I can’t remember who sent me this picture.

During the last few weeks we’ve seen three young deer in the field behind our house and this week one of them has been visiting our back garden. My efforts at trying to get a decent photo haven’t been successful but I’ll keep trying.

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When I used to entertain at old folk’s homes, one of the voluntary care workers often helped with sing-songs and he could usually be persuaded to contribute a solo. One of his party pieces was a parody of “The Road and the Miles to Dundee,” and here it is -

 Cauld winter wis howlin’ around Queen Street station,
The snow lay quite deep on Platform Three,
When Ah tapped on the windae o’ the wee Bookin’ Office
Tae purchase a ticket tae gang tae Dundee.

But though Ah kept knockin’, the windae widnae open,
The train gaed a whistle and ‘twis quite plain tae see,
If Ah waited much longer, the train wid be leavin’,
An’ Ah widnae be goin’ that day tae Dundee.

Jist then a wee fella pushed in afore me
Tae the heid o’ the queue that wis waitin’ wi’ me,
Sez Ah tae masel’ “Ye cheeky wee nyaff, ye,
Ye’ll no’ get awa’ wi’ that nonsense wi’ me!”

So Ah took aff ma jaiket and threw doon ma bunnet,
Gaed him one wi’ the heid and twa wi’ the knee,
And, as he lay doon there, sae stupid and glaikit,
Ah lifted ma fit and blacked oot his e’e.

“That’ll teach ye some manners, ye cheekie wee bachle,
Tae wait in the queue that wis waitin’ wi’ me,”
And, just as Ah said it, the train gied a whistle
And steamed oot the station tae Bonnie Dundee.

As he picked himsel’ up frae the cauld snowy platform,
He sez “Ach, ye should nae hae’ done that tae me.
Ah only cam’ here for tae open the windae
Tae sell ye a ticket for Bonnie Dundee.” 

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When the BBC Dance Orchestra is mentioned, people of my generation usually think of Henry Hall, and forget that it was Jack Payne’s band who became the first BBC Dance Orchestra, a position they held from 1928 till 1932.

Here they are with  a number they recorded in 1932. It’s Jack Payne himself who does the vocal.



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Now, a piece of news! EIGHTY PLUS is changing. In fact it will have a new look, a new style, a new name and a new address. Next week will be the last one in its present form.

Then from Wednesday 7th April its title will be
“EIGHTY PLUS FOUR - an octogenarian looks back” with the address - http://80plus4.blogspot.com

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Finally, a really NICE slide show - you’ll love it!!!



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