John We had those wonderful old wood-enclosed Lee Enfield rifles[1] *without* bayonets and, although the movements were required to be sharp, there was no actual "tossing" going on - at least in a literal sense.
The competition was mainly based on the sharpness of dress and movements. I lost my team all hope of winning the competition through my keenness[2] in tossing my head in answer to an eyes right - or was it left? - command. My beret badge went flying away from my head - mortifying. The inspecting moustache laboriously replaced it for me. [1] The apparently tinny toys you see today in military parades in the UK today, such as the "Trooping of the Colour", are quite inadequate for parade purposes. Only a Lee Enfield can be "presented" as if you mean it. [2] I once attended the wedding of a Gillette executive. The best man, in his obligatory speech, punned by referring to the groom as a "keen" young man. Chris Mason ----- Original Message ----- From: "Chase, John" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Newsgroups: bit.listserv.ibm-main To: <IBM-MAIN@BAMA.UA.EDU> Sent: Tuesday, 19 December, 2006 3:10 PM Subject: Re: Plurals and language confusion > > -----Original Message----- > > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List On Behalf Of Chris Mason > > > > . . . > > > > How did I survive being in the cadets at school? And I was > > even selected to participate in a "guards" competition once - > > what mental agony! > > Did you get to toss the rifles (with bayonets affixed) back and forth? > :-) > > -jc- ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
