Period blondes

[vicky whitworth]

We have just returned from a walk around the village and have seen what we think is an albino wallaby. I know, how unlikely is that! Just before Christmas a neighbour said she and her son had spotted it close to our cottage. We didn't believe her but now we've seen it. It was a long way away but we were both convinced...and we hadn't been drinking. Isn't it exciting? We are only assume it is an escapee.

 

[yamin]

Is that a Rugby team I've not heard of??? :lol: :lol: :lol:

How interesting - nothing in the news?

 

[Flyfisher]

We are only assume it is an escapee.

I believe there have been Wallabies living wild in the UK for many years. A quick search found loads of articles and references and this particular one caught my eye as we have a fair bit of grass to mow: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6261351.ece. Coincidentally, not far from us (and quite close, I believe, to Penners).

So, a not totally unexpected sighting, thought hardly commonplace - especially an albino one.

 

[Ixia]

We have wallabies living wild on the Isle of Man, originally they were escapees from the local wildlife park. Also have vague recollection of there being some on Ilkley Moor. We've seen an albino wallaby at Bowland wild boar park, no idea how rare they are though.

http://www.wildboarpark.co.uk/how-to-find-us/

 

[middi]

I am very intrigued by period properties and their history. I can assure you that if I had ever found a " PERIOD BLONDE" in any of the many building I had the good fortune to visit, or work on, my wife would have never seen me again. :wink:

Middi

 

[Nigel Watts]

To have a blonde like this as one's fag at school is certainly from a period in the past. Does he qualify?

I have just been re-watching If.... Lindsay Anderson's unmatchable satire on the English public school system. The revolutionary plot seems rather childish and dated now but the atmosphere he conjures up rings so true in spite of, or perhaps because of, the absurd and often very funny exaggerations

 

[Feltwell]

To have a blonde like this as one's fag at school is certainly from a period in the past. Does he qualify?

Nigel, if he does then you're just confirming the popularly held opinion about what goes on in public schools!

We haven't had a decent political sex scandal in ages - what are the MP's playing at? They used to be quite reliable at one stage, especially the Tories.

 

[Flyfisher]

We haven't had a decent political sex scandal in ages

Possibly because we're less inclined to be shocked these days? Although, having said that, I reckon I must be a bit prudish as I do find the ever-increasing amount of profanity in the media somewhat distasteful. I accept it's all part and parcel of "alternative comedy" (or "alternative to comedy) on the likes of C4, but it does seem to be spreading to almost anything after 9pm.

Thank goodness for PPUK and Radio 4. At least we'd never hear such profanity on the Today programme or see PPUKers getting their kit off.

 

[Moo]

Thank goodness for PPUK and Radio 4. At least we'd never ... see PPUKers getting their kit off.

Oh, dear. I dread to think what turn this thread is now going to take!

 

[Nigel Watts]

To have a blonde like this as one's fag at school is certainly from a period in the past. Does he qualify?

Nigel, if he does then you're just confirming the popularly held opinion about what goes on in public schools!

We haven't had a decent political sex scandal in ages - what are the MP's playing at? They used to be quite reliable at one stage, especially the Tories.

Who said anything about sex?

When I was a fag we had to clean, run errands, wait at table, runs baths, make cups of tea, wash up etc. There was some occasional light-hearted humiliation and mild corporal punishment perhaps - like having to lie in an empty bath naked with one's heel in the plug hole as the cold water tap was turned on until one's shoulders were submerged. Most of the prefects observed the proceedings to make sure they were conducted fairly and according to the rules, so nothing improper there.

 

[Lime]

To have a blonde like this as one's fag at school is certainly from a period in the past. Does he qualify?

Nigel, if he does then you're just confirming the popularly held opinion about what goes on in public schools!

We haven't had a decent political sex scandal in ages - what are the MP's playing at? They used to be quite reliable at one stage, especially the Tories.

Who said anything about sex?

When I was a fag we had to clean, run errands, wait at table, runs baths, make cups of tea, wash up etc. There was some occasional light-hearted humiliation and mild corporal punishment perhaps - like having to lie in an empty bath naked with one's heel in the plug hole as the cold water tap was turned on until one's shoulders were submerged. Most of the prefects observed the proceedings to make sure they were contacted fairly and according to the rules, so nothing improper there.

A fag's life was hard in my school.
In my first year I became know to be unreliable so was never picked by a fagmaster when they had a choice.
The unreliable aspect probably arose from adding boxall (like vim but unscented) to a fagmaster's toast before buttering it and adding salt to everything.
However I can still put a starched collar and cuffs on a shirt (whilst wearing it) with one hand and tie a perfect tie knot without a mirror.
That skill came about when late for breakfast (every day) running across top field path to school house and dressing at the same time!

 

[Moo]

When our son went to college he had yet another thing to add to the list of things we'd got wrong in his upbringing. If only we'd had the foresight to send him to Eton (where his best chum went) he'd have learned how to tie a bow tie. The fact that his father could do it, without having gone to the right school, was neither here nor there, of course.

 

[Nigel Watts]

That wonderful journalist Bill Deedes wrote an unillustrated article on how to tie a double-ended bow tie which was so clear I have never forgotten. Unfortunately I have lost the article.

 

[Moo]

If ever you come across it, Nigel, do let me know.
His father has tried several times to show him how to do it, but as he is left-handed and son is right-handed, somewhere along the line communication seems to break down.

 

[Penners]

When I was a fag we had to clean, run errands, wait at table, runs baths, make cups of tea, wash up etc. There was some occasional light-hearted humiliation and mild corporal punishment perhaps - like having to lie in an empty bath naked with one's heel in the plug hole as the cold water tap was turned on until one's shoulders were submerged. Most of the prefects observed the proceedings to make sure they were conducted fairly and according to the rules, so nothing improper there.

Good grief! My fag duties were very mild by comparison, and involved no naked humiliation at all (which was best for all concerned, really).

 

[yamin]

There was some occasional light-hearted humiliation and mild corporal punishment perhaps - like having to lie in an empty bath naked with one's heel in the plug hole as the cold water tap was turned on until one's shoulders were submerged

Sorry, maybe I have a dirty mind, but honestly, there was no, ahem, gratification for the 'fagmaster' or for the 'observing for fair play' prefect???

Clearly you turned out ok Nigel (or so it would appear!), but nothing improper? :?

 

[Nigel Watts]

It all seemed a bit of a lark at the time but looking back it does seem a little odd. If any of the prefects fancied me I certainly wasn't aware of it but then I was a very naive 13 year old.

 

[yamin]

Well since you are clearly not scarred, thank goodness for naivety! My dad, 78 now, went to a boarding school but was very progressive and no fagging allowed! Quite a blessing I think, however, they did make them run 2 miles each morning and have a cold bath (alone!) - what is it about cold baths????

 

[FamilyWiggs]

When I was (comprehensively) schooled - a fag was something illicit to be shared behind the bike sheds. Or was that "Tracey" from the 5th form? :shock:

 

[yamin]

Yeah, the joys of the illicit Menthol Consulate, puffed out of my bedroom window.......