( Continued from ' Turtle Dove ' - Lincs Bird Reports )
Richard,
All these years I've known you and I didn't realise that you spoke such good French.
Terry,
Your question begs the other question as to whether you mind being teletransported to 'Lincs Bird Chat' with the answer. I've moved before being shoved. Well, here goes : you've asked for it ......the answer, that is. (The Turtle Dove is migratory and due for a move, anyway.)
The good news is that I was able to get a message from Professor Harrison this morning....well, via his housekeeper,at least. The bad news is that his farewell dinner took place last night at the "Crafty Bustard Hotel" , somewhere in Nottinghamshire. (His last working day at the Institute was Friday,3rd July and he is moving to Cornwall later in the week.) How he got home from the dinner remains a mystery except that he was accompanied by his old friend and map-reading expert, Corporal (Retired) Jon Freddison of Braceheath Bridge. The Professor was very hungover this morning and being somewhat non-compos mentis, as they say, he was unable to come to the 'phone but he did send his very best wishes to LBC members.
However, I did have a quick word with the Retired Corporal who, according to the housekeeper, had spent the night in the Professor's bath - still half-full of soapy water : the bath, not the Corporal; he was full of something else. He was still there when he took my call, being incapable of getting out. Apparently, he has had his problems with Latin too, lately, causing him headaches. All he would say was :
" Latin is a language as dead as dead can be - it killed the Ancient Romans and now it's killing me. "
I heard some strange gurgling noises and then the line went dead. ( He's had a good life.)
Regards,
Freddy