Thursday, May 05, 2005

A VERY Happy Birthday To Sarah

Quote of the moment:
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." - John F. Kennedy

As I mentioned yesterday, the CCF Biennial Inspection was today and my dad went to watch. During the parade at the start, as is customary, the visiting General walked up and down the ranks 'meeting the troops'. This year the Yr 9 have been included in the CCF for the summer term in a 'Junior Leaders' company. Since a similar representative number of them paraded too, there were at least 40 kids there and the General decided to talk to every single one of them properly. Since the weather was overcast and rather humid, by the end of the parade on the Front there were 5 fainters!

Sarah was a known danger so she was placed on the front corner. Once the General had moved to the row behind her Major Eke sidled over, took her rifle and got her to wiggle her legs and arms while still standing to attention, because she was starting to sway. Unfortunately for the others they weren't so accessible. One other was swaying and had to step back and brace before standing back in line. One crumpled in place. A Junior Leader fell flat backwards to be caught by the person behind, but the most impressive according to my dad was Ed Hutley, another Yr 11 like Sarah, who lasted to the end but when ordered to fall out, got half way through the right turn and fell flat on his face.

Mr Christmas hadn't missed out on the fact that it was Sarah's birthday, so at the final parade her name was called out and she had to march up to the General's podium to be presented with a birthday cake. How awesomely embarrasing.

Victoria sent me a video she found while looking for something to talk to the visiting General about:

My Uncle In Afghanistan

There isn't a blood relationship, despite the way he seems to approach public speaking like me! It must be camera shyness because he's normally far more confident, if equally posh and plummy.

In other, obviously minor news: the elections. I voted for the Liberal Democrats for the local council elections and Conservative for the general election, due to the reasons given two days ago. Local issues are the way forward, methinks.

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