But first, as is now par for the course, we must discombobulate and confabulate those Facebook hamster scrutineers, lest they spoil the post and put in the wrong picture first. So, our first visual sleight-of-hand is -
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| Bargain butties |
Respect the remaindered provender!
"But why?" I hear you calling. "It's only a Mixed Triple, nothing to make a song and dance and sheet music and a Playstation game and spin-off comic series about."
Aha! What does Conrad have to do when he gets home? Have food and prepare lunch for the next day, is what, and pre-packaged provisions as that above mean a considerable saving in time.
What does Conrad do with his spare time?
No! He does not throw passing Ukranian folk-music bands into the Upper Dungeon*, he devotes it to the blog, the very BOOJUM! that you are now reading.
- don't fret, we will get around to Tottenham Hotspur -
Animal Obstacle Course
If any of you read the blog with any regularity, or even follow Conrad on Facebook, you know that, as a creature of habit, he likes to start Saturday morning with a great big pot of tea, toast with jam and at least an hour's steady reading.
This can be disputed by the Cyborg Sentry Cat (a.k.a. Jenny) and the Extremely Loud Early Warning System On Legs (a.k.a. Edna)**. Thus:
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| Note Edna ignoring my tea, as it is Tea The Proper Way - no milk or sugar |
This cosy scene of domestic bliss will shortly be interrupted as Edna uses yours truly to get down from the table, or Jenny will clamber onto my lap (warmer and softer than the table), or both will try to cram onto my lap, or Jenny will lie on my book, or Edna will stand on it.
I count myself lucky to have reached page 920 of "Against The Day" under these harrowing circumstances.
"Episcopalian"
This is a term that crops up frequently in Diana Purkiss' "The English Civil War", and it seems to be a term that the radical Protestant religious disliked and objected to - and given that we are talking about the 1640's, it clearly can't be a piece of medical technology called the "Episcope".
In fact it refers to a national church goverened by bishops.
| No! Not that kind of bishop! Although ... |
Yes, this might seem rather strained, but those folks around in 1640 looked on anything churchy that was new or ornamental or <shudders!> new and ornamental, as smacking of Catholicism. Or, as they would have put it, CATHOLICISM!, which to them combined everything Wicked, then added Conspiracy Theory, and for good measure salted it with Spanish Cruelty and French Foolishness.
Ah, the Good Old Days, eh?
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| The height of toilet technology in 1642 |
And Here A Theme
Yes! And this theme shall be - no it shan't be Tottenham Hotspur! Dog Buns! Be patient!
As I was saying, this theme shall be "Silver in Young Person's Literature"
"The Silver Chair": This is one of the novels C S Lewis wrote of Narnia, and concerns the quest of Eustace and Jill, along with Puddleglum the Marshwiggle, to locate the missing Prince who is heir to the throne of Narnia. Marshes, giants, weresnakes, enslaved troglodytes and a sinister Silver Chair - it's got the lot
Made into a series by BBC, featuring Tom Baker as Puddleglum.
| Silver Hair. Close enough |
"The Silver Sword" is a novel by Ian Serraillier, about the Polish Bailicki family and their trials and travails during the Second World War, when both parents are separated from each other and their three children. The settings and events are based on fact, and even though - or because - they are scary and dangerous, it's a highly entertaining book.
Made into a BBC series, twice. Without Tom Baker.
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| Silver hoard. Close enough |
"The Case of the Silver Egg" by Desmond Skirrow. This is an inventive novel about a gang of schoolchildren - the Queen Street Gang, led by Minor Morris - who operate on logic and invention rather than today's gangs***, one of whom's father has been kidnapped. This particular dad is a scientist and has invented a new energy source, the Silver Egg of the title.
Made into a BBC series. Sadly, still no Tom Baker
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| Scrambled egg. What the heck, a egg's an egg! |
"Long John Silver" - a character in the novel "Treasure Island" by R.L. Stevenson. He is one of the main protagonists, and a rather more complex character than perhaps comes across from the various films, perhaps best described as a brave scallywag. One of the most enduring versions is that of Robert Newton, who inspired the whole "Arrrr! I be a Pirate!" schtick.
Treasure Island was made into a radio series by the BBC, and Silver was played by - Tom Baker!
| Long Johns. Close enough |
The best name for any actor involved with the role is the Russian Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, although one has to wonder at that first name ...
"The Lone Ranger" - he has a horse called Silver - ^
Tottenham Hotspur
Okay, at this juncture Conrad has to admit that he is blatantly trawling for blog traffic by using the blog title to refer to a football club. Not that he can take any credit for these names, they were all provided by Phil, fellow Pub Quiz member.
So here we are:
There you have it - a tot of spirits, some ham and a comic that Conrad grew up with, the "Hotspur". Tot'n'ham Hotspur.
Finally
One of Edna's endearing habits is going outdoors to sit at her sentry-post, or, more correctly, to sit on her sentry-pot. She does this in the absence of other members of the tribe - Conrad himself doesn't merit any such honour.
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| "I shall stay here forever!" |
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| "It's been five minutes, can I come back in?" |
* Not any more. You do it to a couple, the others learn to stay away.
** You don't need to guess if the postie has arrived as the shatteringly loud fusillade of barking from Edna can be heard as far away as Limeside and Austerlands.
*** And any more would be Current Affairs, which we don't do here.
^ Mister Hand cuts off the article right there before it gets silly.
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