stevejp

21st July 1969 - the day we got our first TV, and the first day ever that I was allowed to stop up past my bedtime. My earliest memory of my childhood (and, before anyone asks, I was 4!)

What about the people who prefer the leg meat?

I'd guess more of a metallic taste - but I've no intention of finding out ...

I'd start small and let it grow over time - phone the nearest school, ask for the IT manager/NM/ senior tech and suggest a chat (adding the phrase 'after work over a pint' often has the desired effect...!). Then, using the same technique, a group of two becomes a group of four and so on. You'll never get everyone on board, but starting it off as a semi-social group might be the best way forward. That's how we got all the local music teachers together when I first started teaching ( years ago!) - many of us are still close friends now, and often help each other out. Would your head be amenable to hosting meetings at your school, occasionally? These things sometimes founder for lack of a regular base.

I can just imagine the chuntering in the scorebox!

For his sake, I really hope the other team didn't win by three runs...

30 minutes...?! Even allowing for coffee and biscuits, they must be experts in procrastination to have taken that long!

No that picture is after the INSET day - before the kids even got there!

Oh, the crushing disappointment - I opened this thread with the hope of seeing a picture of Farage being bopped on the head with something large, heavy and preferably hammer-shaped...

Yes, OK, I know I'm a bit late to the party, but all fine here in the jolly old West Midlands.

Isn't it strange that the whole world can see Trump for exactly what he is except his own citizens? Aaaaand ... back on topic: really glad to see how much of the structure and the artefacts they've managed to save - a magnificent job by the fire-fighters, by all accounts.

Fixed that for you....

To be fair, the club secretary was apoplectic when I phoned him - I’d had a grovelling apology from the first team captain (who was on holiday in Pakistan at the time) within 20min, and had been added to the team WhatsApp group within 35!

Spoke too soon. Drove 40 miles, only to be told that the match was called off last night because of a waterlogged pitch. Gee, guys, thanks for letting the scorer know...

What strange miracle is this? The first day of the season, and it's actually dry, and not even that cold!

Worth doing next year - they're generally good fun, and give you a different perspective on things (to say nothing of giving you a quick 'fix' of cricket before the season begins!) and, if you've never been, the bi-yearly ACO conference is good fun - next one isn't until 2020, and is being held at Trent Bridge, I believe.

Yay! Season begins next week with a friendly. Just moved to score for a new club in div one of the Birmingham League. New team of players to get to know, although one or two of them are on the fringes of Worcestershire first team, so already know them by sight, as it were. Hope everyone has a good season, with lots of dry and sunny Saturday's!

Whatever next - a public authority with a sense of humour - and an American one, at that!

Good job I scrolled down to Witch's post before I hit reply....

Totally agree. Heard a quote today from someone who was in the LSO during his tenure, to the effect that Previn was the only conductor of that generation who didn't insist on his own limo when the orchestra were on tour, but insisted on joining the rest of the musicians on the coach - a measure of the man, I feel. And who else (again, of that generation) would have allowed himself to be sent up by Morecambe and Wise in that way? There are probably several of the current crop of conductors who would have done it (I can just imagine Rattle joining in with the greatest enthusiasm, and possibly Marin Alsop as well - perhaps @witch can confirm?) but the only one of that generation who would probably have done anything like that was the great Lenny Bernstein - another superb educator and communicator.

Wouldn't know how good they are, but I hope to goodness they don't take up design and decorating - that colour is hideous!

A few years ago, I'd have agreed wholeheartedly. Now? Well, I'm not so sure. I know I'm probably engaging 'grumpy old git' mode now, but the way some parts of our population seem to expect everything to be built around them, their 'rights' and their own personal needs, I can almost believe it's true!

But that's the problem, isn't it. 'The public' don't demand better quality news services - 'the public' (or enough of them to make a difference) seem to be quite happy with the rubbish spouted by the Mail, the Sun and the Express, and believe every word - which is one of the reasons why the country is going to hell in a handcart!

Oh well, I suppose someone had to say it. Feeling a bit Camberwick Green with envy that I didn't think of it first...

Far too many people giving their ages away on this post! ...and no, of course I can't remember any of these things - no siree, not me, no way... Ahem