Gotta Love a Rivalry!

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  You know it is no secret of the rivalry that has gone on for centuries between the British and Irish.  Here is an example of an encounter that made me laugh…   

This is the transcript of the actual radio conversation from naval communications between the British and the Irish off the coast of Kerry in October of 1998.  This radio conversation was released by the Chief of British Naval Operations in October of 2008, 10 years following this incident.

IRISH:  Please divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

BRITISH:  Recommend that you divert your course 15 degrees to the North to avoid a collision.

IRISH:  Negative, you will have to divert your course 15 degrees to the South to avoid a collision.

BRITISH:  This is the Captain of a British navy ship, I say again, divert YOUR course.

IRISH:  Negative, I say again, you will have to divert YOUR course.

BRITISH:  This is the aircraft carrier HMS Britiannial, the second largest ship in the British Atlantic fleet.  We are accompanied by three destroyers, three cruisers and numerous support vessels.  I demand that you change your course 15 degrees north, I say again that is 15 degrees north, or counter measures will be undertaken to ensure the safety of this ship.

IRISH:  We are a lighthouse.  Your call.

Hmmm, love a rivalry!  And this is the bottom of the news on this Friday January 27, 2012.

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Honey, They Stole My Car!

Good morning my fellow Rotarians.  Well, it’s great to be back to Elmcrest.  Here’s a story that I can relate to.

Several days ago as I left a meeting at our church, I desperately gave myself a personal TSA pat down. I was looking for my keys. They were not in my pockets. A quick search in the meeting room revealed nothing.

Suddenly I realized, I must have left them in the car. Frantically, I headed for the parking lot. My wife, Diane, has scolded me many times for leaving the keys in the ignition. My theory is the ignition is the best place not to lose them. Her theory is that the car will be stolen. As I burst through the doors of the church, I came to a terrifying conclusion. Her theory was right. The parking lot was

empty.

I immediately call the police. I gave them my location, confessed that I had left my keys in the car, and that it had been stolen. Then I made the most difficult call of all, "Honey," I stammered. I always call her "honey" in times like these. "I left my keys in the car, and it has been stolen."

There was a period of silence. I thought the call had been dropped, but then I heard Diane's voice. "Ken" she barked, "I dropped you off!" Now it was my time to be silent. Embarrassed, I said, "Well, come and get me." Diane retorted, "I will, as soon as I convince this policeman I have not stolen your car?"

Boy, this one could really happen at our house!  And this is the bottom of the news on this Friday January 20, 2012!

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