David Cropper

You'll get no abuse from me. You have a perfect right to say what you said, it was a situation were wrongs were done on all sides. To put my view in perspective. I've said before that I left school, joined the Army and went to Ireland as a naive kid, knowing nothing of the world in general. 1969 was a year of eye opening for me. If you remember, the Belfast Protestants were burning Catholic houses, the Army were sent in to try to restore some order and HELP the Catholic minority. There was a piece written by a well know journalist of the day which to me summed it up. The Rev.Ian Paisley had rolled up at a flashpoint and said in earshot of the journalist to one of my Regiment, "Don't worry son, were on the same side." To which was quoted by the journalist " The Lancer said back "We're on no bleeding side." I also remember being in the Guardroom just before a patrol and a group of the B Specials came in, big farmer types, jolly uncle's going out on a jaunt, to search a Catholic farmhouse, all because it would amuse them to do so. That opened my 17 year old eyes to injustice. We tried our hardest to be neutral , they were strange times for us. We didn't realise although we spoke the same language, worshipped the same God, maybe differently, were predominantly the same colour, yet things were not what we thought life would be like in another part of the UK. You wonder why squaddies have a sick sense of humour? I read your reply to me, had a bad night's sleep working out my response, it's took a lot of thinking on my part. It's too easy to rant about the atrocities: Omagh, Belfast, Manchester, Warrington, Birmingham, Eniskillen, the M62 coach bombing, the list goes on. Killing soldiers is war, fine, that's accepted, but soldier's families, civilians having a quiet drink after work in a city centre pub, paying respect to the war dead and being blown to pieces, can anyone justify this? Ireland is an emotive subject. My mother's family came over to Oldham during the Famine as did a lot of people, it's a very diverse and sometimes divided town, but generally plods on regardless. Don't think I'm an ignorant, bigoted ex soldier, I'm not, I try to see other folks views, generally respect them, but as to what happened in Ireland , please don't try to excuse the terrorist activities, on both sides.

This could possibly start a massive debate between Big J and Skyhuck. I apologise in advance.

Is that a clever play on nuts and thread? I suppose he's still a Remainer then?

I think the burning topic now is concerning the nuts of said Igor. Should they Remain or Leave?

I don't know what the PC Brigade would have made of when the IRA Slimmer of the Year, Bobby Sands, was doing really well on his diet and we in the Corporals' Mess decided to have a sweepstake as to when he would attain his Target Weight, or as we call it, death. How they would have laughed!

If that's not an incentive to get on target, I don't know what is. Oh, wait a minute, maybe the man himself stood downrange. No bugger would miss then. PC rears it's head yet again. Whoever released the clip needs the facts of life explaining to him.

She doesn't look too traumatised does she? Dreadful behaviour on Igor's part.

Isn't that the new Waddington's game? "Incest, the game all the family can play". Already a sell out in Cornwall.

I bought a DR Power 9hp years ago , paid for itself within a couple of months. Biggest stump I did was a chestnut just under 1 metre, took me near enough 5 hours as it was full of stones. It's been sat in my garage for a few years, used it over 2 years ago as I couldn't get my SC30TX up nasty set of steps. Did the job but nearly sodding killed me! Bounced all over the shop, but, it got the job done.

Women have got the vote? Bugger, I missed that bit of news. Things will never be the same again. Disgraceful!

Oi ! Do you mind!

I hope this doesn't mean you buggers are going to start to groom me?

That's the problem mate, I ain't!

Christ! I thought I'd wandered onto Grindr by mistake!

So sorry to hear that Stubby, your missus sounds like a fighter. Hope all goes well for you both.

This is his latest thing. As well as killing anything on land, he's now taken to fishing.

Another fussy bugger!

Jolly Jack and the Golden Rivet springs to mind.

So am I mate but I ain't got any standards!

Thank you Eggs,I realised as soon as I saw.it! Old age and the thought of Krankie and Salmon threw me.

Sorry Johnsond, I thought it was Mr Johnson!

Fussy bugger. You sure you were a matelow?

I often wondered in he ever had a pop at Wee Jimmy Krankie Sturgeon. I'd pay good money to see that.

Got bitten today by a customer's dog. He's got 11 rescue dogs, wouldn't have minded too much if it had been the Staffie, how bleeding embarrassing when a 10 year old, one eyed Chihuahua had me on the hand! Poor little sod had been horribly abused, client brought him out in his arms, I let him smell my fist, then slowly moved to stroke him. Like lightening, the little git had my knuckle. The bloke said, he's done that to me a few times, I should have brought one of the other nine Chihuahuas to meet you. Another training day with the Belgian Shepherd tomorrow, hope he doesn't get the same idea.

Depends on what sort of fairy. Little pretty things with wings, yes. Great big ugly buggers with a five o'clock shadow mincing about , no. Or is it the other way round? I always get them mixed up.