Normal people see old car enthusiasts in a vintage sports car race but I see two escaped POWs in a pristine Alfa that they found hidden in a barn for the duration heading for Switzerland by Lake Constance. I'm abnormal.
That's nothing Dave. My family reckon I can lever the C' Word (Chindit) into any conversation about any topic whatsoever. They actually time it now and announce the time elapsed in chorus. Personally, I think my actions are normal and relevant.
I've learned never to say anything like, "I read something interesting" because of the, "Let me guess!" chorus response.
I answered a FINAL JEAPORY question with "Lend-Lease" and got "Who would .... no ...... WHY would anyone know that?"
I only have to mention the HM Ship *, or the polite version is " Hey Forget You", and the audience or trapped person sets elbows to table and stares at the plate patterns. .At the same time I ramble incoherently and may roll my eyes, but I understand, which is all that matters. * Hofuku Maru, google translate back to Japanese = ほふく まる
It would appear than a parallel website dedicated to our long suffering family and friends might be a good idea. Offering support, counselling and psychiatric services to those afflicted with a military obsessed person in their lives. WarWeary.com
Excellent idea! I showed a good friend of mine these pictures and he said, "You went out of your way to see THAT?" The same guy who said he never stops to see forts because, "You've seen one cannon, you've seen them all." Enterprise stern plate in New Jersey
Remember some times ago my beloved wife showed me a nice, hidden natural habitat near the Elbe. She was really astonished I already knew that location. Never forget her expression when I explained it´s known to me as in April 1945 a German armoured formation made a last stand nearby... and look: over there was a skrimish between Prussian and Napoleonic cavalry whereas some kilometers away onc... "STOP THAT! YOU´RE TERRIBLE! THERE´S THE MOST BEAUTYFUL NATURE WITH RAREST FLOWERS AROUND AND YOU ONLY SEE OLD BATTLEFIELDS!!" Guilty as charged......ahem....
I saw this son of the 10 ton M4 Heavy Wrecker built by Kenworth and Ward LaFrance today. Pictures don't begin to tell how massive this thing was. Boom and winches looked like they should have been on a ship. It's a Kenworth T880 towing an International. Kenworth, International and Mack are the only US WWII heavy truck makers still going. Kenworth 10-ton 6x6 heavy wrecking truck - Wikipedia
Every time I see a tracked excavator I compare its suspension arrangement to WW2 vehicles. Lots of very Churchill-esque systems out there, which is sort of interesting on ability & role... If you like that sort of thing.
As soon as I read 'tracked excavator' my mind flashed an image of those little Churchill wheels. Never noticed before but you are right.
Just watched this TV show from 56 that has the original Studebaker-Packard commercials. The two WWII players had recently merged in desperate attempt to stay in business. I saw an interview with a former employee who said that each was in such desperate shape at that point that when they merged that, "It was like two drunks trying to help each other cross the street."
It occurred to me last night that nightly news broadcasts make a concentrated effort to crap all every positive bit of covid news and that this is what it must have been like to listen to Lord Haw Haw and Tokyo Rose during WWII. Entertaining comedy but of no value.
Earlier this month we were on holiday in Worcestershire. We went for a few walks. Going through the fields of wheat & barley made me think of those photos of infantry advancing through the crop fields of Normandy in the summer of 44.
I would have thought of The Wheatfield at Gettsyburg The Wheatfield The area known as the Wheatfield had three geographic features, all owned by the John Rose family: the 20 acre (8 ha) field itself, Rose Woods bordering it on the west, and a modest elevation known as Stony Hill, also to the west. Immediately to the southeast was Houck's Ridge and to the south Devil's Den. The fighting here, consisting of numerous confusing attacks and counterattacks over two hours by eleven brigades, earned the field the nickname "Bloody Wheatfield."[29] Battle of Gettysburg, second day - Wikipedia
I can't think of any car that appears in more WWII movies than the Traction Avant. All this one needs is a Cross of Loraine, hand painted FFI or a couple of Nazi banners on the fenders.
Every time we drive down somewhere with high hedgerows, like Cornwall or bits of Somerset, or sometimes just trees overarching the road; I picture a Jagdpanther or StuG barrel poking out at the bends. I have not, as yet, shouted 'driver reverse', as that would be silly... but it crosses my mind.