Angella was away for this event with our daughter which meant I was alone when I arrived early with my 1947 Bentley Mk VI which gave me ample time to have a mooch around before any of my friends arrived so this post will take on the aspect of a mini travelogue of the home of the code breakers.
The car safely in place I started my tour, had I known how popular the car was going to be for photo opportunities I should have hung around all day and charged a small fee for each person.
One of many rooms once filled with rather brainy codebreakers.
The famous Enigma machine, a very clever German machine to jumble words into code.
But not as clever as the Bomb, the British machine which decoded the German messages.
I have to say, the offices where fairly basic but I daresay most of the people there where too embroiled in their work to worry about that.
Alan Turings teddy bear, every man should have one! I still have two from my childhood.
An interesting exhibition by Jacqui Harris of wartime wedding dresses.
Some of which were made from parachute silk in true make do and mend fashion. Delightful.
Stunning dresses.
Now this had me stumped at first but it was fairly early in the morning.
However, after a quick cup of tea and a half an ounce of Old Shag in my briar I’d soon cracked it, for it was nothing less than the text from a German military manual, quite simple really. Far easier than the conundrum of President Kennedy’s cold war speech in Berlin, Ich bin ein Berliner, was he describing himself as a doughnut, a German sausage or a Berliner in spirit?
And finally, the answer to the whereabouts of my dear wife who went missing for the day to assist our daughter who had purchased yet another Poodle puppy! Ladies and gentlemen, I give you Zelda, who is quite lovely.
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
I can well imagine you, enveloped in clouds of smoke whilst decrypting enemy messages. The poodle would, of course, have a suitably non pc name.
We have Zola and Zelda both of which sound like East German spies!