Crossword Help Forum
Forum Rules

Trevor, if that's the entire plot I think you might get a bit exhausted!
I asked my local library if they had the book Wendy refers to- someone had just gifted them a copy and the girl processed it while I waited. It looks fascinating, thanks for the suggestion.

Trevor,

I think rampant sex on the beach would be an excellent idea, especially if you starred opposite the Winslet girl.

And more especially so if it were filmed in February!! (The words shrinking violet spring to mind. Tee hee (blushing furiously).

As for Matron - it strikes me as odd that she always crops up when you're about, just as Berkspotter does when Phillip's passing by.

Enjoy your Sunday everybody.

Have a lovely Sunday too Wendy! (and everyone else too)
TTFN

Rosalind,
if you are expecting a mucky plot line (and who could blame you? - after all,it was suggested by Wendy)i'm afraid you may be disappointed.
i thought it might be a bit girlie, but i tried it and got hooked.

i guessed my aunt would like it because her (sadly late - and French,sadly) husband got stuck on the isle of Jersey for the whole of the occupation (his intention was 2 weeks potato picking).
so many details coincided with things he had told her,SS men in hairnets,for instance.

enjoy!

Darned good job this fred is headed as being not crossword related innit!

My Father who was born in 1912 was imprisoned in Jersey by the Jerries for repairing radios, which were banned by the occupying forces as they didn't want the locals listening to the news from the BBC.

He was in solitary confinement for a spell, then managed to smuggle letters out to my Mum who used to take food to him and his cellmates.

For the benefit and better understanding by our chums from across the pond - "spuds" is local slang for "potatoes". Here's a short extract from one of the letters my Dad wrote to my Mum (well before I was born but I have the original letters which were written in pencil)

Grub Menu dans H. M. Prison

Mornings 8AM Mug of tea
Afternoon 12AM Mug soup & small mug of spuds
Afternoon 5.15 Mug of tea
NO SUPPER
Mons, Tues, Thurs, Friday 5.15 Small mug porridge

Bread will be supplied when asked for but the Governor made it clear the other day that unless we keep the consumption down, they will have to collect our ration books.

Nah, Trevor, I am expecting a rather proper but very interesting story told by way of letters (not my favourite genre but OK if well done). You would hardly be sending doubtful plot lines to your Aunt!
I read 3/4 books a week so am always looking for ideas.
Wendy, that list of food is incredible. The men must have all been starving, literally. Your poor father and all others. Isn't there a tale about long haired red colouered goats surviving the Occupation in Jersey or Guernsey by being hidden under beds
R

Rosalind,

I don't know anything about goats so assume it must have been Guernsey.

The locals were all issued with ration books and the political prisoners (not the actual criminals) could choose whether to give them over to the Germans, or get their families to feed them which was, of course, a far better option.

All pigs and other livestock had to be handed over too because the Germans had no food either. Well I say all pigs but it still surprises me how the locals managed to hide them away. One memorable story my father told was when he was called upon to help slaughter a pig and lay it down in salt for the villagers. Well they salted up this animal and put it in a coffin. A short while later, the Germans were at the door - saw the coffin and asked where it was going. They were told it was to a neighbouring household and the armed guard saluted and escorted the pig to the other property.

Wendy: We call them spuds too. Quite the story. We were spoiled over here. Well, civilians were anyway, by comparison; can't forget about the thousands of Americans buried in your neck of the woods, especially since the French seem to forget about them. My father was a Marine in the Pacific Theater, but being an ace sharpshooter he (right out of boot camp) guarded FDR at ShangriLa, and stood outside the door when he met with Churchill there. He survived a number of dangerous missions- helping Eleanor hunt down Fala in the woods. "A lovely lady," he said about her, "but not much to look at."

Aristo,

3 years ago we went to the Normandy landing beaches. I had, of course, read loads about it and seen loads of pics but NOTHING prepared me for the heartbreaking sight of the thousands of white crosses. The whole place was magnificently maintained by the Americans but oddly enough, we spent a lot of time walking around and not once did we seen a gardener or any evidence of leaves or weeds!

We moved on to the Canadian graves which were quite different. Again, very well maintained, but with lots of mementos, photographs and little dedications alongside the graves.

It struck me then as it still does now, how differently the 2 countries chose to honour their dead.

We didn't visit the German war graves.

Trevor,

You probably will not be aware but our local rag went tabloid.

Within the new look Dundee Courier is a Celebrity Watch.

The main article was a Kate Winslet interview...well interview was stretching it!

After being hounded by the World Press plus Dundee's finest Newshound on the rumour of her "dalliance" with a considerably older man. She refrained from comment.....for some while.....then totally lost it and shouted...

"I would rather be tickled than chocked!"

Two questions...

1 Are you the "older" man?

2 What did she mean?

Yours curiously,


pasty