Evening Gentlemen, firstly, Wales should have won, no, he should not have been sent off, sin bin yes, red card no, and lastly I hope the French get slaughtered next match. Right, have I made my alegiences known? Just a quick follow on, and thanks for the kind comments. Back in 1974 I was instructed to meet two Directors of our new British Importer, Nickerson, show them around the factory at Blainville, (an old shipyard,built between the River Orne and Canal, the main assembly hall actually built as two seperate halves leaving a gap of about 20mm in the roof centre! French architecture)! They were to stay at the Hotel Malherbe in Caen, (in WW11 the Gestapo headquarters). I arrived to take them for Dinner, but outside the Hotel was uproar, parked German tour buses surrounded with agitated German tourists. I paid little attention, and entered the hotel. Locating the rooms where my guests were staying I went up to the top floor, and knocked on the door of the suite. There was a delay, when it was opened not by an Englishman, but by Henri, an elderley waiter. He was laughing fit to burst, he gestured for me to enter. Inside, either side of the open window stood, Michael North-Cotes, (Service Director), and opposite, Arvian Llewellyn Jones (Sales Director). Between them were dishes heaped with nuts, which they were using as amunition to bombard the Germans below!! Later, over Dinner I was to learn that Arvian had landed at the Orne bridge, (Pegasus bridge), as a parachutist, and Michael had been heavily involved in the D Day landings. The following day lunch was to be taken in the works dining room, where everyone from management to production staff ate together. Mdme Retour, who ruled this excellent facility with a rod of iron, asked me who the guests were. I explained, and told her of their War record. The dining room was full, everyone enjoying their repast, when the Senior production manager rose, banged on the table, and called the assembly to attention, He then spoke, of the Heroes that were our guests, the gratitude that was owed, and raised a toast to the two men. Everyone rose to their feet and there was spontaneous applause. It is something that I will never forget, and I was very proud. Sorry its not directly lorry related, but it shows just how well regarded they were. Oh, lastly, staying at the Malherbe at the same time were two German MAN production engineers, and yes they were in the works dining room, and yes they applauded as well! Cheerio for now.
…heres todays stuff
