,

May by thy mighty aid,

Victory bring.

May he sedition hush and like a torrent rush,

Rebellious Scots to crush,

God save the King"

 

We would rather hum the Archers theme ! !

 

Cheers !

The irony is, I know more verses of Flower of Scotland than God Save the Queen.

iT was my mates song, at family gatherings in Scotland.

[gs joe 1,776]

The Welsh national anthem,,unoffical English version. Land of my fathers. Last verse ,My country tho"crushed by hostile array,the language of Cambria lives out this day;The muse has eluded the traitors"foul knives,The harp of my country survives .Flower of Scotland has a line ,and send him homeword tae think again,they all seam to have some thing in common?

[Eneukman 1]

Flower of Scotland has a line ,and send him homeword tae thinking again,they all seam to have some thing in common? cheer"s Joe

Can't think why that should be.

 

Oh Flower of Scotland, when will we see your like again?

That fought and died for your wee bit hill and glen

And stood against him, proud Edward's army

And sent him homeward tae think again.

 

Alan