Things you rather like about this country

[Blue Hills]

Alledgedly Rod 'the mod' Stewart on harmonica.

I think that's reckoned to not be true.
There is a link between that, what can be reckoned to be the birth of British ska and Evelyn Waugh though - must get round to putting it in the true factoids.
RIP Millie.

 

[All uphill]

The churches are just great to visit and look inside as well. A place of solitude and meditation whether you are religious or not. Plus such a variety of styles. Shame some aren’t open during the week.

You're scaring me now!

I'm used to chatting with the ladies doing the flowers and all the time I was risking bumping into the Merciless!

 

[Ridgeway]

Creme eggs

 

[PaulB]

We'll all probably go through our entire lives without much fear of being shot. Or being threatened at gun point. Or seeing a gun, really.

 

[Chris S]

We'll all probably go through our entire lives without much fear of being shot. Or being threatened at gun point. Or seeing a gun, really.

Not any more. Gun crime is so common in some inner city areas it doesn't even make the papers.

There was an attempted car-jacking a few doors down from me. Shots were fired through the rear window, fortunately the occupants weren't harmed. There was nothing about it on the local TV news or even in the local paper.

 

[PaulB]

Not any more. Gun crime is so common in some inner city areas it doesn't even make the papers.

There was an attempted car-jacking a few doors down from me. Shots were fired through the rear window, fortunately the occupants weren't harmed. There was nothing about it on the local TV news or even in the local paper.

The only - real - ones I've ever seen were in America. Lots of colleagues over there have them like you or I have bikes. Our kids are unlikely to get shot (anymore anyway) in school, are they?

 

[Blue Hills]

Not any more. Gun crime is so common in some inner city areas it doesn't even make the papers.

You surprise me - don't hear much about gun incidents in London, a plague of knife issues for sure though

 

[Chris S]

The only - real - ones I've ever seen were in America. Lots of colleagues over there have them like you or I have bikes. Our kids are unlikely to get shot (anymore anyway) in school, are they?

No - but may be on the way home from school.

 

[swee'pea99]

Big red buses.

 

[PaulB]

No - but may be on the way home from school.

Or probably not.

 

[Andy in Germany]

We'll all probably go through our entire lives without much fear of being shot. Or being threatened at gun point. Or seeing a gun, really.

I still can't get used to seeing armed police here.

 

[Landsurfer]

We'll all probably go through our entire lives without much fear of being shot. Or being threatened at gun point. Or seeing a gun, really.

We spent our childhood in low fear of gun and IED violence. Going shopping with mum was challenging for us . They blew our school up and wiped out the co-op in main street with 2 huge car bombs .... but we still went shopping on Saturday, walking around the rubble outlined with ropes ... Trips to my Grannies where always an adventure, picked up at the train station and wizzed to Grans house by one of the uncles rather than the risk of public transport.
You become de-sensitised to guns and stuff after a while ...

 

[Blue Hills]

I still can't get used to seeing armed police here.

me neither in Italy - for a long time I almost saw it as a personal affront.
Years ago I was in an Italian train compartment and it emerged somehow that one of the blokes not in uniform was a policeman. Someone asked if he had a gun, he said yes, and the compartment of folks then rather excitedly asked to see it. He took the pistol out of his jeans or wherever and may even have passed it around. He did take the precaution of first pointing it at the train floor and pulling the trigger.
Even so, I thought the whole episode a bit inadvisable.

 

[Andy in Germany]

me neither in Italy - for a long time I almost saw it as a personal affront.
Years ago I was in an Italian train compartment and it emerged somehow that one of the blokes not in uniform was a policeman. Someone asked if he had a gun, he said yes, and the compartment of folks then rather excitedly asked to see it. He took the pistol out of his jeans or wherever and may even have passed it around. He did take the precaution of first pointing it at the train floor and pulling the trigger.
Even so, I thought the whole episode a bit inadvisable.

I wonder what he'd have done if it went off?

 

[Blue Hills]

I wonder what he'd have done if it went off?

No idea - even if no-on was hurt he would surely have had a bit of explaining to do.

Also, though I'm no expert in firing guns on public transport there would surely have been a chance of a ricochet (god knows what's under the floor but with my respect for Italian engineering I would guess it could be quite solid) or some debris flying.

I do seem to remember thinking that he shouldn't be any sort of copper, it's not supposed to be a theatrical stunt job.