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2008-09-04 Britain

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Posted by Delphi 2008-09-04 08:22|| || Front Page|| [7 views ] Top

#1 I'm not at all sure that "contrary sentiments are rare" in the U.K.

Posted by Jolutch Mussolini7800 2008-09-04 11:00|| 2008-09-04 11:00|| Front Page Top

#2 Tommy
by Kipling
I went into a public-'ouse to get a pint o' beer,
The publican 'e up an' sez, "We serve no red-coats here."
The girls be'ind the bar they laughed an' giggled fit to die,
I outs into the street again an' to myself sez I:
O it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, go away";
But it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play,
The band begins to play, my boys, the band begins to play,
O it's "Thank you, Mister Atkins", when the band begins to play.

I went into a theatre as sober as could be,
They gave a drunk civilian room, but 'adn't none for me;
They sent me to the gallery or round the music-'alls,
But when it comes to fightin', Lord! they'll shove me in the stalls!
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, wait outside";
But it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide,
The troopship's on the tide, my boys, the troopship's on the tide,
O it's "Special train for Atkins" when the trooper's on the tide.

Yes, makin' mock o' uniforms that guard you while you sleep
Is cheaper than them uniforms, an' they're starvation cheap;
An' hustlin' drunken soldiers when they're goin' large a bit
Is five times better business than paradin' in full kit.
Then it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, 'ow's yer soul?"
But it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll,
The drums begin to roll, my boys, the drums begin to roll,
O it's "Thin red line of 'eroes" when the drums begin to roll.

We aren't no thin red 'eroes, nor we aren't no blackguards too,
But single men in barricks, most remarkable like you;
An' if sometimes our conduck isn't all your fancy paints,
Why, single men in barricks don't grow into plaster saints;
While it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Tommy, fall be'ind",
But it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind,
There's trouble in the wind, my boys, there's trouble in the wind,
O it's "Please to walk in front, sir", when there's trouble in the wind.

You talk o' better food for us, an' schools, an' fires, an' all:
We'll wait for extry rations if you treat us rational.
Don't mess about the cook-room slops, but prove it to our face
The Widow's Uniform is not the soldier-man's disgrace.
For it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' "Chuck him out, the brute!"
But it's "Saviour of 'is country" when the guns begin to shoot;
An' it's Tommy this, an' Tommy that, an' anything you please;
An' Tommy ain't a bloomin' fool -- you bet that Tommy sees!

Some things never change

Posted by DLR 2008-09-04 11:07|| http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/ice_ages.html]">[http://www.geocraft.com/WVFossils/ice_ages.html] 2008-09-04 11:07|| Front Page Top

#3 Bet the proprietors of Metro Hotel are members of No Particular Religion. Just your average hostilers, as it were.

Posted by Seafarious 2008-09-04 13:17|| 2008-09-04 13:17|| Front Page Top

#4 After a resolute silence, the hotel, owned by a company called American Amusements, issued a statement.

The Metro Hotel, Woking, sincerely regrets any upset caused towards Corporal Stringer and his family. The hotel management has always had an open-door policy to all its visitors and guests, including members of the military and Armed Forces.

The statement said that the receptionist on duty at the time had made a mistake.

Perhaps the receptionist was a member of No Particular Religion?

Posted by tu3031 2008-09-04 13:42|| 2008-09-04 13:42|| Front Page Top

#5 The "receptionist on duty at the time" got the idea from somewhere.

Anyway, the only thing I want to hear is "receptionist on duty at the time has been FIRED."

Posted by Barbara Skolaut">Barbara Skolaut 2008-09-04 13:46|| http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/]">[http://ariellestjohndesigns.com/] 2008-09-04 13:46|| Front Page Top

#6 I'd love to see that Defense Minister wear an enlisted mans uniform for a week in normal environs for the typical soldier. Might be an eye opener for him.

Posted by tipover 2008-09-04 13:56|| 2008-09-04 13:56|| Front Page Top

#7 tipover,

members of the cabinet have been banned from every pub in the country, so they couldn't get bought a drink.

Posted by Bright Pebbles 2008-09-04 15:42|| 2008-09-04 15:42|| Front Page Top

23:57 Broadhead6
23:54 Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields
23:50 ed
23:49 rjschwarz
23:49 rjschwarz
23:47 rjschwarz
23:47 ed
23:46 General Comment
23:46 rjschwarz
23:39 Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields
23:39 JosephMendiola
23:37 Broadhead6
23:34 Barbara Skolaut
23:32 Barbara Skolaut
23:31 Swamp Blondie in the Cornfields
23:31 Redneck Jim
23:29 Redneck Jim
23:27 JosephMendiola
23:27 Redneck Jim
23:26 ed
23:20 Broadhead6
23:16 General Comment
23:12 Barbara Skolaut
23:12 General Comment