Goldilocks Double Dutch by Stanley Unwin - Goldiloppers And The Three Bearloders

Another retro comedy star was Stanley Unwin. He always mixed his words up and spoke double Dutch or pigeon English. The strange thing was; everyone listened intently to try and decipher what he was saying. He would have small walk-on parts in movies and confuse everyone with his speech - yet somehow you grasped the gist of what he was trying to say. Once they had him talking about a government budget and he was a scream to listen to. The presenter remained serious and asked her political budget questions while Stanley Unwin spoke of the hardships the budget would cause to the average working Brit. He, of course, spoke in his usual confused mushy worded English. The funny thing was; you could grasp what he was saying. He made a living out of speaking like this because people wanted to try and decipher what he was saying. In the above clip, he tells the story of Goldilocks and the three Bears. Because you know the story you can grasp what he is saying - terrific fun to listen too...

The Beatles - Singing Paperback Writer

One of my favourite Beatles songs was Paperback Writer. I can remember when I was a kid and this song first came on the radio. I asked my mum who sung it. She was in the kitchen pottering about. When she said it was the Beatles, I felt a little dumb. For of course it was and I knew of them from news clippings and 'She Loves You - Yeah Yeah.' and 'I Wanna Hold Your Hand' and many, many, more.

He Who Dares Danny - Wellbeck Amazing Goal.

http://www.youtube.com/embed/zG0mKEsXYGs

It is amazing how a game can change from being demoralising to one of pure joy. This hard fought 'rollacoaster of a ride' game between Sweden and England in the Euro 2012 finals had it all. England took the lead and then Sweden, our chief boggie team, came back and led 2-1. Theo Walcott came on for England and he levelled the scores to 2-2. Then Sweden and England went at each other, each side searching for that winning goal. England prevailed with this wonder goal form Danny Welbeck. The striker must be walking on air with super sub Theo Walcott. I had about 100 heart attacks watching this game.

Sir Prancelot UK kiddie TV series

I always remember this episode with Bert and Harry - the two soldiers on the Sir Prancelot odyssey in the travelling balloon. They aid the escape by sling shooting spaghetti at their assailants. Every evening there was a different episode. I used to like the end theme tune with the jester playing his lute like an electric guitar.

Why Vespasian the Roman Soldier Become the Nineth Emperor

Vespasian

I had to do a blog on Vespasian because he is one of my most favourite Roman Emperors. I think it is because I knew of his name long ago, though I did not know too much concerning him. I sort of stumbled upon things of interest when Vespasian was a soldier and thus he was propelled into my Retro Brit sphere of interest. He was about during some remarkable historical events and lived through the reign of some of the more dreadful times of Tiberius, the chief prefect Sejanus, Caligula, Claudius, Nero and the first three of the emperors during the 'Year of Four Emperors.' Vespasian was the fourth in the year of 'Four Emperors' and would have a non-threatening ten-year reign until his death in 79AD at the age of 69. He would be the first emperor to be succeeded by his son too.

Vespasian, as a man, was forth right and amiable and had a commanding presence. Perhaps overbearing among his equals.  He seems to have been a very hands on person and won the respect of his men in the Roman Army. He had little time for philosophers or artists and regarded them as unmanly dodgers of responsibility. Perhaps his opinion of Nero might have been guarded during that emperor's reign. He was also said to be quick witted and enjoyed off the cuff jokes.

He was born in 9AD and as a young man his family acquired status through senatorial bodies but were not connected to the ruling Julio/Claudian families. He went into the military and served for three years in Thrace (around Greece and Slavonic's areas) This was when he was around 18 to 21 years of age. He returned to Rome in 30 AD. It was during the reign of Emperor Tiberius, but the head of the Praetorian Guard was a virtual regent ruler. His name was Sejanus and this was one year before the over ambitious Prefect met his grisly end for all but trying to usurp his Emperor Tiberius.

After Emperor Tiberius came the dreadful reign of Caligula, though Vespasian was overseas in Crete and was able to stay out of this emperor's notice. After this short reign, a new emperor named Claudius came into power, and it was at this point that Vespasian's career began to take off.

He was made a Legate in the 2nd Legion in 41AD and was stationed on the German frontier. He saw some action here and was becoming well respected by his men. In 43 AD he led the 2nd Legion during the invasion of Britain and saw a great deal of campaigning including a siege of one of the many British hill forts. He won great acclaim for his command during this important historical period in Britain's history.

He saw many other tours of duty and gradually his men became very devoted to him. During the reign of Emperor Nero, he led the campaign against the revolt of Judea in 66AD. However, in 68 AD when he was about to lead a siege upon Jerusalem, Vespasian was brought the news of Emperor Nero's suicide.

The new emperor was a man called Galba and he was unpopular from the start. He failed to pay the Praetorian Guard for supporting his seizing of the Roman empire's throne and levied taxes upon provinces that made him more unpopular. He was assassinated in January of 69AD - the first of the emperors in the 'Year of Four Emperors.' 

A new emperor called Otho came about but his rule was immediately challenged by a man called Vitellius stationed with his Roman forces in Germany. So after failed attempts at mediation Otho and his forces marched north towards the Swiss Alps to confront Vitellius and his Roman forces of Germany. There were a few battles but in the end, Otho committed suicide for the good of Rome, allowing Vitellius to become the third emperor after only three months of rule by late Emperor Otho. 

The late Emperor Otho was actually respected by many of his men and the appointing of Vitellius finally brought Vespasian forward as a contender for the supreme rule of the vast Roman Empire. He also commanded great loyalty from his men and he challenged the legality of Emperor Vitellius. After seven months of civil strife, Emperor Vitellius finally conceded defeat and resigned from power. However, Vespasian's soldiers still set upon him and murdered the broken man when they entered Rome. There could be no room for future threats and Vitellius had made his dreadful mistake when challenging Emperor Otho eight months earlier. 

Vespasian was now Emperor with no more competitors and would rule for ten years until 79 AD. His rule was a good one and his son succeeded him. His prowess as a soldier before becoming emperor are what grab my interest most, especially his campaigns in Britain during the rule of Emperor Claudius.

Sources:

BBC HISTORY

THE ROMAN EMPIRE

UNRV HISTORY

BIO

Moyra Melons Interview Ear Rings

Moyra Melons was very pleased with her new sky blue ear rings that matched her wonderful sky blue jacket and skirt. This was the outfit she thought to wear during an interview for a new job. She was hoping to gain a promotion and wanted to create a good impression. As usual, she waited for her husband's valued opinion concerning such matters and so, with great aplomb, and a little charming start from his hard days work; her husband walked through the living room door and was confronted by his darling wife, as you - the reader see her in this photo, sitting in the armchair. One might imagine the Wow! factor blowing a few cobwebs from tired eyes.

"Do these create an impression with this?" she asked doing the buttons up on her delicate light blue jacket. "I thought this pair of shapely ovoid ..."

"Stop, stop Moyra!" called her excited husband, coming over in a heart pulsating, flush. "Please say no more."

"You don't approve of them darling?" asked Moyra, a little confused, for she thought her ear rings were wonderful.

"Moyra, my absolute darling, they are the most wonderful, round and wholesome..."

"...Ear rings you have seen," finished Moyra clapping her hands in delight. "I want them to stand out and be noticed - I want them to scream out for attention."

"I'll give them some expert attention," replied her husband as he closed the door.

And guess what? He really did give them some very serious attention. Would you, the reader, give the lush Moyra Melons the benefit of such divine attention, concerning her large, round and fulsome ear rings, if you were her husband?

Ghoulish Remains of Vampires Found by Archaelogists.

Bulgarian Archaeologists dig up Vampire remains

Since fictional knowledge of supernatural creatures, such as vampires, came into our minds through stories, etc; many of us have wanted to believe in such beings. Over time we have even twisted and re-fashioned them into anti-heroes, convincing ourselves they live among us secretly and preserve some strange good. We re-invent them as beautiful Gothic type creatures that we might want to fall in love with. I think some of these strange Goth dressed teenagers, of today, would run headlong into the path of a vampire to be bitten into the supernatural world of such beings. We even have loads of tv, books and film series based on such things. However, this is all fantasy, but the original folklore comes from rural Balkan people and their belief of such things. Vampires were very real, to these people, at one time, and because of such beliefs; they often did things from hysteria and panic concerning their conviction of vampires. 

In remote areas of Eastern Europe, the people have always harboured a fear and belief of vampires. Such creatures were not so pretty to the small perspective of peasant villagers and the remote type of world they lived in. Even up to a few decades past. Often people, believed to be vampires, were buried with stakes through their heart to stop them returning as undead supernatural beings. Often they were visualised as the rotting flesh of dead people walking about, but sometimes possessing abilities to portray an image of allurement to deceive a victim into thinking they were an image of love.

Recently in Bulgaria, archaeologists found two medieval skeletons pierced through the chest with iron rods to supposedly stop them from turning into vampires. The discovery highlights the dreadful belief and practise common in some villages up until a century ago, say historians.

People suspected of becoming undead (vampires) had their hearts stabbed after death, for fear they would return to feast on living humans' blood.

Many such archaeological sites get unearthed in countries throughout the Balkan region as this area is home to a great number of vampire burial grounds.

In the photo at the very top of the blog, searchers came by two specimens in their graves, dating back to the Middle Ages, in the Black Sea town of Sozopol. The skeletons were stabbed with rods betraying a practise which was common in many Bulgarian villages up until around 1910 of the 20th Century. This is according to Bozhidar Dimitrov who is based at the National History Museum in the Bulgaria's capital city, Sofia.

People believed the stake would impale the undead to their graves thus preventing the 'believed' vampire  from leaving the grave at night to roam and terrorise the living.

In 2004, archaeologists discovered another six nailed-down skeletons at a site near the eastern Bulgarian town of Debelt. These ghoulish religious rites were also practised in neighbouring Serbia and too.

Vampire legends form an important part of the region's folklore. The most famous tale is that of Romanian count Vlad the Impaler, known as Dracula, who staked his war enemies and drank their blood.  Also a Hungarian Countess that was tried for such things concerning bathing in virgin blood.

The myth inspired Irish writer, Bram Stoker, to create his legendary Gothic horror novel, Dracula, which was first published in 1897 and has since been turned into numerous film versions.