Friday, 19th November 2010
Floods, police-dogs and other disasters …
It was the day of a Royal visit. Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal was attending our premises as the President of one of her many charities and much work had been carried-out in preparation for this important event. All the leather-covered furniture had been renovated with leather rejuvenator, the mahogany tables were polished to a mirror-like finish, twelve pairs of ten-foot long curtains had been taken down, laundered and re-hung and carpets professionally deep-cleaned at huge expense. Nothing had been left to chance.
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Tuesday, 9th November 2010
Emma and Richard’s Wedding
Saturday 6th November 2010 was a bright and blustery typical November day, but fortunately not too cold. The early morning had seen rain but this had cleared-up by mid morning and by lunch-time there were white fluffy clouds dashing across the bright blue sky, driven by the fresh wind.
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Thursday, 4th March 2010
Laughs, tears and pitfalls…
In my very early days, I was fortunate to under-study some of the most experienced of City of London Beadles and Toastmasters, who had many years of practice under their collective belts. These included John Oakman of the Worshipful Company of Haberdashers who introduced me to their incredible wine cellars, reputed to be the best in the City. Whenever I visited John he would open a bottle of some exquisite whisky or vintage wine and we never drank out of anything smaller than a very large glass. I recall arriving for some of our meetings, but have little recollection of leaving!
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Thursday, 21st October 2009
When I left the Army in 1988 after 24 years regular full-time service, I tried several jobs. These included security and heavy-goods vehicle driving. I also took ‘The Knowledge’ and became a Taxi driver and in the run-up to the First Gulf War I was selling insurance for Lloyds Abbey Life, none of which occupations exactly stimulated my inner being. One evening, whilst watching the Ten O’Clock News, an announcement was made that the Queen was going to be asked to sign a document the following morning which would call-up Reservists (I think it was called Queens Order Number 6) but that volunteers would be accepted immediately. I was on the phone to the Ministry of Defence before they had even finished the announcement and, following the instructions which I was then given, I reported three days later to a military barracks which was designated as a VRC (Volunteer Reporting Centre).
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Monday, 5th October 2009
The gavel sounds three resounding, ear-shattering knocks and the stentorian tones of the Toastmaster make the famous announcement…. “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen, Pray silence for”…
I wonder why it is that most people seem to think that one has to sound rather like a Circus ringmaster or maybe even a boxing referee and that the words above are what is always said, for such is not the case. For instance, why would you say “My Lords, Ladies and Gentlemen” if there are no titled Lords or Ladies in the room? I suspect that the incredibly talented comedian, the late, great Michael Bentine had much to do with that image, in his portrayal of a Toastmaster at a City function, which is a true classic. (If you have not heard it, you really, really must!)
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