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WHY DID THE CONQUEROR'S CONQUE

Chris Evans | 15:37 UK time, Wednesday, 22 August 2007

Started reading a book today about...

...Napoleone with an "e" as he spelt it.

What a bundle of energy he was, not only did he conque but the travel he had to undertake to get to conque.

I felt myself rouging with embarrasment at our indolent society in comparison. Jees if someone goes to peru for ten days we ened up hearing about it for the next year. These boys traversed mountains and then had a big fight on the other side came home for a couple of weeks left and then tromped another twenty or so leagues to have a scrap with some other dudes.

But all this for me boils down to why ?

Why did all of them, Hanniball, Alexander, Peter, Caesar bother ?

I've always wondered that about the mafia, they spend all their waking hours, gaining more money and power yet they always seem as miserable as sin.

What were the conquerors up to and are Ant and Dec doing the same in the world of tv., will they declare war on Sir Jonathan of Ross and his merry Brand of Russell men.

it's all beyond me. You can only dig with one spade at a time.

CLP 2007.

X.

Comments

  1. At 04:05 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Jo wrote:

    Sage advice Christophe - only digging with one spade - dont you need 2 hands to dig with anyway so you get good spade control???

    IN MY OFFICE NEWS TODAY - I burnt my hand on some photocopying then had to sort 483 (thanks for the calculation Hazel) pieces of paper into 69 (oo-er) sets.

    Happy Wednesday everyone

    :o) Jo

    PS The sun has to shine somewhere, I'm just glad it's been shining on me all day

    PPS. I hate holiday bores, did I tell you about when I went to the Gambia in 1996??

  2. At 04:06 PM on 22 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:

    Golly Christophe, a bit profound for Hump Day!

    All in the name of finding out what was around the corner/mountain/veldt/sea etc. We don't need to do it these days because our friends who have already been to Peru tell us all about it.

    Exploration
    love
    hazel
    x

    ...and the last thing Hannibal said to his men before they got on his elephants?

    Ok men. Get on your elephants.

  3. At 04:08 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Dissing Dave wrote:

    Ah Christophe,

    Why did Caesar travel all the way to the English/Scottish border to build a very dodgy wall? Was Caesar the forerunner to Alfred MacAlpine? Why did he come back again later, was it because the NHBC !0 Year Certificate required that he did so? Was a roman helment the equivalent of a hard hat? How did the Romans know that to go to the place they needed to arrive at would require a straight road out of London in a certain direction?

    How big is Space?

    How many Stars are there?

    Where's my Straight Jacket and medication?

    DD out (Yah wibble)

  4. At 04:23 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Phoenix wrote:

    Hi DD Caesar never went to the wall it was Hadrian and whether it was to keep in the Celts or keep out the picts I never really found out.

    But it is a very nice walk.

    LOL roman helmets for hard hats indeed very good would certainly have the same effect.

    Lady P out

  5. At 04:23 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Prof Plum wrote:

    only me one and all

    I suppose in those days they had nothing else to do but fight and conquer. No jobs in Banking, Insurance, TV or radio. If that was the case today I daresay people would conquer over each others council house, take over BT or hold up Petrol Stations.

    Hugs and kisses all!

  6. At 04:24 PM on 22 Aug 2007, j wrote:

    Yo - wise words, CLP...

    I reckon so many of the conquerors you mentioned are all little chaps who have an inferiority complex! Not sure if that follows for all the Mafia bods but they have inferiority complexes because they have such a macho image to try and live up to!

    Christmas Cracker Philosophy - I love it!

    jx

  7. At 04:25 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Em M wrote:

    Who wrote your Napoleon book Chris?

  8. At 04:35 PM on 22 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:

    Just a thought.

    Wasn't Napoleone born in Corsica? So that would make him Italian I guess? Don Napoleone. Like a fiddlers elba.

    ...and I think the Romans built straight roads just to see where they went. This is why there are so many towns by the coast.

    The truth is out there, Dissing Dave...quite possibly next to your tablets...

  9. At 04:35 PM on 22 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Bloomin' heck CLP - you mention Randy Brandy in your blog, I now need a cold shower and a lay down in a dark room (with Russell Brand????)

    When we got back from Cuba in June I ordered a book about Che Guevara - I felt that I should make an effort as I'd bought the t-shirt! Saving the book for the winter as its about 900 pages and bigger than your average paperback - but from what I learnt in Cuba, Che was quite a man! It was widely reported that even the Cuban's who didn't like Che had the greatest of respect for him. Same goes for Castro.

    Hmmmm..... now, where's the 6'2" toussled hair one gone anyone .....

    CtD x x x

  10. At 04:46 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Dissing Dave wrote:

    Sorry all,
    Quite right Phoenix, Hadrian did the wall, Caesar did the Salad! and Patrick Swayze did the dip (with Baby, in the corner). Damn my lack of historical acumen!

    DD out

  11. At 04:51 PM on 22 Aug 2007, martin james wrote:

    Yes I agree with CLP - we can only try and guess and ask why? But, people are still doing it today, somewhere in the World.

    My main gripe at the moment is society. I`ll go out of my way to help someone - a girl was about to run onto a main road to catch her escaped dog. I shouted, "don`t run into the road!" Then I proptly stopped the traffic from both directions so she could get the dog back. Gave a lift to a elderly lady walking along a really dangerous road with no footpath; stopped to ask an very frail old lady sitting on a wall if she was alright. I think she nearly fell off the wall the fact anyone had bothered to speak to her! I`ll give someone a pound for a cup of tea, you see it`s no big deal to me, it gives me pleasure. But, and the big but is why do I find so many people out thier determined to spoil my day. The drivers that drive on your bumper on the motorway, the drivers that cut you up. A lady driver once drove down the side of my car, I had nowhere to go, she just didn`t see me, she admitted she was in the wrong but did she appologise? No way, she just told me to "Pi$$ off!" Charming. You see that`s what I dispair at mostly today - Society - the parents and the way todays children are being brought up, who will inturn bring thier children up the same way. The future doesn`t look good.


    m xxx

  12. At 05:04 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Steevie fae Dundee + Glas wrote:


    Talking of "TV" and conquering :

    People,

    Noticed Peter Barron, editor of Newsnight
    is looking for comments on the current
    state of TV (not just ´óÏó´«Ã½) to take to the
    Edinburgh Telivision Festival this weekend.
    Why not post some and put your name plus
    "from Chris Evans R2 Blog" (ha ha)

    /blogs/theeditors/2007/08/a_message_to_the_tv_industry.html

  13. At 05:47 PM on 22 Aug 2007, ChrissieS wrote:

    Hi Chris,

    Those guys, why bother? Well, it's just that there were new places to see/blunder/cause havoc upon arriving. Kind of like us when we arrive in Capri/Magaluf/Dublin. These places are there - we want to see them, want them to know we have been there. Who knows, there may be an interesting wall or hamburger that we haven't seen yet!

    Re: the Mafia. Many years ago one of my relatives lived in America and at the christening of one of his children, "Tony Soprano" himself was there. Not the actor playing Tony Soprano, but Tony himself! O.K. he may have been called something else, but it was Tony alright. Big jewellery, big guy, big bodyguards. I remember looking at him and his entourage - it was fascinating, and terrifying at the same time.

    As for Ant & Dec, Chris they are only following in your wake ..... anything they are learning now, you have been there, done that!

    C xx

  14. At 06:11 PM on 22 Aug 2007, B wrote:


    awww

    Prof plum

    you sound better...did some one you love last

    night an cheer you up...good for them...

    the conquerors...because it/they/was there ?

    A man thing?

    x

  15. At 06:23 PM on 22 Aug 2007, martin james wrote:

    I travel mostly by bicycle and coach these days, since the Xanthia decided it had had enough. It now gets other peoples rubbish left under the wiper blades! Why? Again another despair at todays society. My mum was telling me that during WW2 the British had the best diet ever and loads of people grew thier own fruit and veg. I wonder if Fish & Chips tasted better then, I think it depends on the F&C establishment, Rick Stein`s in Padstow I`m told is good. My local F&C shop is rubbish. I like Chinese food but my local Chinese take away is disgusting!

    Back to the war, well it`s sad to say but I recon the quality of life then was better. Today, we are becomming just too overcrowded, and almost everything is so expensive. And if you get good service, politeness and something works well and continues to work, you feel you have to pinch yourself and shout for joy. When really these things should be the norm. Perhaps I`m just in a cynical mood. Or do I need a holiday. My last holiday a few years ago was a disaster, Mum, dad and me - we all caught bronchitis and spent most of the time in bed, then my mum had 2 strokes. Then it was the old 5 hour delay flying home. I`m feeling like a grumpy man today - sorry. I`ll feel better tomorrow. Promis.

    I think I`ll grab my tent and head for the hills - just me and nature - ummm bliss.

    Take care bloggers and, just be nice to people.


    m xxx


  16. At 07:31 PM on 22 Aug 2007, Debbie wrote:

    Good evening,

    I wish that I had the patience to read a historical book but to be honest I think I get on better watching documentaries..... Didn't napoleon end his days in exile on some island?

    Martin James, I understand where you are coming from when it comes food in the Second World War. We recently visited a War Museum and I bought a recipe book full of old wartime recipies. I showed it to my Mother-In-Law who was just a mere child in the war and she remembered the powdered eggs and stuffed hearts etc. She said the food was much better and you appreciated what you were given too.
    Bless her, she still grows her own vegetables and strawberries, she is so proud of her greenhouse and vegetable patch. She fills a basket for me every week at the moment, I haven't got the heart to tell her that none of us like courgettes though!

    I'm hoping for a relaxing night as tomorrow we have to take little man to Great Ormond Street for a check up which will be quite draining. I know how lucky we are that it is just a check up while there are so many poorly children there. It's all about perspective.

    I need a relaxing night also as the eldest gets his GCSE results tomorrow. Fingers and toes and everything else crossed!

    Love Deb x

    PS. Martin James, really hope you feel better tomorrow. We're all allowed an odd grumpy day so don't beat yourself up. You're doing brilliantly x

    PPS. Hello Prof Plum, good to see you back on form x

  17. At 07:44 PM on 22 Aug 2007, MfR wrote:

    MJ

    Wise words mate. The world does indeed seem bleak when you help someone, hold the door open, let someone out of a turning, alert them to having dropped something etc etc, just to be blanked, ignored or told to p**s off. How much would it cost to say thank you?

    Hope everything is well with you.

    I've finally reached the end of what has been a very stressful and laborious few weeks. I just hope the Board (bored?) see it that way at 8.30 on Tuesday morning when I present the fruits.

    Our wedding anniversary, by the way.

    Why did they bother Chris? To be the first/fastest/highest (delete as applicable).

    Why did the Americans put a man on the moon (or on a film set in the Nevada desert, dependant upon which conspiracy theory you subscribe to)?

    To get one over the Russians. No other reason.

    Man will always be the same competitive beast he has always been. Talking of which, I am playing squash (not salsa) tomorrow, need to get one over that git after last week......

    Anyway. My G&T glass is empty, and Rick is on shortly. No herbage or delish with him......

    Much peace & love

    MfR

    PS Hey Andy, are you goofing on Elvis?

    PPS I hope my legs don't break

    PPPS I'm happy, hope you're happy too

  18. At 08:03 PM on 22 Aug 2007, martin james wrote:

    Ahhhh two good programs on yesterday`s ´óÏó´«Ã½ TV. Ultimate Wild Water with Kate Silverton. What a brave star she was, an inspiration to myself - infact everyone. And, The Cosmos: A Beginner's Guide with Adam Hart-Davis. The Open University programs are prooving to be very good. After my good moan earlier I will say the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has had a few great treats in programming recently, with Mountain, Coast, India with Sanjeev and Equator. And M&S, sorry I mean Your M&S has also excelled. I feel sorry for the clothes shops with this naff weather but M&S has produced a great range of clothes this year with classic, sylish designs in all the right colours. Lets hope they can do the same next year.

    Now back to my moan about UK. The weather aside do any readers of the blog know if you can have a better quality of life in Australia or New Zealand. I`m tempted.


    m xxx

  19. At 09:03 PM on 22 Aug 2007, MfR wrote:

    May I just add two things?

    CLP.

    That rather sexy NZ Sauvignon Blanc that you serve has just been voted, in this house, at least, the finest wine of the moment. You know the one, 'WH'......

    And.

    Rick's current series is the best foodie come travel thing I've seen for many a year.

    Bravo, that man.

    Sleep well, one and all.

    MfR

  20. At 09:34 PM on 22 Aug 2007, MfR wrote:

    Really, really, the last thing.

    Honest.

    MJ.

    I spent a few months in NZ just over 10 years ago.

    It is a truly wonderful place. Get your head round this. North and South Islands, about the same size as the UK, population, 3m.

    And we've got 60m.

    Beautiful beaches up north in the Bay of Islands, Auckland and its wonderful suburbs, wine country of Marlborough to the rugged south. It is awesome.

    But. I did feel a little cut off from the rest of the world down there. It is a long way off, and it was a few years ago, but there were times when I longed for the buzz of 'normal' English life.

    Having said that, I recall a fine evening, drinking Steinlager on a beach, looking at the southern night sky, wondering if life could get any better.

    Take your pick. Go check it out.

    MfR

  21. At 04:52 AM on 23 Aug 2007, wrote:

    G'day all!

    Martin- I live in the Land Down Under, and life's pretty good. But it depends on where you are. Weather-wise, if you like the heat, Queensland is the place to be. If you still want a little taste of home (ie. freezing cold and raining), Tasmania's it.

    If you want to get away from the hustle and bustle of rude, selfish people, I'd recommend a trip to the country. The Murray River (particularly my home town) is good if you like fishing and golf and relaxing. And everyone's so nice.

    It shocks me when I go to the city and see how busy and dirty and selfish it all is. Sure, there are nice people, but there are also the homeless and drug addicts. But country folk restore my faith in humanity.

  22. At 08:27 AM on 23 Aug 2007, lazykev wrote:

    in the days before cheap flights thats al there was to do go conquering......seriously these people were the pioneers...good advice chris..also ...some days your the dog some days your the lampost

  23. At 09:35 AM on 23 Aug 2007, Tinsel wrote:

    Morning all.

    Ah sweeties - my favourite subject - great show last night CLP!!!

    Gingembre, did you enjoy the game??

    My lovely daughter has gone orf to Reading Festival today - eeek! i must stay calm, she will be fine ...

    xxxxx

  24. At 09:35 AM on 23 Aug 2007, BINGO STAR wrote:

    Yo CLP & ALL Blog Friends,

    Bingo Star ere.

    Talkin' of Alexander CLP i've got a BAD BINGO JOKE ere.

    I went down ter me local surgery ter see me doc the other day.
    I wasn't feeling very well.
    Me and me doc - Dr Alexander are like that cos i'm there so often so for short I call 'im Al!!!

    I explained me predictaments and asked for 'im ter sign me a prescription.

    There was a silence!!!!

    I said "Al sign us".... e' said "YES" - Father Jack stylee from the Father Ted comedy.

    I said again louder "AL SIGN US"!!!!!!!!

    Me doc shouted "YES"!!!

    Apparently me suffering doc is ill too.... 'e's suffering from Alzheimers disease.

    Me doc thought I was saying alzheimers instead of Al sign us!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    I just can't take this stress anymore.....!

    PS Christoof any chance of playin' Some Misunderstanding by Gene Clark. Interesting piece of music..... oh yes..... oh yes!!!!!!

    Chow!

  25. At 09:49 AM on 23 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:

    I've just found out this morning that a friend of mine from a long time ago has died. This friend was a grown-up when I was a child, and he used to be part of the Rifle Club that my folks belonged to...and I probably saw him almost every Sunday between the ages of about seven and fourteen...and he was a lovely lovely man. A real gentleman.

    My point being, they were all in competition too. One of them won the Queens Prize, and one of them shot for England in the Commonwealth Games, but the thing is, it was always for the club or country, never for personal gain. Massive kudos to whoever won whatever, but never any glory to speak of.

    Getting there...It just makes me think that everyone wants to do something and make their mark in the world. However small. The original explorers usually had to do it on their own, but the leaders of countries had huge followings, who believed that they could have everything they found.

    My friend won a few cups, and the odd competition, so in his own way, conquered a tiny little bit of the world. There will probably be quite a few people at the funeral, because he made a mark on their lives, mainly by being just a nice bloke.

    Thank you for your time
    love
    hazel
    x

  26. At 10:03 AM on 23 Aug 2007, Tinsel wrote:

    (((((((((((Hazel))))))))))) sorry to hear your sad news.

    T xx

  27. At 10:30 AM on 23 Aug 2007, clodagh wrote:

    Lambie Pie.

    All this talk of conquering. It's what you chaps do. And Boadicea, of course.

    All the wars that ever have been have been down to Territory. Bugger religion. No religion ever known to man has ever advocated killing each other. It's Territory. So should I ever come across that dangerous duvet-wearin' buffoon Osama Bin Liner I shall give 'im a right good slap and tell 'im stop claimin' he has any moral or religious grounds.

    Then I shall invite 'im over to stay with me in Llandudno and direct 'im via the North Wales A55, aka. the Cresta Run, in 'is Landrover, where if he exceeds 20mph on the dual carriageway or parks longer than 4 minutes on the Great Orme, the North Wales Police will have 'is DNA profile and 'ave 'im bang to rights in no time flat. Hurrah. Result.

    Hahaha I bet this is BP'd. Yep I'm turnin' into a right rabid un-PC auld biddy.

    Anyway Greetings one and all from the Principality, where I woke up this morning in the nutter cousin Barry's holiday shed overlooking Conwy Castle, bathed in bright sunshine.

    Here's a bit for you lot if yous is feelin' damp and miserable. There you are.

    Oggy Oggy.

    Clodagh.xx

  28. At 10:37 AM on 23 Aug 2007, clodagh wrote:

    Hazel. Sorry to hear about your friend.

    I must say we're all a bit surrounded by reminders that life is finite aren't we.

    So keeping with the motif of life, death and rebirth, it's my little aunty's birthday and I'm off to find summat to make her titter whilst I still can. And I've followed your advice, Hazel, Chrissie, Debs et al, and told her I love her, whereupon she told me she's never doubted it and I'm a silly bugger. Hurrah bless her.

    Life's a bitch sometimes but hey, it can be a blast.

    Right. I'm off to embarrass the daughter by sendin' a lovely picture message of meself and the Old Trouts on a bench in the Kiss Me Quick hats and clutchin' 99s to her work e-mail.

    Clodagh.xx

  29. At 10:38 AM on 23 Aug 2007, Dissing Dave wrote:

    Hazel,
    Thinking of you!

    DD out

  30. At 10:46 AM on 23 Aug 2007, clodagh wrote:

    And Martin James.

    Yes indeed, Rick Stein's restaurant in Padstow is fab. Have the scallops.

    I can't make my mind up, though, if I think he's a top bloke or a pain in the arse. What d'you lot think.

    R.I.P. Chalkie that's what I say.

    But if it's fish & chips you're after, get yourself over to Roly's Bistro in Dublin. Yum.

    Clodagh.xx

  31. At 11:04 AM on 23 Aug 2007, ChrissieS wrote:

    Hazel ..... sorry to hear about your lovely friend. I am sure you are absolutely right that there will be many people who will have heard this news and will want to attend his funeral, really just to acknowledge that they knew him and that in some way he touched their lives.

    Your post was lovely.

    C xx

  32. At 11:11 AM on 23 Aug 2007, martin james wrote:

    Vaughn Jess, MfR thank you and others for your comments. Especialy re emigrating to a better place! New Zealand sounds nice with only 3m population. But the big question is would NZ or Aus want me? I don`t think I would have enough points to qualify. I do know of someone who moved with his wife to NZ to be a prison officer, now he works as a postman, loves his life, has a detached house and garden that he would never have been able to afford in the UK. And now he`s taking flying lessons, and what scenery to fly around! I could always hang around Earls Court (little Australia) in London and try and get hitched to an Aus/NZ girl, that seems to be my only ticket!

    Who agrees with me that sucessive polititians have spoilt this country. They call GB the forth largest economy in the World, but maternity and A&E units are being closed all over the place. House prices have increased succesivly year after year to the point that the average person can`t afford to buy a flat or house. And when you can afford to buy a house all the money both partners earn goes on the morgage. Polititians keep talking about how good our economy is, BUT what happened to QUALITY of life??? Too many polititians live a life so isolated from the real UK that the things you and I meet on a daily basis are alien to MP`s. So nothing get`s done to change things. And you wouldn`t believe the number of MP`s who have private health cover, hence why should they be bothered to improove the NHS, when they don`t even use it.

    We are supposed to live in a democratic country?? I don`t think it`s very democratic. Realisticaly we have the choice of 3 or 4 parties to vote in. When they are governing, what then? They seem to do what ever they damm well like. They don`t react to your local MP on your behalf, don`t have referendems, never again ask the public thier views on anything. It`s only in five years at the next election that you can exercise your `democratic vote`!

    That`s my little moan folks. Ummm, yes I do feel better, well for an few minutes anyway.

    Have a good day everyone, this blog is a great excuse to tap a few words.


    Off for a coffee and bickie.

    m xxx

  33. At 11:26 AM on 23 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:

    Thank you Tinsel, bless you hon.

    On another note, as you've been so kind, I shall refrain from regaling you with tales of 'when I went to Reading Festival', although perhaps CLP's friends who have just been to Peru (or similar) have been there too, and can tell you all about it over a pint of Full3rs ESB (other real ales available) and I wonder if the 'Butler' is still open?

    ..and Clodagh, surely a flash of your Rasberry Mivvi would have satsuma bin garden running for the hills? Like Iron Maiden at Reading.

    Nice link
    love
    hazel
    x

    MJ, I have a soap box for sale. £20, buyer collects. Genuine reason for sale. (Am having a new one built with a special reinforced gusset)

    ps Thank you for reading my previous post. It kinda followed on from Chris's blog I hope, and I felt much better for having written it. Thanks all x

  34. At 11:26 AM on 23 Aug 2007, Red wrote:

    Hmmm, not sure about the whole conquering malarky. Although without those people our history would be a much less interesting place....

    mj - I lived down under for a while and can certainly agree with mfr that it's just such a long way from everywhere else. There were a few things culturally which didn't sit well for me - the sport obsession for one, but each to their own in those sorts of things. In a nutshell I was very glad to come home and it gave me a very different perspective on the short comings of being here.

    I've just had my garage on the phone and apparently my head gasket has gone. NOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! Not what you need just before becoming a student again...... Ho hum! At least I get to drive the other half's car for a bit which is much more fun than mine.

    HL: sorry about your friend, he sounds like the sort of person who made the world a better place.

    Rx

  35. At 12:09 PM on 23 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Hazel - sorry to hear your sad news. Thinking of you. You know where I am!

    CLP bought a smile to my face last night at the mention of old fashioned sweet shops. It's always been a bit of a dream of mine to open a "Sweets In Jars" shop. We've got one in the town where I live (won't mention the town as the BP will wake up!). It's an OK shop but nowhere near as good as the ones that were around when I were a little one! It used to be a real treat to get 2oz of lemon sherbert crystals on a hot day and dip in an ice lolly. Bliss!! I've got some floral gums in my drawer from the sweets in jars shop - still as fab as when I was a child!

    Magic nostalgic stuff!

    It's nearly the weekend gang - chins up!

    CtD x x

  36. At 01:13 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Gingembre wrote:

    Hello all

    have to be quick for now.

    Wembley was as good as ever, shame about the score and performance.
    Gaby your boy did ok again.

    DD - be careful on your way to the broads, I believe you have to drive past missy's!!! She's still in shock from the reception

    HL - huge hugs n love to you.

    martin - you keep it all positive mate, I believe it's day 28 tomorrow? ......real proud of you.

    Will report in again as soon as I can.

    KWx

    PS - the garter has been removed - hurrah...

    ....kinda miss it tho' now it's gone

  37. At 01:14 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Phoenix wrote:

    Good afternoon everyone.

    Condolences to HL and a {{}}

    On the subject of old fashioned sweet shops - there is one at the bottom of the High street near the quay which does hand made old fashioned sweets which are sold from jars - yee har

    Ainseed Balls,
    Rhubarb & Custard
    Pear drops
    and all things in between.

    Yum

    Off to read more of the blog but had to speak.
    Phoenix

  38. At 01:33 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Dissing Dave wrote:

    Fill your tongue up with Space Dust and then push your tongue against the roof of your mouth!

    Somehow though it's not the same when you're an adult!

    Strawberry Laces
    Strawberries & Cream
    Coke bottles (with or without sugar)
    Milk bottles
    Giant Gobstoppers
    Mojo's
    Fruit Salad's
    Black Jacks
    Pineapple cubes
    Rainbow drops
    sherbert pips

    DD out

    PS rem in iss ing

  39. At 01:54 PM on 23 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Space dust and a mouthful of coca-cola.

    Gee-fizzzzzzz!

    CtD x x

  40. At 02:04 PM on 23 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:

    Oh blimey.

    Sherbert Dibdabs
    Drumsticks
    Bazooka Bubblegum
    Toffee Bonbons
    Lemon Toffee Bonbons
    Chocolate Raisins
    Lemon Sherberts
    Rainbow Buttons
    White Rainbow Buttons
    Raspberry Bootlaces
    Flying Saucers
    Shrimps

    ...but only ever the white stuff out of the liquorice sticks because (in my opinion) liquorice is gopping muck only fit to be used to plug holes...and now, I have an overwhelming urge for something savoury...

    but that's not for here
    love
    hazel
    x

    Thank you for all your kind words. He deserved every one of them.

  41. At 02:35 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Jo wrote:

    Yum - sweeties.

    Next door to the Hippidrome in Birmingham the National trust have bought some old back to back houses. One of them is a CANDIES shop, with all the jars in the windows. I was gutted it wasn't open when we went on Tuesday night...

    :o) Jo

    PS Am anybodys for a quarter of any of the following

    Cherry Lips
    Floral Gums
    Midget Gems
    Chewing nuts
    Liquorice Comfits / torpedoes
    Snowies

    PPS. If you ever get to go to Bllists Hill Victorian Village in Ironbridge the sweetie lady there is pretty darn fab too.

  42. At 02:39 PM on 23 Aug 2007, jillygoat wrote:

    Christoph - there is an old-fashioned sweetie shop in the town where I live, and all the sweets are in jars, just like in our youth!! I used to love sherbert pips and cola cubes best! If you can't find a shop like that you can still get the old-fashioned sweeties on line:

    www.bagofsweets.com

    Hazel honey I'm so sorry about your friend - some people make a difference without even realising it ....

    jillygoat xx

  43. At 02:45 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Mandy wrote:

    I reckon any man that can conquer a cat can conquer the world!

  44. At 02:46 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Debbie wrote:

    Hazel, so sorry to hear your sad news, thinking of you x

    Not long been back from Great Ormond Street and I'm pleased to say that little man has been discharged. He got a bit stressed with the ultra sound but a good disney film on the the tv in there helped loads. In fact, once the consultant had seen him and it was time to leave, he had a massive tantrum and didn't want to come home. They really are brilliant in there and the toys are such a welcome distraction. He even asked if he could go back another time!

    The GCSE results have been brought home and I think he is a little dissapointed. He did ok though and should still get his place in college. He finds out tomorrow.

    Hope your all having a good day and Clodagh you're little aunty sounds great x

    Love Deb x

    PS. I don't recall reading but does anyone remember those little fried egg sweets too?

  45. At 02:49 PM on 23 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Sherbet pips!!!! My mum used to curse those when she was a school cleaner - apparently they get everywhere! Might be because we used to use them as weapons in a B*c Biro pea shooter context!

    HL - your opinion on liquorice is almost as vitriolic as your views on Mika t'other day!!!

    CtD x x

    PS: chewy nuts: toffee and choc, no nuts, so why call themselves chewy nuts???

    PPS: why did Bungle walk around naked, and then go behind a "rock" to put his swimwear on?

  46. At 02:50 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Phoenix wrote:

    Mmmmmmmm rainbow crystals that you dipped your tongue or finger in and it ended up all red....

    Used to look forward to the weekends with a few pennies in my pocket to get a treat.

    Oh what memories we have all been digging up indeed.

    Cheers

    "P"

  47. At 02:54 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Tinsel wrote:

    Jo, am with you on all of those but don't know what snowies are???

    Also -
    Coltsfoot rock - yum de yum
    Chewing nuts - hard toffee with chocolate on (teeth might fall out if I ate those now ha ha)

    A new campaign for y'all ...
    BRING BACK Galaxy Counters!!!

    And liquorice pipes (sorry Hazel, look away now) - were my mum's favourite when she was a little girl, they don't make them any more (probably the PC police thought they were too dangerous, like sweet cigarettes - candy canes, I ask you!)

    xxx

  48. At 03:02 PM on 23 Aug 2007, ChrissieS wrote:

    Re: favourite sweets - I agree with one and all. The only thing missing is Highland Toffee - probably only available in Bonnie Scotland. Ah'm tellin' yer (to quote Bingo) you haven't LIVED until you have lost half your fillings to Highland Toffee!

    As much as the idea of opening a sweetie shop appeals, my dream - since 1976 - was to open a record shop. Well, of course, that's redundant now, but there will be a few of us on this blog who can remember going into our local record shop, asking to hear the latest releases and listening to them in a wee booth! If you happened to have a bar of Highland Toffee with you at the same time, it was like, could this GET any better?

    C xx

  49. At 03:42 PM on 23 Aug 2007, ChrissieS wrote:

    Debbie:

    So glad to hear your wee guy is o.k. We are so lucky we have these incredible hospitals in this country. In Glasgow it is Yorkhill Hospital that caters for children - it is a wonderful place and the people that work there are so dedicated.

    Your son's GCSE's will hopefully get him through. My beautiful daughter received her Standard Grade results (equivalent of GCSE's) a couple of weeks ago and did really well, but not quite as well as her friend who had 5 "1's" and 2 "2's"! - just about as good as it gets - A's and B's! However, most children live in the real world, and I am sure your son will be o.k. Certainly, my daughter is nowhere near Brain of Britain but she's gonna be fine - your son will be too.

    It's a minefield, isn't it?!

    C xx

  50. At 03:51 PM on 23 Aug 2007, martin james wrote:

    Yes, feeling postive right now, which is good for me. Talking of soap boxes, do they still have `speakers corner` at weekends in Hyde Park?

    Chris wears glasses, but some days he doesn`t, so he must wear contact lenses. How does he decide whether to wear specs or contacts? To me one`s a bit of a trade mark, the other a vanity thing?!

    I wear specs and it doesn`t bother me too much. But when it comes to wearing bifocals, varifocals and distance or reading glasses, you begin to wish you had perfect 20/20 vision.

    m xxx


  51. At 04:00 PM on 23 Aug 2007, hazel love wrote:


    Hiya Debbie, glad your news has been good today! Those fried egg sweets were made of the same stuff as Shrimps weren't they?

    ...and CLP, some office news for you...

    As a distraction, I have been cleaning with Mr M8scle Kitchen Cleaner, and while the place is now bright and gleaming, I cannot feel my tongue. I also appear to be talking like M1ckey Mouse. I would like to pop outside for a smoke, but with the week we all seem to be having, I'm terrified that I will spontaneously combust.

    Signing off to go and find a fishermans friend.

    Victory v
    love
    hazel
    x

  52. At 04:09 PM on 23 Aug 2007, Prof Plum wrote:

    Crickey one and all

    Yeah I used to come out of the swimming baths with me cossey and hat wrapped up in a towel and head for the Chocolate Box sweet shop. I always got a lucky bag and a packet of crisps. What a great day out.

  53. At 04:12 PM on 23 Aug 2007, wrote:

    Martin

    I think Speakers Corner still exists, but you can have the benefit of the man with the megaphone at Picadilly Circus most days and nights, proffering his opinions on all thinga sinning and gold-like to the theatre going masses!

    Sweets: treacle toffee was good too!

    I'm lovin' this topic!

    Anyone remember Nutty bars? They were Hmmmmmmmmmmm!!!!!

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