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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Psst--d'you reckon we ought to cue the young folk and the outlanders whence came this pun?
Jazz has spoken for the young, so I think I can say the same for the "outlanders", having all the qualifications of outlandishness. Smokey bear is not unknown over here, although he hasn't received much prominence lately, so maybe the set that includes young AND outlander would miss the point.
It was good to see the full story, though - thank you wow!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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I feel it is time I added an histerical aspect to this thread, histery being my bag. So, I will tell you a tale of the Norsemen and their impact on civilization. Many of you will know that the Vikings travelled to the Mediterrannean, via the rivers of what is now Russia. And there they found in use a type of boat, known as a caique, which is still in use round there to this day. They are fine looking, practical vessels, well suited to their task of carrying freight, passengers or fishermen. One Norseman, Eric the Unlikely, was so impressed that he purchased one, with the intention of introducing its use into the Norwegian Fjords. Now, the quickest way to Norway from the Med. is via the Atlantic, the English Channel and the North Sea (to use their modern names, thereby hiding my ignorance of what they were called at the time by pretending to pander to my readers' lack of knowledge of this period  ) And this is the route that Eric set out on, late in September in the year ninehundred and blank. It is fine in the Mediterranean at that season, and he did well. When he reached the Atlantic, however, he encountered contrary gales that delayed him by blowing him almost to Madeira. (He didn't know that, or he might have overwintered in that delightful isle - but it hadn't beeen discovered yet, so he couldn't do that without altering history) By the time he reached the North Sea, it was early November, and the weather had turned very cold indeed. Added to which, the winds were contrary - as they usually are when you are in a hurry. There is probably a law of nature to describe this phenomenon  Eric began to run short of food, and to get very cold indeed. He was afraid of hypothermia - or would have been, had the term been thought of by then. So he built a big fire on the deck, in the place where he usually did the cookiong. This was a great comfort, and he felt much better, even to the point where he was no longer so worried about his hunger. The firs began to die down, so he piled on the remains of his fuel, hoping that the wind would change and blow him home swiftly. It did no such thing, of course! He ran out of fuel, so he used his wooden shield. Still the wind did not blow the right way. He used all of his luggage and all of the things he'd bought in the souvenir shops along the Mediterranean, Still the wind blew contrary-wise. He pulled down the sails and burnt them (they were blowing him away from Norway, anyway, he reasoned) Then he pulled up the seats and burnt them. At last - he pulled the off sides of the boat as fuel and the inevitable happened. Waves came over the sides and swamped the boat, not only quenching the fire, but sinking the vessel. Which just goes to show that you can't have your caique and heat it.
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old hand
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So, I will tell you a tale of the Norsemen and their impact on civilization. Many of you will know that the Vikings travelled to
the Mediterrannean, via the rivers of what is now Russia.
This passage is now known as the Varangian Highway. The people who plied it were indeed Nordic folk, of a tribe called the Russ, whence Russia. Like your Eric, there was another Eric who pioneered this route, but died in his hasty first trip through unfamiliar teritory, going down in history as, of course, Eric the Dead. Sven the Foolish tried it next, and also died. Then Lars the Lost tried it and, well, you can guess what happened. Eventually some of decendants succeeded, and settled many cities along the route, but not before spawning the saying, Fools, Russ kin, where wise men fear to tread.
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In a battle of wits, some are pacifists by neccessity...
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In a battle of wits, some are pacifists by neccessity...Are you nit-picking about my wit, or just calling me a nit-wit? 
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Which just goes to show that you can't have your caique and heat it.
I heard another version, wherein he was travelling with his wife, Edith. He had to toss Edith overboard to keep the caique from sinking, so he couldn't have his caique and Edith too. Maybe I heard wrong, though.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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so he couldn't have his caique and Edith tooThere is yet another version, which I am certain is apocryphal, that Eric was carrrying a Papal Bull (or edict) back to Scandinavia and was attacked by pagan pirates who confiscated the ship so that the Bull should not be delivered. Maybe you heard the same version, Geoff, but delivered by a Castillian. This may also be the origin of Bullship
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Maybe you heard the same version, Geoff, but delivered by a Castillian.
In the version I heard, the haughty Illian wasn't cast, but merely dropped on his head. This formerly aragon womanizer eventually recovered enough to go into a pub where he met a friend from Pisa who inquired, "How-a com-a you arrive inna da barsalona, whenna you likea da women?
This may also be the origin of Bullship
Oh, RC, I am cowed by your grasp of nautical lore!
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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I have no one to blame but myself for the fact that I, knowing better, read additions to this thread.
Thank you all for revealing to me an aspect of myself of which I was formerly unaware. I might as well start reading the S&M ads.
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Pooh-Bah
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Pooh-Bah
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Oh, RC, I am cowed by your grasp of nautical lore
But as you get to know me better, you'll find this awe will not last for heiffer
And, I guess that ian wasn't Ill before he was cast on to his bonce.
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