This is my entry into today’s Three Things Challenge where the words today are; Couch, Foot and Helmet.
I think it is safe to say the weather today is what we in the country, at least those of us who live in the South East, call fxxxing cold. Just to clarify for my readers from north of Watford or those who live in the Arctic North of the Americas we had quite a severe frost this morning and I’m sure the temperature was below freezing. As southern softies this weather is quite severe to us!
Not only is this enough to trigger jokes along the lines of, “no breakfast this morning, Oates ran out,” and “I’m going outside, I may be some time,” but it causes many of us to cast our minds back to the heady days of summer where I seem to remember I was blogging about the sun beating down on my neck and extolling the virtues of a “sola topee.”
For those of you not familiar with the term a sola topee is otherwise known as a pith hat which was the sort of helmet worn by the gallant members of the British Army for example those at Rorkes Drift, a small outpost of some one hundred and fifty men who repelled an attack by three to four thousand Zulu warriors and in the process earned eleven Victoria Cross’s. How could these brave men have kept their cool in the heat of the battle were it not for wearing a pith helmet to keep the blazing sun from the backs of their necks.
As always when doing one of these challenges, one thing often triggers the lead to another and the reference to the Army was my prompt for the word foot.
I have written a play called Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori which was produced by The Wireless Theatre Company which told the tale of men in the First World War through letters written from the trenches. Due to the appalling conditions in the trenches foot rot was a common occurrence and the most frequently requested item by the troops was new socks.
How those men would have enjoyed a sit down on a sofa or couch as the American troops would have it and to remove their feet from the clinging wet mud in the trenches and to put on a pair of new dry socks.
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About The Diary of a Country Bumpkin
I am a retired actor, although to be honest I only retired because I wasn't getting any work due to losing my agent when I became a full time carer to my mother who had dementia. and the option of becoming an unemployed actor/waiter at my age was ludicrous, especially as my waiting skills are non-existent.
Having said I’m retired, I don’t think there really is such a thing as a retired actor for I am still available for work, I just don’t have an agent or any connections with regards to obtaining any worthwhile work.
I have over the years done student films when there is nothing else available, always low paid (if at all) the only incentive was always the promised copy of the finished film for your show reel which nine times out of ten always failed to materialise.
I spent many years looking after my aged mother and shortly after her death I was lucky enough to run into an ex-girlfriend of many years ago and our romance blossomed once again, resulting in us getting married in 2013.
My move to the countryside inspired me to write The Diary of a Country Bumpkin which tells of my continuing dilemmas in dealing with the rigors of the countryside from the unexpectedly large number of pollens, fungal moulds and hay products waiting to attack the unsuspecting townie.
I enjoy writing, see my play Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori on The Wireless Theatre Company, The Plays Wot I Wrote and The Battle of Barking Creek both available on Amazon.co.uk and am very fond of classic cars so my ideal occupation would be acting in a film I had written set in the 1930s/40s, we live in hopes.
I am delighted to say that since venturing to the countryside where space is not quite the premium it is in town, I have due to the availability of two double garages acquired more classic cars to form a small collection the pride of which are a 1947 Bentley Mk VI and a 2000 Bentley Arnage.
My various blogs and websites are continually evolving and I’m sure that by following the appropriate links you will find something which will edify or amuse.
I have written a number of different books all available on Amazon, so don't be shy should you feel the urge to purchase. https://www.amazon.co.uk/Mr-Joe-Wells/e/B06XKWFQHT/ref=dp_byline_cont_book_1
The Diary of a Country Bumpkin 