Post Eurovision bliss.

Picture above is Tony, my brother, and his first grandchild Tyler. Tony is about to move to Edenhope in Victoria. Edenhope - watch out!!!!!!

Well here we are post Eurovision song (?) contest. Another round of vote for the neighbour, especially the big one with all the guns!

This year Lin had already texted her submission, Gray and Sandra couldn't think of a better excuse than last year, Ches felt she had to back her mum, Al is up for any party anytime no matter what the occasion and I am just unable to say no!

We started watching and, unfortunately listening, to the damn contest. The sound appeared to be a bit off to me (even more than usual). There can't be that many bad singers in Europe can there?

At the point of realisation someone mentioned a game of cards. Val was heavily outvoted and we congregated around the dining room table for a game of mizzare. Well we call it mizzare but have no idea what it's really called. Good fun and a laugh was had by all. Which is more than can be said for unfortunates still watching the telly!!!

We watched the scoring, or neighbourliness as we more accurately should refer to it. We nearly got nil points again, only the paddies saved us. How come we never get kicked out of the next years event? One of the mysteries of TV world (and finances I would guess).

Well that's it for now. I have to dive downstairs to my good lady wife who is paper stripping in the hall. She loves it before anyone comments on my absence. I just have to stop her before she gets too carried away and spends the next couple of days regretting her lack of management of the old arthur!!

For those of you who don't open the comments have a read of the latest missives from Podga.

"Hey Paulie - Is it just you and I on this?Digging into the vaults? Phew - a wealth of jackanories - Graham diffusing an ugly incident at the NEC when we caught Heart. You and I on Dry Martini and Ginger Ale at Boscombe Down - ALL weekend - in the Social Club (plus vintage Norton Motorbike rider interviews on portable tape machine). The list is growing. You conning me into smuggling back Floyd, Ten Years After and Hawkwind albums (duty-free) from Germany. My sister offering us her reefer at Knebworth (Stones '76), we politely declined of course as serving members. And being totally blown away by Lynryd Skynyrd at the the same gig. Dave Litchfield (Dave the Rave - gay ahead of his time), Mick Russell (Leon) - still in touch with those two, Billy McQuiston, Barry Wilkinson (Wobblegob) and so on.Good to still be part of your life, as you have been of mine for 36 years.Blue skies and love to you all. Missive 4 of 137."

I remember all incidents well. At Boscombe we were a little worst for wear and armed with a portable tape recorder I recall interviewing a couple of local farm workers for the local radio!!!! Were they farmworkers or can I not get past the Martini!!!!!

After Knebworth we crashed out in sleeping bags. We were woken by a couple, also in a sleeping bag, doing what a couple should do in a sleeping bag on a cold English morning! The chap said something about having to do it as they may never see each other again. Fun days.

Billy Mac and Barry W were both at Innsworth in the same drafting cell as me. Seemed strange all with three stripes up after the fun times at Upwood!

"Yes it's me.Thought you had a weary night !! - try Riverdance at the Ipswich Regent - (an Xmas gift for Bil). Cloth Eared Idiots all hoppity-skippety over the stage. Bonus was bumping into colleague from Para days at interval, and then many beers after the show. Chewing the fat and listening to how it's never been the same after I left the Squadron. (Hands up who believes that. It was my round).Late - 0200.Blue Skies - CT "