Wednesday 6 May 2009

4th, 5th & 6th May

Tuesday 4 1982
HMS Sheffield sunk

Ah of course we were in the middle of the Falklands War in May 1982. It started on 2nd April and the Argentinians surrendered on 14th June .. a 74 day war which saw the loss of almost 1000 people across the forces of Britain and Argentina & 3 islanders.

I don't really recall much of the politics surrounding the invasion of the Falkland Islands but I do remember later that year visiting Spain and this 'Howard & Hilda' type couple who refused to eat anything prepared by the Spanish as they told us that the Spanish sided with the Argentinians and 'they will put glass in your sandwiches you know!'
What tosh ... we just wondered why the hell they had gone abroad with such ill judged theories in the first place... anyway we had a great time and the sandwiches were so crunchy lol

Thursday 5 1977
Did German homework
also did French
I've got ulcers in my mouth (ouch)
French homework = hard translation

Glad to say I passed both o' levels in the 2 languages I took. Love languages as an adult I have done a 6 month intensive Greek course (I had to go to Greece to work for a couple of weeks... a tough call but someone had to do it) and I have done a short Spanish course. The most amazing multi- linguist I have come across was an old guy and his wife we met when we were on honeymoon in Petrovac in 1989 (great photos on the link taken around the time I was there). They were from Belgium, he could speak 16 languages and she spoke only Flemish. She was a botanist and gathered loads of wild herbs for me to bring home... amazing. I think the next project maybe for me to brush up on a language (maybe English would be a start lol) or do a new one??

Saturday 5 1978
Worked 10am - 6pm
Got to work at 9.30 but they didn't need me til 10.00
Went to the 'Brick' with Bev and played pool
Got home at 6.35
Sam came round at 6.50
Went to the Natterjack (pub) = quite good
Got home at 11.15

I was 16 then and in pubs ... my Teen of a similar age has no desire to go to pubs... how strange?? (but how marvelllous too!!)

*************************************
Gosh with my lack of 1980 diary I have missed 2 changes of number ones.

Blondie with 'Call Me' was number one for a week on 26th April and dexys Midnight Runners took over the top slot for two weeks from 3rd May with 'Geno'

I saw Dexy's in concert but I so wish I had seen Blondie 'back in the day' as she was a bit of an idol with me





btw I have not forgotten the rock contest .... just have had no time to do/think coz of being maxed out at work (London, several working groups and project boards,reports, meetings to organise in fact meetings coming out of my ears, staff appraisals to write etc etc). After next week when I will be more maxed out than I am now there is a window of 'ahhhh peace' in my diary ... so watch this space ....

10 comments:

Daddy Papersurfer said...

So, you did the short Spanish course - what happens if you meet a tall Spaniard? ...... lost for words I suppose - tee hee.

Ahhhhhhhhh ......... Blondie ......
*stares into the distance with smile playing at the corners of my mouth*

70steen said...

hee hee very funny ... I am sure we would be ok 'nudge nudge'


Are you dribbling slightly .. can't quite tell from here?

HelpXtra said...

An ex-girlfriend of mine had a Brother on the Sheffield, he was one of the lucky survivors.

Re: languages, Polish could be a useful one to learn, but it's very difficult to pronounce, for instance 'I am sorry' is Przepraszam.

That coastline is beautiful, my landlord has a house further North in Croatia, going to visit there one day.

Anonymous said...

I really liked Blondie too - she was gorgeous in her day. Still is.

Daddy Papersurfer said...

She put her career on hold for her bloke ..... the perfect goddess - tee hee

HelpXtra said...

What bands are playing in your rock contest BTW ?

70steen said...

GW ~ yes he was one lucky chap on the Sheffield I was reading on Wiki the fact a lot died or where burned badly because they were wearing man made fabrics ... now I do recall that at the time or some time afterwards

Polish ?? mmm... it appears very a complicated language. I know a few people of Polish decent and have huge problems spelling their names .. I think only Welsh is more dyslexic.

The coastline over in the former Yugoslavia is spectacular ... I will never forget how awe struck I was as we sailed across the Bay of Kotor you really should visit

http://www.budvarealestate.com/montenegro_articles/towns_and_area_info/bay_of_kotor/

70steen said...

NM ~ Debbie Harry as you say was and still is gorgeous. Can you believe she is coming up to 64???

70steen said...

DP ~ oh yes I remember that was it Chris Stein? Hey she is older than you too ;-)

70steen said...

hee hee GW ~ I have not decided yet on the Rock band contest yet ... I will keep you waiting as you have over at your place lol