Comments on IDLE: Things They Didn't Teach at Sandhurst in 1980

Idle: A semi- ripe pear stuffed with Stilton and ...

2008-02-17T16:11:00.000Z

Idle: A semi- ripe pear stuffed with Stilton and wrapped in Proscuitto then baked in the oven is a favourite at Chez Trubes. I serve it on salad leaves with toasted pinenuts and sprinkled with Balsamic Vinegar.
Deliceux.

I was going to mention about The Duke of Westminster being the Commander in Chief of the Territorial Army but you pre-empted me. He is, as you said, very highly regarded in the T.A. particularly on Merseyside.
He seems to have a great affinity with Liverpool and I`m sure, the residents of the City, will be eternally grateful in times to come, for his unyielding support of the City.

45 - indeed. Major General His Grace the Duke of W...

2008-02-15T10:07:00.000Z

45 - indeed. Major General His Grace the Duke of Westminster is the full mouthful.

By all accounts he is loved by all territorial yeomanry soldiers.

I have taken to eating my stilton with pears (ideally, a very sweet pear poached in a fruity red wine). I commend this dish to the house.

His Grace General Grosvenor is he not, or Westmins...

2008-02-14T23:09:00.000Z

His Grace General Grosvenor is he not, or Westminster or whatever.

We had one of those stiltons filled with port at a shoot once. Arriviste or not, it was nearly the end of me, as port is altogether too moreish for my loose self-control. Frightful as you say!

"I was cooler than a cucumber and dry as toast as ...

2008-02-14T19:08:00.000Z

"I was cooler than a cucumber and dry as toast as one of Her Majesty's officers. I was attacked only once by one of my own men.
"

"How to attack a whole stilton was always a major bone of contention in the mess...Some arrivistes had an idea one should hollow out a bowl in the top of the cheese and pour a glass of port into it. Frightful."

Two of the finest quotes on the blogosphere. More power to your port-spoon, Idle! I hava bottle of Warre's 1975 which was a leftover from a Year tasting I hosted a while back at The Wine Library, EC3 - I can assure anyone interested that it will never be used to douse a stilton.

How to attack a whole stilton was always a major b...

2008-02-13T22:38:00.000Z

How to attack a whole stilton was always a major bone of contention in the mess, E-K. Some said spoons, other said it should be shaved horizontally.

Some arrivistes had an idea one should hollow out a bowl in the top of the cheese and pour a glass of port into it. Frightful.

I would love a copy of the Officer's Handbook - li...

2008-02-13T18:59:00.000Z

I would love a copy of the Officer's Handbook - listing etiquette such as how to cut cheese properly. So useful in combat.

I (as Lilith also suggests) always thought virulen...

2008-02-11T08:42:00.000Z

I (as Lilith also suggests) always thought virulent meant virus bearing - difficult to imagine the Lt General intended that officers should be raddled with pox as a matter of pride and principle.

Other than this minor quibble, sound advice I would say.

Idle: My maternal Great Grandmama was born in Birk...

2008-02-10T21:42:00.000Z

Idle: My maternal Great Grandmama was born in Birkenkead.
I have met Gerald Grosvenor on several occasions, regarding Charitable works. He did not, at that time, really stand with Pomp and Ceremony, with ordinary mortals such as myself !
His dear Mamma addressed, in those days, as 'Your Grace' by anybody she wished to speak to. We used to share the same Hair Dresser in Chester. She was a delightful, gracious lady and talked of her son`s forthcoming marriage to 'Tally'.

Idle/Trubes - Interesting link re Liverpool.I stil...

2008-02-10T12:39:00.000Z

Idle/Trubes - Interesting link re Liverpool.

I still wonder wherther we should develop there, it is difficult though, because the city has it's own mafia, and you can waste an enormous amount of money to get nowhere.

I think the answer is don't ever give up on a city - look at Belfast for instance!

Apart from that, Gin, then tea, then lovemaking seems a great idea for days with a 'd' in the spelling...

How refreshingly un - PC!!

2008-02-08T21:08:00.000Z

How refreshingly un - PC!!

Trubes - One Eyed City: there's only one i in Live...

2008-02-08T15:18:00.000Z

Trubes - One Eyed City: there's only one i in Liverpool. The same is said of Birkenhead, where my maternal great-grandfather was born.

If you meet the owner of Grosvenor Estates, suggest you address him as His Grace the Duke of Westminster. He got promoted quite a few years ago!

I accept what you say about Liverpool. It can't possibly as bad as its reputation.

Idle: Why do you call Liverpool "The one eyed City...

2008-02-08T14:42:00.000Z

Idle: Why do you call Liverpool "The one eyed City"? Je ne comprend pas!
There are lots of lovely ladies around Liverpool but you won`t find any 'Down Town' on Friday or Saturday nights.
I`m impressed that you were here during the Firemens Strike, in the 80`s, commanding your Squadron, well done you. At that time I was living on the Wirral, so wasn`t around to hurl any bricks at you. Tee hee !
This is a diverse City and attracts a lot of negative
publicity, thanks to the likes of Cilla and Colleen, neither of whom live here, nor contribute in any decent way, to 'up' the profile of this magnificent City.
Those two would be regarded as "Common of muck" and not as useful, by my dear departed Mama.
If you do re- visit the City , and I sincerely hope you do, you will find it a changed place. There is so much going on, including the re-development of the shopping centre, backed by Lord Grosvenor of Grosvenor Estates, (the weathiest Land owner in the UK), it would be difficult to describe in a few words. As it seems, I`ve used rather a lot already !
If you google skyscrapercity, that may enlighten you a little to the current and exciting develpoments in Liverpool.

Hope all is good at Idle Turrets

Di.xx

I indulge in pogonotomy daily, merms. Listening to...

2008-02-07T23:24:00.000Z

I indulge in pogonotomy daily, merms. Listening to the utterly ridiculous Archbeard of Canterbury reminded me that I am a pogonophobe, too.

I have a very good joke about sang-froid which I will post on this blog, after the HMS Apollo incident that I promised, which the Tuscan says I will get around to in early summer.

I was cooler than a cucumber and dry as toast as one of Her Majesty's officers. I was attacked only once by one of my own men.

Do you have a fine facial adornment too? Do you ad...

2008-02-07T22:11:00.000Z

Do you have a fine facial adornment too? Do you address the troops with aloofness? Do you nonchalantly brush off your severed arm nerve-endings with pure sang-froid and say: "A mere scratch m'dear boy, a mere scratch?"

I think we should be told

Oh DO Idle :-) Love the flask of gin and tea.P.S "...

2008-02-07T18:18:00.000Z

Oh DO Idle :-) Love the flask of gin and tea.

P.S "Virulent" lovemaking could be a bit scary. I didn't think they had HIV in those days.

Trubes, the only time I have spent in the one-eyed...

2008-02-07T15:25:00.000Z

Trubes, the only time I have spent in the one-eyed city was in about 1982/3, commanding a squadron of Green Goddesses during a firemen's strike. No one got hurt.

But I will strike North after Somerset and take in Merseyside as well, as long as you can assure me that the girls are not all like Colleen McLoughlin or Cilla Black.

Ooh! I say Idle. Any chance of you visiting Liverp...

2008-02-07T12:31:00.000Z

Ooh! I say Idle. Any chance of you visiting Liverpool also ?

Next time I am down visiting family in Somerset I ...

2008-02-07T10:13:00.000Z

Next time I am down visiting family in Somerset I will buy a pack of panatellas and carry a small flask of gin 'n tea. I might grow a moustache as well. Look out for me in Bruton and Shepton Mallet, lil.

Phwoar, would I have liked to meet Lt Gen Hubert! ...

2008-02-07T09:04:00.000Z

Phwoar, would I have liked to meet Lt Gen Hubert! :-)