FOB Nimrod Established

F.O.B. F.Y.I. -
- does not mean "Fractional Orbit Bombardment", which is an extremely sneaky way of hitting your adversary with a missile that doesn't even make it to a full orbit.  Invented by the Sinisters, of course.

Sinisters like these- I bet they invented taxes and cholera, too.  The swines!

     No, in this case F.O.B. means "Forward Operating Base" and I chose Nimrod because I like the name.  I can supply a photo.  Art?

     This, for the next ten days, will be where my activites will be centred.  I also expect to set up Patrol Base Epsilon in the kitchen; more of that later.
     "But why," I hear you call.  "Why are you telling us this?  Because it's not really news."
     Because for the next 10 days Conrad is in sole charge of The Mansion, is why, including all goods and chattels thereof*.  I'm not sure quite where Edna falls in terms of a good or a chattel - shall we call her a Work?  What do you think, Edna?

     So, we have been out for a rather damp morning walk, which means no chance of running into other dog owners as the rain keeps them indoors. Before you ask, yes this is a good thing, as Edna will fly at any dog trespassing on her territory - which is pretty much the whole of the UK.

Solitary doggy in soggy splendour

     Enough social frippery!  Let us move on now the Intro is done.

The Peculiar FunicularAh yes, another of those words that pop up at random in my head for no discernible reason.

That sea looks freezing

     A 'Funicular' refers to a specialised type of railway that ascends near-vertically, usually in a tandem arrangement so, as one car descends, it's attached counterpart ascends.  I think we can jolly Art into providing a picture.  Art?
     The long and dagger-like teeth of the Coincidence Hydra are also out in force today, for what is this television programme I see before me?  None other than "Foyle's War", set in Hastings at the very beginning of the Second Unpleasantness.  What is the default illustration in Wikipedia of a funicular?

The Hastings funicular

     Then take South Canadian crime author Lawrence Block, and his novel "Hit List", which I am reading at the moment.  I checked up on his other written works, one of which is "8 Million Ways to Die", filmed in 1986, to lacklustre reception.  Except - what's this? - ah yes, it's the Coincidence Hydra's teeth in my hindquarters again, because there's a shootout on - a funicular!

Funicular sans guns

     And there we shall rest our case for the funicular, m'lud.

A Minute's Respectful Silence, Please
As you should surely know by now, BOOJUM! maintains a healthy distance from anything like Religion <shudder>, Politics <hack spit> or Current Affairs <ewwww>.  On occasion we breach this policy because 1) we can squeeze a few cheap laughs out of it or 2) We're way short of content.  Sometimes 3) intervenes - A Special Case.
     So, it is with sadness that I have to report the passing of Leo Baxendale.  Art?

The man himself

     You might have to be of an age similar to that of Conrad** to realise that this is the chap who created The Bash Street Kids and half the contents of "The Beano".  Not only that, Conrad is also familiar with the comic "Wham!" that he also created, which featured 'Eagle Eye Junior Spy" and his eeeevil adversary "Grimley Feendish".  Art?

Eagle on left, Grimley on right

     For what it's worth, Conrad - anarchist and apprentice super-villain at heart - always preferred the distinctly dodgy Grimley.
     RIP Leo.
A Clerihew Or Two
I need a short article to round off today's blog, so whom shall we traduce today?  Ah!  you cannot slander the dead, can you?

Syd Barrett 

Once ate a parrot.

Fortunately it had been plucked.

Just not by Syd, a chore he ducked.

     Let's have a go at the M83's.

Jules Verne

had a funny turn.

His doctor said "For what it's worth,

You're not under the weather, just under the earth."

     As this might bring about a downturn in Anglo-French relations***, we will carry on to ensure the next one does.

Jean Renault

Helped invent the auto.

He remained jealous of Otto Benz,

Who also raised exotic Faroumis hens.

     And just to make sure diplomatic ties are really broken off - 

Joan of Arc

Did a convincing bark.

This severely worried all the English;

Real or false? - they couldn't distinguish.

     A century's worth of alliance down the drain!
*  I think it's "thereof"; it sounds legal enough, anyway.
**  168 at last count
***  No, there will be no hilarious comments on the M83's Presidential elections!