Wednesday 8 May 2013

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

Following a conversation with Sue, my wife, she thought it would be a good idea (for some reason I can't remember) that my next Blog should be titled as above!!!!!

mmmmm. Not to be beaten, here goes.

The Good

You are such a good friend that if we were on a sinking ship together and there was only one life jacket... I'd miss you lots and think of you often.

The Good:  Anzac Day is a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand that broadly commemorates all Australians and New Zealanders "who served and died in all wars, conflicts, and peacekeeping operations" and "the contribution and suffering of all those who have served".
Anzac Day, 25 April every year, marks the anniversary of the first campaign that led to major casualties for Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. These soldiers were known as Anzacs. Originally it was to honour the members of the army corps who fought at Gallipoli during the war.
The day remains one of the most important national occasions of both Australia and New Zealand, a rare instance of two sovereign countries not only sharing the same remembrance day, but making reference to both countries in its name.

This reminded me of those in my Nickisson Family Tree who also served their country during World War 1.

Leonard Nickisson (1894-1966)
Enlisted in August 1914 and joined the North Staffs Regiment. He was discharged a month later "considered unfit for service".
Not for want of trying.
He enlisted again in 1915 and joined the Royal Fusiliers. A year later joined the Machine Gun Corps and was posted to France.
He returned to England in January of 1919 and was discharged in July of the same year. His service in the army was nearly four years of which 2 years and 155 days was served in France during the war.

Henry Frederick Nickisson (1899-1972)
Declaring his age as 18 years and 2 months, he enlisted and joined the 6th (2nd Reserves) Battalion Cheshire Regiment on the 6th February, 1915.
The same day, he was sent home - Discharged in consequence of "Wrong declaration of age on enlistment" actual age 16.
His actual "Statement of Service", served one day.
Not for want of trying.

William John Wise (1871-1960)
Served in the New Zealand Army Reserve in 1917 at the age of 46 (more research needed).

The Good:  Remember 'Post Boxes'?




The Good:  Since we moved into our house I have been hoping to get one area of my garden, my 'allotment', ready to grow vegetables in. Now that the cooler Autumn weather is here it is an ideal time to plant out the garden. Over the next few weeks I will be buying flowering plants for the borders around the front garden and the pool area. I'm looking at dwarf fruit bushes for the rear garden and then I need to get those vegetables.

This is my 'allotment' to be.
The next step is to put some nourishment into the soil as it is really sandy at the moment.

Also, I need to enclose the area with a net canopy to shelter the plants from the sun and to reduce the possibility of insects etc. damaging, eating the crop. Then it will be planting time. 


Good advice: Hard work never killed anyone, but why take the chance?


The Bad

I asked God for a bike, but I know that's bad, God doesn't work that way. So I stole a bike and asked for forgiveness.

The Bad:  Did you know?

Robert Nickisson (c1837-1880)
In 1867, he was acquitted of 'simple larceny' in Birmingham, only to be sent to prison for 5 calendar months in 1876 for larceny after a previous conviction of felony.

Charles Nickisson (1771-1852)
At the age of 72, he was committed for trial for stealing one pair of boots. He was acquitted on a technicality, 'not a true bill'

George (Latimer) Nickisson (1834-1859)
In December 1856 he was arrested and went for trial in January 1857. For his first offence; Stealing one saw, one hammer, one square and other articles, he pleaded guilty of larceny after a previous conviction. For his second offence; Stealing one timepiece, two brass saucepans and one pair of slippers, he pleaded guilty of housebreaking and larceny after previous conviction. His third offence was; Stealing twenty four joiners planes. Pleaded guilty of larceny after previous conviction.
He was sentenced to four years penal servitude and sent to Convict Prison, Medway, Gillingham, Kent. Sadly, after serving two years in prison, he died, cause of death being Tubercular disease of the lungs.

The Bad:   Post Boxes.






The Bad:  Gardening gone wrong!!!!

I originally planted tomatoes in containers and really got a good crop of the small cherry variety.


Once these had finished I purchased some new plants of a larger fruit variety but these tomatoes just bolted and ended up being tall, but with no fruit being produced.

So I have now cut them down and replanted them in the allotment, lets see how they go?


This is bad: Did you hear about the guy whose whole left side was cut off? He's all right now.


 The Ugly

Ugly? When I was born the doctor took one look at me and slapped my parents.

The Ugly:    Post Boxes.


The Ugly:  Gardening gone really wrong!!!!


This is one of the worst Tomatoes that I replanted into the allotment. Will it really grow?










The Ugly:  The Nickisson Family Tree:

I wouldn't like to name them....................
But I guess you may have your own ideas!!!!!!




A lady is walking down the street to work and passes a parrot in a pet shop. The parrot says to her, "Hey lady, you are so ugly." The lady is furious and she storms past the shop to her work.

On the way home she saw the same parrot in the window and the parrot said to her, "Hey lady, you are really ugly." She was now very angry.

The next day she saw the same parrot and the parrot again said to her "Hey lady, you are really ugly". The lady was so angry she went into the shop and said that she would sue the owner and kill the damn bird.

The shop manager promised that the parrot wouldn't say it again.

When the lady walked past the shop after work the parrot said to her "Hey lady."

She paused and said "Yes?"

And the bird said, "You know."

Speak to you soon.