The squits

I don't think Dad invented this word for diarrhoea but it was his term of choice for the condition as became evident during his retirement globetrotting, if you excuse the pun. I was reminded of the term when talking to John over the weekend and he referred to Freddie's malaise when Beck visited him in Brighton, poor fella. (For the malaise not the visit of his beloved mother, of course). My favourite alternative term for the illness - and there are many - is the Cairo quickstep.

Pic of the day: To start getting us in the mood for Christmas although it's rather early here we all are with the JBKs on Christmas Day 1982. Nice perm, Beck. Easy to nest the paper hat on top ...

Not talking when your mouth is full

When someone asked Dad a question and he was eating he wouldn't attempt to say anything but just point towards his mouth with his index fingers in a jabbing fashion.

Pic of the day: Here's an evocative pic of the old Martin's swimming pool in Wokingham which closed down in 1992. The water was so icy cold, wasn't it? I particularly remember that giant cascade which you can just about make out in the background. The dressing rooms were like caves.

You're my friend

"You're my friend" was usually said as Dad put his arm around whoever he was sitting next to on the settee.

Pic of the day: I spotted this in the Yorkshire Post at the weekend. It shows Mervyn Lister, ex-livestock auctioneer of Otley-in-Wharfedale with whom T&S did joint auctions. He's just written a book about the history of the cattle market which was demolished in 2000. Oh, how the old boy would've loved to had read that! The pic reminds me of another shot of an old gent with his agricultural local history book. Click here. Two of a kind, or what?!

Predicting the inevitable

"I could see that sticking out a mile!": an exclamation subsequent to the inevitable (at least to Dad) happening.

Pic of the day: Have a feeling this family meal was at Sonning but no idea of the year. Interesting tie fashions sported by the younger brothers: red leather for John and plain white for me!

Finger jabbing

When Dad showed you something in the paper he would pass it over jabbing his finger violently at the appropriate part of the page.

Video of the day: Here I am on Top of the Pops in 1980 (and as recently repeated on BBC4) standing to the right of Kid Jensen as he introduces Madness. God knows why I was wearing a Portsmouth Poly sweatshirt. The bottom of it had gone baggy so Mum had threaded in a length of elastic, I recall. Going to the show was truly thrilling.

First one to see the sea...

Found myself challenging Aidan to "first one to see the sea gets a Mars bar" as we cruise in to LA.  Not quite the same circumstances we had years ago (6 up wedged in a Triumph Dolomite on a grey day in the north of England), but worth a post. Two other things to note:  Thatt the Mars was never forthcoming and Dad was peculiar by always referring to it as a Mars Bar.