New members

[whole diary]

[Red Squirrel]

I can't help noticing that a lot of people seem to have joined this forum in the last few weeks... does no-one else find this worrying? Has their loyalty to rail been tested? Are we sure that they don't clandestinely represent the motorist lobby?

I suppose we'll know soon enough, if grahame disappears and is replaced by jeremyc.

[grahame]

I can't help noticing that a lot of people seem to have joined this forum in the last few weeks... does no-one else find this worrying? Has their loyalty to rail been tested? Are we sure that they don't clandestinely represent the motorist lobby?

I suppose we'll know soon enough, if grahame disappears and is replaced by jeremyc.

I love it 

Yet many a true word spoken written in jest.

We make checks on signup requests; it's such a common issue that there are dedicated websites such as http://www.stopforumspam.com to help us ... and that's just one layer.  In most cases, the decisions are clearcut but there are some which are doubtful - indeed just yesterday I was delighted to be able to accept a member who's initial signup waved two yellow flags at me, but after an email exchange (s)he turned out to be genuine.

We have been made much stronger over the years by accepting and listening to / dealing with the arguments of a small number of members with whom we have not been in agreement. And I hope will continue to welcome)anyone with reasoned argument in a different direction to our own; occasionally it may mean things get a bit lively. 

Whilst I don't share certain views with Jeremy C,  I will admit to admit to finding his competitors in the Labour leadership contest a little seedy - "we need to take XXXX direction so we can have a realistic chance of getting into government" strikes me as being a case of putting a quest for power in front of principles.  But then you may call it "pragmatism" and that's something we all have to accept (after a deep breath) sometimes.

I hope we see a lot more people joining the forum over the next few weeks too 

[Surrey 455]

I can't help noticing that a lot of people seem to have joined this forum in the last few weeks... does no-one else find this worrying? Has their loyalty to rail been tested? Are we sure that they don't clandestinely represent the motorist lobby?

I suppose we'll know soon enough, if grahame disappears and is replaced by jeremyc.

I initially assumed that you were talking about the controversial Jeremy C but then realised you were talking about the controversial Jeremy C instead.

(Clarkson v Corbyn) It was the motoring reference that initially threw me!

[Tim]

I initially assumed that you were talking about the controversial Jeremy C but then realised you were talking about the controversial Jeremy C instead.

I thought that you were talking about the Health Secretary, then I remembered that he is called Jeremy HUNT

[patch38]

...then I remembered that he is called Jeremy HUNT

By everyone except Jim Naughtie.

[bobm]

..bet he never forgets now though. 

[Red Squirrel]

..bet he never forgets now though. 

Well, Mr Hunt has moved on and we have a new Culture Secretary now. Less potential for Spoonerisms.

It's on YouTube; always worth listening again (I won't provide a link; you can find it if you want to). I have to admire Jim's professionalism in holding it together when he realised what he'd said.

"Pardon me; coughing fit." Priceless.

[bobm]

I know someone who once had an unfortunate incident while reporting on the Coxless Pairs at Henley Royal Regatta.

[TonyK]

I know someone who once had an unfortunate incident while reporting on the Coxless Pairs at Henley Royal Regatta.

The pastor's wife at my church struggled with that one, one Sunday morning during the 2000 Olympics. We laughed so much afterwards that we nearly spilled our Bucks Fizz.

[JayMac]

Not forgetting the time Trevor McDonald meant to say, "Kent Countryside".

[bobm]

Seem to remember he had a problem with Turkish Kurds too.

[JayMac]

Not a Spoonerism but funny miscommunication:

https://youtu.be/auNXpFmj9U8?t=3m4s

[Thatcham Crossing]

Norman Smith (BBC^» (British Broadcasting Corporation - home page) political journo) recently made a more direct slip-up live on-air of course, calling Nigel Farage something very rude indeed!

[Chris from Nailsea]

We laughed so much afterwards that we nearly spilled our Bucks Fizz.

A relative of mine, in the hotel trade in Devon (names not given, to protect the guilty!) recounted to me the following story.

There was a new waitress who ventured out into the dining room to take an order from an elderly couple. After much discussion, and several changes of mind about what food and drink the customers actually required, the waitress wanted to make sure she had noted their order correctly. She apparently asked, "so, is it one or two Busy F*cks you wanted?" - before rushing back to the kitchen, scarlet with embarrassment.

[Chris from Nailsea]

There was also the classic 'didn't quite get his leg over' cricket incident, where Brian Johnston and Jonathan Agnew gradually fall apart while trying to continue their summary.