Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Lizzie Zoom]

As Cher sang, "If I could turn back time"....
I'd love to go back to my teenage years, knowing what I now know about women (which ain't a lot, honestly gents!) and putting it to good advantage. 

Ron.

If I could go back Ron I would ask my grandparents, parents, great uncle,and great aunt a lot more questions about their history, writing it all down.  As youngster do, I sat and listened to many recollections of their lives, but failed to take it all in and ask the additional questions beyond those that I did due to now obvious gaps in my knowledge! 

[Bigron]

Totally agree, Lizzie. My paternal grandfather was German, and I didn't realise it at the time, since the family kept it quiet (post-war discretion) and, like you, I was too young to question adults; we didn't, back then, did we?

Ron.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I think Lizzie would go back to something like 1958.

Supermac as PM, and a nice black Humber Imperial for her to drive.

[Lizzie Zoom]

Totally agree, Lizzie. My paternal grandfather was German, and I didn't realise it at the time, since the family kept it quiet (post-war discretion) and, like you, I was too young to question adults; we didn't, back then, did we?

Ron.

No, we didn't Ron.  We did not know what to ask I suppose, although once my age moved into double digits. I started to, and found out a great deal, but still nowhere near enough of what would been available to me.  Fortunately my father was not only in the Royal Navy from 1940 to 1966, but he loved modern military history, reading many books on the subject, which meant we also gained much knowledge and viewpoint  on the subject.

As for you grandfather being German and that not being discussed; back in the 1960's I met a German women who's father had been a Nazi fighting in the war.  She would make it clear that she never would understand how her parents generation let it all happen; she was angry and very embarrassed by it.  My mother had the same type of experience with a German woman who used to get very upset recalling what had happened in Germany, and apparently just asked the question repeatedly, "How could they [her parents] allow such a thing; why did they not stop it?!"

The truth is, we know, that to stand up to the level of power and evil the Nazi's had reached by 1939 was near suicidal. Nothing would have stopped the Nazis once Hitler gained power at 1300 on the 30th January 1933.  Democracy was lost.

[Bigron]

"Democracy was lost" - just like Corbyn wants to achieve?

Ron.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I think Lizzie would go back to something like 1958.

Supermac as PM, and a nice black Humber Imperial for her to drive.

Not 1958, although I loved the Humber's.  No, 21st October 1805 at 1130, just before Nelson's fleet started to cross the Spanish and French combined fleet at Trafalgar, watching from a safe vantage point, would do me very nicely.  To see HMS Victory heading the forward line with HMS Temeraire and HMS Neptune at it's head, eventually coming aft of the French Flagship Bucentaure and Victory opening up a full broadside into the Bucentaure's stern, destroying the Grand Cabin and sending heavy fire from stern to fore smashing everything in the way, including more than 400 French sailors.  Terrible carnage, but from an historical point of view a moment in time that was the start of a change in the fortunes of Great Britain.  What an experience that would be!

[Lizzie Zoom]

"Democracy was lost" - just like Corbyn wants to achieve?

Ron.

From what I see Corbyn's vision is not far off from National Socialism, without the military.

[Bigron]

Yerse; he would have the military too, if given the chance.

Ron.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I think Lizzie would go back to something like 1958.

Supermac as PM, and a nice black Humber Imperial for her to drive.

Not 1958, although I loved the Humber's.  No, 21st October 1805 at 1130, just before Nelson's fleet started to cross the Spanish and French combined fleet at Trafalgar, watching from a safe vantage point, would do me very nicely.  To see HMS Victory heading the forward line with HMS Temeraire and HMS Neptune at it's head, eventually coming aft of the French Flagship Bucentaure and Victory opening up a full broadside into the Bucentaure's stern, destroying the Grand Cabin and sending heavy fire from stern to fore smashing everything in the way, including more than 400 French sailors.  Terrible carnage, but from an historical point of view a moment in time that was the start of a change in the fortunes of Great Britain.  What an experience that would be!

I had you down as more of a 1066 girl.

Now that really changed history.

[Lizzie Zoom]

I think Lizzie would go back to something like 1958.

Supermac as PM, and a nice black Humber Imperial for her to drive.

Not 1958, although I loved the Humber's.  No, 21st October 1805 at 1130, just before Nelson's fleet started to cross the Spanish and French combined fleet at Trafalgar, watching from a safe vantage point, would do me very nicely.  To see HMS Victory heading the forward line with HMS Temeraire and HMS Neptune at it's head, eventually coming aft of the French Flagship Bucentaure and Victory opening up a full broadside into the Bucentaure's stern, destroying the Grand Cabin and sending heavy fire from stern to fore smashing everything in the way, including more than 400 French sailors.  Terrible carnage, but from an historical point of view a moment in time that was the start of a change in the fortunes of Great Britain.  What an experience that would be!

I had you down as more of a 1066 girl.

Now that really changed history.

As do most events throughout history Opti

No, Trafalgar was a major sea battle that really established the power of the Royal Navy, so appeals particularly to me

Besides, I would sooner watch brave Jack Tars at work than smelly Saxons and Normans fighting it out

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

There are many points in time I wish I could travel back to, but if I had to pick just one it would be 11pm on the 12/10/76.
It was a life changing moment, just before I reached the grand old age of 17.

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

There are many points in time I wish I could travel back to, but if I had to pick just one it would be 11pm on the 12/10/76.
It was a life changing moment, just before I reached the grand old age of 17.

End away for the first time?

[Field Marshal Dr. Opti]

I think Lizzie would go back to something like 1958.

Supermac as PM, and a nice black Humber Imperial for her to drive.

Not 1958, although I loved the Humber's.  No, 21st October 1805 at 1130, just before Nelson's fleet started to cross the Spanish and French combined fleet at Trafalgar, watching from a safe vantage point, would do me very nicely.  To see HMS Victory heading the forward line with HMS Temeraire and HMS Neptune at it's head, eventually coming aft of the French Flagship Bucentaure and Victory opening up a full broadside into the Bucentaure's stern, destroying the Grand Cabin and sending heavy fire from stern to fore smashing everything in the way, including more than 400 French sailors.  Terrible carnage, but from an historical point of view a moment in time that was the start of a change in the fortunes of Great Britain.  What an experience that would be!

I had you down as more of a 1066 girl.

Now that really changed history.

As do most events throughout history Opti

No, Trafalgar was a major sea battle that really established the power of the Royal Navy, so appeals particularly to me

Besides, I would sooner watch brave Jack Tars at work than smelly Saxons and Normans fighting it out

I doubt the men on HMS Victory were particularly fragrant.

[Migv6 le Frog Fan]

There are many points in time I wish I could travel back to, but if I had to pick just one it would be 11pm on the 12/10/76.
It was a life changing moment, just before I reached the grand old age of 17.

End away for the first time?

Not quite. I was with a girl though and my mate. She said "you should ride his bike home, hes so pissed he can hardly stand"
I replied "you worry too much. We,ll be fine". Famous last words - almost.  We got less than a mile down the road before the inevitable happened.

[BazaJT]

Apart from a very brief[one month and three new gearboxes]dalliance with a VdP 3 litre my dad always drove Super Snipes from the late '50s until '67 when production ended,they were fine cars indeed,the Imperial was a slightly posher version of the same car.I'd agree with Lizzie and go for Trafalgar.Last of the great fleet battles under sail-although there were other smaller scale battles after that.Collingwood breaking the combined fleets line first in Royal Sovereign.The last signal nelson caused to be hoisted aboard Victory[and was still flying until her masts came down being "Engage the enemy more closely"This whilst a lot of the ships were so close that the lower gunports could not be opened if shut nor closed if open.Must have been a magnificent if gruesome sight.