Thursday, February 26, 2009

Why We Like The British - FROM BRITISH NEWSPAPERS

1) Commenting on a complaint from a Mr. Arthur Purdey about a large gas
bill, a spokesman for North West Gas said, 'We agree it was rather
high for the time of year. It's possible Mr. Purdey has been charged for
the gas used up during the explosion that destroyed his house.' (The
Daily Telegraph)

2) Irish police are being handicapped in a search for a stolen van
because they cannot issue a description. It's a Special Branch vehicle
and they don't want the public to know what it looks like. (The
Guardian)

3) A young girl who was blown out to sea on a set of inflatable teeth
was rescued by a man on an inflatable lobster. A coast guard spokesman
commented, 'This sort of thing is all too common'. (TheTimes)

4) At the height of the gale, the harbourmaster radioed a coastguard and
asked him to estimate the wind speed. He replied he was sorry, but he
didn't have a gauge. However, if it was any help, the wind had just
blown his Land Rover off the cliff. (Aberdeen Evening Express)

5) Mrs. Irene Graham of Thorpe Avenue , Boscombe, delighted the
audience with her reminiscence of the German prisoner of war who was
sent each week to do her garden. H e was repatriated at the end of 1945,
she recalled. ' He'd always seemed a nice friendly chap, but when
the crocuses came up in the middle of our lawn in February 1946, they spelt
out ' Heil Hitler.'' (Bournemouth Evening Echo)

A list of actual announcements that London Tube train drivers have made
to their passengers...

1) 'Ladies and Gentlemen, I do apologize for the delay to your
service.
I know you're all dying to get home, unless, of course, you happen to
be married to my ex-wife, in which case you'll want to cross over to the
westbound and go in the opposite direction.'

2) 'Your delay this evening is caused by the line controller suffering
from E & B syndrome: not knowing his elbow from his backside. I'll
let you know any further information as soon as I'm given any. '

3) 'Do you want the good news first or the bad news? The good news is
that last Friday was my birthday and I hit the town and had a great
time. The bad news is that there is a points failure somewhere between
Stratford and East Ham, which means we probably won't reach our
destination.'

4) 'Ladies and gentlemen, we apologize for the delay, but there is a
security alert at Victoria station and we are therefore stuck here for
the foreseeable future, so let's take our minds off it and pass some
time together. All together now.... 'Ten green bottles, hanging on a
wall.....'.'

5) 'We are now travelling through Baker Street .. As you can see,
Baker Street is closed. It would have been nice if they had actually
told me, so I could tell you earlier, but no, they don't think about
things like that'.

6) 'Beggars are operating on this train. Please do NOT encourage these
professional beggars. If you have any spare change, please give it to a
registered charity. Failing that, give it to me. '

7) During an extremely hot rush hour on the Central Line, the driver
announced in a West Indian drawl: 'Step right this way for the sauna,
ladies and gentleman... Unfortunately, towels are not provided.'

8) 'Let the passengers off the train FIRST!' (...pause). 'Oh
go on then, stuff yourselves in like sardines, see if I care - I'm going
home....'

9) 'Please allow the doors to close. Try not to confuse this with
'Please hold the doors open.' The two are distinct and separate
instructions.'

10) 'Please note that the beeping noise coming from the doors means
that the doors are about to close. It does not mean throw yourself or your
bags into the doors.'

11) 'We can't move off because some idiot has their hand stuck in
the door.'

12) 'To the gentleman wearing the long grey coat trying to get on the
second carriage - what part of 'stand clear of the doors' don't you understand?'

13) 'Please move all baggage away from the doors.' (...pause).
Please move ALL belongings away from the doors.' (...pause). 'This is a
personal message to the man in the brown suit wearing glasses at the
rear of the train: Put the pie down, four-eyes, and move your bl**dy
golf clubs away from the door before I come down there and shove them up
your a**e sideways!'

14) 'May I remind all passengers that there is strictly no smoking
allowed on any part of the Underground. However, if you are smoking a
joint, it's only fair that you pass it round the rest of the carriage.

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