I'd spent the evening, or the early part of it, bolstering my local reputation, as a sort of mixture of werewolf, wizard, monster who ate young children, older children, adults, in fact who ate anything which came across his path. People murbled that I even had recipes for each stage of life, of EVERYTHING! Actually, the flickering light that everybody saw coming from my quarters, amounted to nothing more than my feeble attempts to beat the kids who, accompagnied by their parents, felt that this evening they had the right to ring everybodie's doorbell, and DEMAND sweets, a treat, or whatever. My earlier attempts to offer a cooking pot as a treat had been unsuccessful, the little beggars (and the bigger ones too) suspecting that the scenario was not quite sweeties/bonbons and coke-cola! Anyway, everything had gone off well, and my switching on and off the lights had probably deterred a few, less determined, and maybe some of the really determined had passed by during a period...

Berlin life cert 05 Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This is 1 of 2 certificates of being alive. A european demagogy, I must proof I'm alive, every year! This involves the UK (Passport), France (rubber stamping) Germany (throwing everything I send away!) 2 months later, I DON'T get my pension, again, for Nov/Dec. Thanks for a fine Christmas festival! This year, YOU are ALL my witnesses, so if it happens again, I'M SUING THEM!!

I'm writing this snippet because of the "boidy-flu" threat! Bet you never knew this: A long time ago a fellow called Jenner decided to have a go at stopping nasty illnesses. At the time things like cow-pox and the plague were circulating from place to place, not very nice, but this Jenner fellow noticed that certain of his poorer patients (the kids of slave farmers) who worked with cows a lot, and who often caught the "cow-pox" which made them very ill, but rarely killed them, seemed never to catch any of the other things, more serious, if they had had the cow-pox! Ergo - give 'em all the cow-pox and they'll all get better! And it worked!!! Did you know that it why we call a jab a "Vaccination" nowadays? "VACCI" from the Latin word for cow!!! Amazing all the things I know, isn't it? Now all you guys know that cows not only give us milk, moo a lot, can give us the pox etc., but they can also heal us! So let's take care of our ...

Schoolmeals are a necessary evil. They let mums (and dads) get rid of junior for a goodly period of the day, whilst making sure he or she gets “something” to eat. I recall, in my epoch, that we were all extremely happy to turn our bench tops flat (they had 3 or 4 positions, depending on what they were to be used for)at 12 noon, because this meant that the largely built (invariably) “dinner-ladies” were approaching, with the offering from the central kitchens, sometimes miles and miles away, but always prompt at noon. We were ALL happy, because it meant the end of lessons for at least an hour, and it also meant that we were going to get something (for many of us for the first time in the day)to eat. Don’t forget, this is the early 50’s, rationing is still in force, money sparse, and the reputation of School-dinners hadn’t suffered yet. Strange though it may seem, bearing in mind it was the only food I personally saw every day for 4 or 5 years, (the weekends we were “invited” to a churc...

portsmouth school meals. Originally uploaded by iwmpop . Another new blog coming tomorrow, and here is one of the photos I wanted to use. By accident, or by chance, I discovered that this photo is actually from a Site belonging to the Portsmouth people. So, if you want to know what little chippies eat at Portsmouth Schools, to enable them to become BIG, STRONG Chippies in later life, just CLICK ON THE PHOTO - it should work. NOTE: For the moment, Blogger's photo publisher isn't working at all, so it'll be back to Smilies shortly!

PumpkinPatch Originally uploaded by iwmpop . This was received from a certain Mrs A.E. Power, otherwise known as "Anna". Is this a self-portrait taken in a mirror, with cunningly hidden cameras, or is it more a "bath-night" game? I guess we'll never know. IMPORTANT: Due to bloggers difficulties, on the photo upload site, I may well have to use this Flickr system for more and more photos relating to a blog. If I do, I'll let you know in the blog itself.

Autumn Menu. The last (and first) of these periodical menus was a little bit of a catastrophy, particularly with the photos! I hope I’ll get it a bit better this time! Since it is Autumn, and Halloween and all that, we are in the period of “special” only available for a short time articles, like “potiron” (that red/orange turnip type vegetable people think is only grown to be hollowed out for lanterns) or pumpkin.Chestnuts or “marrons” are also available at this time of year. When was the last time you smelt chestnuts, roasting or cooking? Various types of “gourds” (same family, different tastes) and the amazing “spaghetti vegetable” ( a sort of swede which when cooked, falls apart into spaghetti-like long strands). There are many things around at this time of the year, which you will not find all the year around. Just have a look in your local market, and what you can’t find, compensate for, by using the available vegetables like carrots,brussel sprouts, cauliflower, dark green cabbag...

or better still ! Due to all sorts of things happening on Blogger, I’m back to the old “cut and paste” stuff. I can’t recall how many hours of writing suddenly disappeared under signs like “can’t find the page” or “hviv positif has caused a kernel explosion you’re going to lose the lot” and all this seems to happen whenever I touch a “dodgy” subject. Do you think they are out there – looking in? I do, so I’m giving them the inverse “V” sign! Take that from a frustrated author! Whilst I’m here, a couple of little things which have caught my attention on the Tele/Radio/in the street etc.. The latest German TV “win something” whilst watching a football match, in cahoots with Coca-Cola, gave me an enormous amount of pleasure last Sunday. The poor guy (in his 40’s) who had won “a day with your football heros” started off at 5am, and arriving at the Training ground (they wouldn’t let him into the actual Stadium) was welcomed by the Assistant Groundsman (what an honour) who showed him aroun...

Another little classic from the TV concerning Fans is the report I witnessed today on German TV. It appears that a lady (girlie) artist, is making a fortune from creating plaster models of artificial peni (I don’t know if it should be spelt “penis’s or what) of the rich and famous, later sold to the fans for whatever use!! The report showed various pop groups and their examples, who had wanted, not to make money, but to make their fans happier!! These things are sold, over the counter, for high prices, are of guaranteed source, no questions asked. It seems that the only problem the young artist girlie has had, was with a particular singer, well-known, who did not react to the normal incitations given by her, because he was gay! Now she takes more care when a new client arrives, and studies his personal dossier more attentively! I doubt if the banks are into this, for I don’t see many fans going to ask for “a credit to buy a dildo!”

Remember when Hannibal crossed the mountains with his elephants? No? Well I do (but that's another story). More recently when Ian Botham did the same thing? Well I do too! Remember just last week, yesterday, or tomorrow, when we read, hear or see another one of the stories where "humanity" is helped by "willing and able beasts". And yet, we all seem to be so astonished, everytime it happens. The latest thing is, of course, the transporting of the needed aid into the earthquake zone by donkeys. Sure, they are slower, but you can be certain that they will get there, and they rarely plunge from the sky taking all and sundry with them, and ending up setting fire to foodstuffs on the ground in a famine and drought area! The natives of the country are not surprised, they know the real value of such beasts, it's just the news people who seem to be amused by the transport fashion, and who present it in a light of "ancient" and "pointless". It is ...

Why do I have this strange feeling that I am being watched, that my courriel is being controlled? Why, when I try to publish articles like the last one (if it has appeared) do I have enormous problems with the PC, for what should be a simple task? Why, when I want to send a personal letter to my niece, by means of "outlook" (slower than outlook express, and therefore more controllable) do I suddenly have many obstacles placed in my path? If I say now, I loved E. Hoover (although he loved little boys, and I don't) or if I say that I find US and US politics, themes, attitudes,politiciens,people etc, the best in the world - will that help to have fewer problems? Can I get this published, and the last one too - so I can do what ALL elderly, retired spies should do at such a late hour - GO TO BED WITH MY CAT! If so - I love you all out there in MSN,Google,AOL etc.......................................!

Looking back over the last month or so and the headlines which accompanied us all, whether we noticed them or not, I was struck by the story of the so-called "con-man" who was able to embezzle many people by his stories of the activities done by himself, in the name of Her Majesty, and in the ideals of "Crown,Queen and country!" Wish I had thought of it, but since most people already take me for a "suspicious" type, then all I can do is deny all such implications, and give the date necessary (the month of March 2025- that fulfills the 50 years) - unless I'm still alive - or if the Russians/East Germans/Irish and all the other terrorist elements, have suddenly re-developed and represent, once again, a threat! From my own experiences, the thought of doing it all again is as follows: Queen and Country It's quite nice leading a simple, if aristocratic, life, somewhere in the sticks of nobody knows where. James Bonds have a tendency to end up dead even...

Having just received news about WB (Wacky-Backy) and his plans for the end of the year (the Dutch have funny sort of dates for festivities, Christmas is on the 6/7 Dec and I suppose New Year a week later-logic is logic!)I thought I ought to pass on the news of the area he/she/them/they are going to. Lovely area, mountainous, just like Holland, and recently refilled with mountain bears (all grumpy) and shepherds (even more grumpy because of the bears). A few packs of wild and savage wolves have also been re-introduced, just to keep the bears, and sheep, and shepherds, and golfers, and tourists, company! It appears that with bears and wolves, the other beasts (like sheep), can't come to grips! On top of all that, a few "nature-lovers" have started to talk about the natural savage style of country-side they want, and golf courses are decidedly not too welcome! Myself, I think that golf and bears is acceptable. The bears won't pinch your balls, just the occasi...

Because of the problems with Blogger, I'm trying all possibilities, even at the risk of boring you all! This spot has been sent (if it arrives) from me to my secret e-mail address to publish directly from anywhere onto blogspots! OK - great, but it won't accept various forms of file, like photo files for example, those I have to send to Flickr, and from there to the blogspot! Text will be accepted, I understand, in the past photos were as well, but since the arrival of "add-on's" for WindowsXP, we (us oldies with Win98) are no longer considered! I'll find a way around the problems, but for the moment I'm not sleeping a lot, and my cat is getting fed up again!! I'll try inserting my NEW (for Halloween) card, don't know if it'll get published or not!!    

trial again. Originally uploaded by iwmpop . See! Worked for me! Oh ye of little faith! Send your photos (as e-mail attachments)to: sits91hold@photoflickr.com As you can see, the text of the e-mail is used as a title to the photo, and is open for all to see. Your signature (if you have one) is sent as well. AND CHIPPIE WOULD NEVER GET THIS HOLE - HE HASN'T GOT ENOUGH BALLS!!!!!!!!!!

Well, I've tried and I've spent hours composing articles, posting them, putting the pictures on to them, clicking the button "publish" and getting the message "can't find the page"! Afterwards, I can't find the article text or otherwise, so it's all lost! The last time it even deleted the article from my Microsoftword archives! Jeeeeeez! It's like asking the artist to repaint the Mona Lisa because you lost the original! I'm off to have a longish break! A siesta, and probably make a bomb to send to Msoft and Google!

Very shortly it will start again, the creakings and groanings, the rattling of chains, and all the rest. Actually, at my house it has never stopped, but that is due to my attacks of gout, the state of my rhumatism, my involuntary moans, and the pulling of the chain on my many daily visits to the smallest room. I was always under the impression that the 31st October was a "semi-holy" evening/night, leading as it does to all saints day. Now the adults are so hung-over on the 1st November that the last thing they think about are Saints! True - certain of them do occasionally groan "Holy God - what a night!" or "By St Patrick-what happened?" I recall in Scotland the evening of the 31st October. I could never understand it, because, here we all were, celebrating the existance of all things unholy, the unholier the better, things we were encouraged/ordered to ban from our minds over the year. AND we were celebrating the things in the church hall! I mean - there ...

Due to Internet Explorer’s incapabilities, yet another literary work of art has been lost, will not be rewarded with what it deserved, a Nobel (or at least noble) prize for literature. The author will attempt to recuperate, in his mind, the details of this work of art, and republish it in the blogspot http://marquisdugalipot.blogspot.com for the reader’s pleasure! AND UP YOUR’S - MSN/MICROSOFT/INTERNET EXPLORER! Title: Fowl days for foxes and feathers. (From today’s newspapers) Amazing, quite amazing. Once again the so-called “lower forms of life” have shown us where to get off! To date, all feathered and furred varieties of migratory bestiality have followed the instructions given at the entry to the 5 ports, and have all followed the signs put up all over Europe. A little trip was sufficient to see what was going on at our doorstep. Groups of willing workers around the coastline of UK were setting up many signs with large arrows on them, pointing towards the “Tunnel/Chunnel”...

This is the threat................................ AND THIS IS THE INSTRUMENT TO BE USED! (but my articles are not normally such torture) SEE THE PREVIEW UNDERNEATH!!!!!

By way of a short review, here are the things all you good people (and the others) can look forward to in these magnificently constructed pages. Over this Friday and weekend, a couple of things about Halloween. On the personal political side, a story about the DDR (ex-East Germany) which I was surprised to see on the German TV the other day. This will eventually lead to a story (later on) about "Cell Nr. 7". This was the cell at Spandau prison serviced every 3 months by Mr le Marquis (and others) occupied by.............no, I'll tell you later, when I do the piece. A piece (for wacky-backy) dealing with the sports and activities of the great outdoors! A little snippet about bird flu and the Channel Tunnel! All this, and the occasional "tale of many cities", and with my little break for "clinical work" we should be up, roughly, to the time for the normal Christmas carol - this year I have heard some talk that our French family (rememb...