Seeking a replacement bubble (From Gazette & Herald)

Seeking a replacement bubble

THIS habit of spring cleaning, or general tidying-up, call it what you will, is fraught with problems, especially if you know where things are and then decide you'll put them in a different place. Today, once again, I'm in the middle of such an exercise and have mislaid some notes I'd made, but at least I know I've got the date right, 'cos I made a note on my calendar, and the rest is memory. On this date in 1941, in one of the heaviest air raids up 'till then, in 1941, London was bombed again, and one of our most popular singers of the day, Al Bowley was killed.

He was in his flat in German Street when the blast from a land mine caused much damage, and his bedroom door, and other debris, fell on top of him as he lay in bed, and he became the second jazz celebrity to fall victim to enemy action. Previously, Ken 'Snakehips' Johnson had been killed when the Cafe du Paris was hit and the oft-told story is that Al had died at the same place, which wasn't so.

Many of you with memories of those days will remember Al and, like me, you may have records of this. But like thousands of ordinary folk in those tumultuous days he just became forgotten about, whilst people struggled on with their lives.

I had a word with the Post Office about collection times, and that we no longer have a little 'tag' to tell us what time a box is cleared, and was told that they remain the same as they were. Nevertheless, the times are sorely missed and I wish we had them back again. One thing I notice with my own local box 'in the wall' is that it tends to get very full, often with envelopes which are really far too large for a small box. There are occasions, like this afternoon, when I couldn't get my own mail really safely in, and could quite easily have pulled out much of the stuff that was already in there. However, a bit of deft pushing and shoving re-arranged the contents and room was made for my one letter. But such conditions cast a shadow on the security of mail, although whether or not this has any connection with lack of clearance times I know not.

One of my spirit levels has three bubbles in it - a most useful device for the tool bag - only one of the bubbles has dried up and I've been seeking a replacement bubble. On making enquiries, this caused some merriment, as I think the gent I asked thought I was having a bit of fun when I asked for a bubble for a spirit level.

I hasten to add that I have purchased them before, but expect it means a trip to York. However, a cheap 'T' level which has a couple in for about a pound, might just provide the item I'm needing, so the search is on.

As for the amusement, yes, this was a source of laughter in my schooldays when we youngsters joked about 'where do you buy bubbles for spirit levels', and the other standing joke was something to do with a rubber hammer, in those days when there just wasn't any such thing. Like replacement bubbles, rubber hammers are commonplace today, and many trades wouldn't be without them. With their arrival, of course, the merriment disappeared.

I was driving towards Butcher Corner recently, behind a police vehicle, and noticed a slight flurry of activity at the junction as another police vehicle departed there, and wondered what was about to be revealed. The vehicle ahead of me gave a right signal as we reached the corner, but a WPC appeared from nowhere and stabbed a pointing finger towards Castlegate, whereupon the vehicle in front did a rapid change of direction, and I overtook it on the right, and not on the left as I had intended. However, no problem, everything was happening slowly, and I did notice another police vehicle parked outside what is now a greengrocer's shop in Wheelgate, on the corner. And for the moment, that was that!

After parking up, and walking back to do some shopping. I found two WPCs standing by (presumably) their car, talking intently, at which point they decided to do a spot of traffic control, as it seemed their own vehicle had involuntarily decided not to progress farther, but wasn't causing an obstruction. Another police vehicle was seen to pass by, and then the fire brigade Land Rover (by coincidence perhaps), and one WPC took up a position in the centre of the road, and was making arm movements. By now, all four roads were full of stationary vehicles as far as the eyes could see, and the ladies decided to have a confab. One or two brave motorists opted to blow their horns as one particular signal given was akin to an umpire appealing for LBW. However, the situation was saved when a breakdown vehicle arrived and, in about 60 seconds flat, dropped his 'spectacle frames' pulled the immobile car on to them, lifted its front wheels clear of the ground and disappeared. Just like that. Now that was efficiency, I thought, as I compared it with my own days with an axle dolly, or a crane which had to be hand-cranked.

Topical note: "After a liftetime of war-watching, I see war as an endemic human disease, and governments the carriers." Martha Gellhorn, US journalist. (b. 1908).

Updated: 14:51 Wednesday, April 16, 2003