mercurydancer

I am so sorry it has taken me a long time to reply, but with the funeral last week and getting my mrs back to Russia I have been busy. Again thank you for all your kind words. It has been an immense comfort to me. I also thank God for his mercy. In time of need my prayers were answered. Now it is all over, I can get back to normality, or as close as I can get to being normal. Not easy for me. I will be spending some time in Nottingham over the next few weeks, and I hope to get to meet some of you. I am a very reserved man so it is not easy for

My mother died yesterday. I guess she just could not live without him. Married for close to 60 years. They were devoted to each other. Although she had advanced Alzheimers sometimes the soul knows what to do.

It is very comforting to reach out to you people and believe me it is a huge comfort to hear your words of support.

Funeral is Thursday at 1pm.

Jill Major was not a softie when it came to work. He was legendary. Once he was tracking a burglar over a bakery roof and all his paws got burned. Still got the burglar though.

Jill I recall Gerry Machin very well, and Major of course. One of his party tricks was to put an egg into Major's mouth and he would take it whoever asked Major for the egg. I went into the police and Gerry Machin and Len Smith (who lived in the police houses next door to each other) looked after me. I always wanted to be a dog handler but never got that far. I was close friends to Kim and Gaye Machin, and also to Sharon Cheetham too!

Carni It is all done in the most entertaining and spirited way, without any animosity at all. * Its a lovely atmosphere and one I adore. In many ways it is an underrated English event. *I have known no trouble at all on the Goth weekends, in fact its the opposite, it tends to be the busiest, but amicable times of the year. Getting a pint may take you 20 minutes, so plan early.

Carni Whitby is an entertaining town when it is the goths and the vampires. When I had my dog, a weimaraner (ghost dog) I would dress up like one of the victims of the Werewolves of London and walk around the town growling* Bloody vampires. My dog didnt know what to make of it, but he sure enjoyed the pork scratchings, guaranteed werewolf deterrent.... *with all the wolf teeth and (fake) blood dripping down my coat. Its amazing how they get behind the spirit of it all. I got booed out of a pub for being a werewolf (it was a vampire pub) but I just said to them "Keep to the paths" A spec

Jill Sparrow I lived in the middle of Bobbers Mill Road, not far from the Darley Road junction and exactly opposite the Smiths Foundry.

dat47 Yes we do show bravery when in company, and cry alone. But this is a place where you are not alone. Its good that you can find the strength to speak to us strangers on Nottstalgia. Possibly one time you may begin to trust in the generosity of a grouping of such people as this is. I have. Its great that you can go out now. A big step as you say, but important. God love you dat47.

catfan Whitby is about 45 mins drive from my home and I used to have some duties in the hospital there. I know it extremely well. The fish and chips are legendary, but the best is not from the Magpie but from over the bridge, where there are two chippies, equally good, but my preference is for the one across the road on the Abbey side. Best pub? Black Horse but there are others which are pretty darn good.

dat47 I am glad that you have found some peace in that most beautiful of towns. On a summer's day it can be hectic busy but that may be what you want, as the sun has shone beautifully over the last few days and Whitby does shine in the sun. I actually prefer Whitby in winter. It develops a character of its own. Also, there are some big steps, 199 of them up to the Abbey!

Jill Sparrow As is the Nottstalgia theme, we must have known each other at some time. I recall Merrimans, and the lucky bags. I much preferred wine gums. I still do.

Welcome freckles I too went to Berridge but a little while later. Your memories are welcome, even precious.

Chulla My great sympathies for you. I know that the doctors and nurses are working out the plans. Keep with us!

newbasfordlad One of the great inventions of the late 20th century - nappy bags.

Newbasfordlad Skipper in my time was for captains or much more often, sergeants. Nothing other than those two ranks. I dont know why. Of course the other ranks are trying you out when you first go into a unit. The initial sarcasm of "Youre the boss" tends to take on some commitment when you have earned the respect of the lads (and lasses I must admit) Eventually you hear boss being given as a mark of respect.

Colly0410 I was an officer and I assure you that I was no hooray Henry. I am from Hyson Green!. I almost always asked my soldiers to do what I wanted, rather than ordered. I always counselled the NCOs for ther views. Sometimes I admit I did go against their advice, but I considered myself to be the decision maker in the team. Anyone could have input but the decisions were mine and I held complete responsibility for it. I led many really good teams who were well disciplined and efficient soldiers. Some of whom could not be bettered. It was an honour to command them. I remain to this day im

The essential thing about Top Gear is that for all its shenanigans they test drove the cars we wish to buy. And they did it well. I have a Jaguar XF and the review by James May was a deciding factor to buy one. He was not wrong. Going back a while Quentin Willson also knew cars inside out and this is one of the elements that made TG. Of course Clarkson made a mess of things, due to his own personality, although I will say that on the flight from Moscow I was on he was very pleasant, and the rest of his crew were too. Chris Evans doesnt seem to grasp this - Top Gear is for cars. Its not ab

A victim country? Not quite. We got bombed quite heavily in the last unpleasantness. Many thousands died. As a rule, we dont lose wars because of the deep tradition of our military, and that when we mean to bring on war, we dont mess about. Falklands was judged to be an unwinnable war.

As many of you know, my mrs and step son are Russian. The news companies from both UK and Russia are very heavily biased in their reporting. The neo-fascist firms attached to the football clubs, mainly Spartak and Lokomotiv Moscow have been known for years. There is a branch of the Russian police known as OMON. They are the hard guys and some of my family are in OMON. They describe many battles around the football stadia. So football violence is not a new thing. Nor are the gangs unknown. How do you stop them? Difficult but it is certain that the Russian gangs will not have a nice time whe

A little more than a week ago. Its not getting any easier.

I remember Dr Jacobs from Bilborough College. Little chap, big beard, I thought he had gone a long time ago.

Jill I never had any bullying from any teacher at Mundella. Some odd political philosophy for sure, but no bullying. The teachers had good control over the pupils too. I recall some bullying from pupils but it was sorted out. Rapidly and effectively. I maintain it was a delightful school to grow up in.

Attrition 1916 An in depth study about the policies, strategies and tactics used in WW1 in 1916.