Categories: uncategorized
Date: 01 September 2008 01:57:31
"Did you hear about Mrs J? The Welsh nationalists knocked her down and burned her invalid carriage."
Okay, I'll admit you might question the veracity of this one. All I can say in my defence is that the conversation in question took place about 25 years ago - I can't have been more than 8 - and this is absolutely what I remember being said. I don't remember any of the rest of the conversation, but this particular line has remained in my memory for the said 25 years. (Those of you wishing to speculate about what this says about me, go ahead.) The eagle eyed among you might point out that the words 'invalid carriage' have the same rhythm and 'feel' as 'holiday cottage' which would make a lot more sense in the context, and maybe I misheard. However, I can tell you that I had never heard of an invalid carriage (it's not a phrase you hear often is it?) before hearing it said at this time, so I don't see how my 8-year-old brain could have substituted it. In fact, I remember wondering what an invalid carriage was, and imagining some very grand horse-drawn affair. This is probably why the snippet has stayed with me - mental images of marauding welshmen streaming down from the hills to attack innocent Mrs J in her horse-drawn chariot.
One of you (you can probably guess who) was present when the conversation took place and might be able to confirm or deny my recollection.
Can I also just say that if this is accurate, I do realise it must all have been very distressing for Mrs J, and not funny at all....