Mo Murphy

Perhaps we should talk Jim Mo

Bravo James ! See, you can do voodoo Mo

Good call David, does anyone know which is which, the original or the namealike ? Mo

Well there you go, a British soldier version of Corporal Schmidt's poem. Mo

ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE IT WAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS HE LIVED ALL ALONE IN A ONE BEDROOM HOUSE MADE OF PLASTER AND STONE I HAD COME DOWN THE CHIMNEY WITH PRESENTS TO GIVE AND TO SEE JUST WHO IN THIS HOME DID LIVE I LOOKED ALL ABOUT A STRANGE SIGHT I DID SEE NO TINSEL NO PRESENTS NOT EVEN A TREE NO STOCKING BY THE MANTLE JUST BOOTS FILLED WITH SAND ON THE WALL HUNG PICTURES OF FAR DISTANT LANDS WITH MEDALS AND BADGES AWARDS OF ALL KINDS A SOBER THOUGHT CAME THROUGH MY MIND FOR THIS HOUSE WAS DIFFERENT IT WAS DARK AND DREARY I FOUND THE HOME OF A SOLDIER ONCE I COULD SEE CLEARLY THE SOLDIER LAY SLEEPING SILENT ALONE CURLED UP ON THE FLOOR IN THIS ONE BEDROOM HOME THE FACE WAS SO GENTLE THE ROOM IN SUCH DISORDER NOT HOW I PICTURED A LONE BRITISH SOLDIER WAS THIS THE HERO OF WHOM I'D JUST READ CURLED UP ON A PONCHO THE FLOOR FOR A BED I REALISED THE FAMILIES THAT I SAW THIS NIGHT OWED THEIR LIVES TO THESE SOLDIERS WHO WERE WILLING TO FIGHT SOON ROUND THE WORLD THE CHILDREN WOULD PLAY AND GROWNUPS WOULD CELEBRATE A BRIGHT CHRISTMAS DAY THEY ALL ENJOY FREEDOM EACH MONTH OF THE YEAR BECAUSE OF THE SOLDIERS LIKE THE ONE LYING HERE I COULDN'T HELP WONDER HOW MANY ALONE ON A COLD CHRISTMAS EVE IN A LAND FAR FROM HOME THE VERY THOUGH BROUGHT A TEAR TO MY EYE I DROPPED TO MY KNEES AND STARTED TO CRY THE SOLDIER AWAKENED AND I HEARD A ROUGH VOICE 'SANTA DON'T CRY THIS LIFE IS MY CHOICE I FIGHT FOR FREEDOM I DON'T ASK FOR MORE MY LIFE IS MY GOD, MY COUNTRY. MY CORPS' THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER AND DRIFTED TO SLEEP I COULDN'T CONTROL IT I CONTINUED TO WEEP I KEPT WATCH FOR HOURS SO SILENT AND STILL AND WE BOTH SAT AND SHIVERED FROM THE COLD NIGHTS CHILL I DIDN'T WANT TO LEAVE ON THAT COLD DARK NIGHT THIS GUARDIAN OF HONOUR SO WILLING TO FIGHT THEN THE SOLDIER ROLLED OVER WITH A VOICE SOFT AND PURE WHISPERED 'CARRY ON SANTA ITS CHRISTMAS DAY ALL IS SECURE' ONE LOOK AT MY WATCH AND I KNEW HE WAS RIGHT 'MERRY CHRISTMAS MY FRIEND AND TO ALL A GOOD NIGHT' THIS POEM WAS WRITTEN BY A PEACE KEEPING SOLDIER STATIONED OVERSEAS THE FOLLOWING IS HIS REQUEST I THINK IT IS REASONABLE. PLEASE WOULD YOU DO ME THE KIND FAVOUR OF SENDING THIS TO AS MANY PEOPLE AS YOU CAN CHRISTMAS WILL BE COMING SOON AND SOME CREDIT IS DUE TO ALL THE SERVICE MEN AND WOMEN ALL ROUND THE WORLD FOR OUR BEING ABLE TO CELEBRATE THESE FESTIVITIES. LETS TRY IN THIS SMALL WAY TO PAY A TINY BIT BACK OF WHAT WE OWE! George ________________________________________

Ted, If it's been serviced recently, check that the gearbox hasn't been overfilled. Mo

We had no trouble in our group, Mark 90 did a magnificent job and we had 2 pdas and a laptop running MM at the same time ! Mo

Doh, twice in one week, more Stella needed Congratulations Ben ! Mo

Tony's pregnant !!!!!!!!!!!! You kept that quiet Corders !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Congratulations Mo

If you are stuck Chris, I'll pick it up for you. Mo

No Les, I have Murphy Towers (the bigger tent) for all that malarky You won't need a fancy tent really, it's just that if you are pitching it each evening and then packing it away each morning you want something nice and quick to erect (oo er ) However my last little tent was a cheapy and during last summer's laning/camping trip to Surrey and Hampshire it need a little assistance in the heavy rain that was encountered ! Thus - Mo

Are there wolves in Holland ? Mo

Thanks Steve but I need to buy one as I've plenty of use for it lined up this year Mo

I'm going to buy a Khyam Igloo Puggers. Mo

You're going to keep a water tank as a pet ? Would not a rabbit do ? Mo

The MudStuff centre console also gets my vote, mines been in for 8 months or so now and has performed flawlessly and has been removed and refitted about a dozen times thanks to my dodgy electrics It also has steel back and side plates and these hold it very rigid Mo

Wow, thanks for the replies Gents, valuable information ! Armed with it I'm off to search the web many thanks again Mo

Outdoorsy chaps, I'm in the market for a 3 season sleeping bag, what are your recommendations ? Mo

Shiney ...............

I'll have you know Steve, that Hertfordshire is London's first line of defence against the northern Barbarians, holding out bravely against the Yokels and the Essex boys ! Good luck with the back op, Tony. Mo

I have the standard ones because I'm too tight to pay the extra for the fancy ones Mo

It's happened to me too, seems to get everyone eventually Mo

Don't use clevelock nuts for steelwork. They'll go on easily and won't loosen. Getting them off, however is an interesting experience Mo

Mmmmm, snow. I like the snow, especially for playing in Although James seems to enjoy living in it, odd chap. Mo

Yorkshire is foreign, isn't it ? Mo