Don't judge by appearances!

[Keane]

I've had a sudden rush of work lately and I've been exhausted.

I had a 'paperwork' day on Wednesday (a rest!), but a very slow talking elderly man of 86 rang up to make a booking - not exactly an emergency - but the sort of strange occurrence that really aught to be checked out ASAP. If I'd been feeling better, I would have gone straight away. I gently tried to put him off . . but he didn't budge! . . . he elected to wait until Friday (today).

Feeling rather the worse for wear (but not as bad as Wednesday), I followed his instructions to his house (I purposely used his instructions rather than using my sat-nav because he had made a point of phoning back later and giving detailed instruction to my wife - they matched the Google-Maps map, so I decided to use the old-fashioned method!)

As I drove up, I saw a wizened old man standing in the doorway. He was unsteady on his feet, shuffled very slowly and his clothes are now about two sizes too large for him. As I got out of my van I noticed the distinctive smell of urine and his twinkly eyes.

His 'disaster' was nowhere near as bad as it sounded on the phone and was solved with a straightforward replacement (once I'd been and bought a new unit).

While in his house which, funnily enough, was spotlessly clean and not smelling of urine, I found it impossible to avoid noticing the photos of aeroplanes (and dogs, . . . but I'm not talking about the dogs . . . or his fiancée!). This man flew in Lancaster bombers as a navigator during the war and, with a small amount of encouragement, was only too willing to tell me lots of tales. I quickly picked up that his favourite mission was towards the end of the war when people realized the Dutch were starving to death - literally. Food parcels were put together and loaded into the bomb bays of the Lancasters, an international no-fire agreement was set up and they flew several missions to Holland to drop food at predetermined drop sites for the Dutch people. On their first flight out, they hoped that the Germans would realize that this was the humanitarian mission, not a bombing raid, and would let the unarmed bombers through. The pilot dropped one wing slightly so they could see the ground below, and noticed, to their horror, that the gun batteries were trained on them and following their movement as they flew! On another mission a few hours later, they noticed the German gunners take off their hats and wave them at the passing 'planes. It was a touching moment as opponents in war collaborated together to provide humanitarian aid to a third nation.

Until recently, just two men from his squadron remained alive, funnily enough, both living in the same town. The other one died just a few weeks ago. He sagely said, " . . so I'm next!"

About ten years ago, his wife died. He missed her terribly and he was very sad. Then one morning, he woke up thinking, "I can't go on like this, I must do something new", so he phoned around and booked himself some flying lessons! (A single engine light aircraft).

Yes, it's definitely a mistake to judge solely on appearances!!

I may have been tired and a bit fuzzy headed, but I'm certainly glad I went on that call-out so that I would meet that man today.

[Kallek]

I liked your story Keane - food for afterthought !

[Keane]

Hi-ya Kallek - nice to hear from you again!

[Amelie_Deperle]

Thanks for sharing that Keane. Everyone has got a story to tell. Life is an adventure well worth the ride.

[Keane]

Hi Amelie,

Welcome to PLink.

[Escortbunny69]

Very true never judge a book by its cover

Welcome Amelie

[Amelie_Deperle]

Thanks escortbunny69, Keane

[51scotty]

Hi Amelie,

Welcome to PLink.

Keane it was maybe before your time her on Plink.......but it should be Welcome BACK Amelie.

This is her signature tune;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pQgXnCEro

btw loved the story.

[Amelie_Deperle]

Hi Amelie,

Welcome to PLink.

Keane it was maybe before your time her on Plink.......but it should be Welcome BACK Amelie.

This is her signature tune;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pQgXnCEro

btw loved the story.

Ahhh, London Derriere. That music sucks though

[Keane]

Hi Amelie,

Welcome to PLink.

Keane it was maybe before your time her on Plink.......but it should be Welcome BACK Amelie.

This is her signature tune;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91pQgXnCEro

btw loved the story.

Huh! So I made a typo and missed off the 'back' . . . I reckon the sentiment holds good, even if the tense was wrong.

Just for good measure, let's have another go:
Hi-ya Amelie. Great to have you back . . . again! Mwah!

What d'ya reckon, Scotty? will that do the job? (Thanks for the nod, btw)

[Adorable-Anna]

What a great story some peoples lives are amazing

[Keane]

Hi-ya Anna,

Nice to have an opportunity to speak to you directly at last, rather than just passing at a distance.

K. xx

[kissxkate]

Your story reminded me very much of when I was in my early twenties and got myself a part time job working in an old people's home. Many of them were dispondant and didn't really have much to say or contribute, but some of them were starved of conversation and desperate for some company. One lady in particular had lived a life that was full and was a very intelligent lady and sat in her room with no real stimulation at all. Consequently when I went to change her bedding (my very glamorous job, so I can definitely relate with the smell of urine you mentioned) she would readily get into conversation with me and her topics were so interesting I would easily get drawn in.

Sadly this was not approved of and I was told to just go in and out and continue with my job. I found this very hard and it was one of the deciding factors to move and find work else where. There are so many elderly out there with sharp minds, but weak bodies, who crave a bit of company. It is a shame that we all live such fast lives these days and don't have the time to give a little bit back to those that looked after us when we were young and vunerable or those before us.

[slartybartfast]

This man flew in Lancaster bombers as a navigator during the war and, with a small amount of encouragement, was only too willing to tell me lots of tales.

Yes, it's definitely a mistake to judge solely on appearances!!

Years ago I went to Bristol Uni for a week-end language course - there was a tall crab among us - one of the girls on the course asked, gushing, whether he was a pilot. He answered, "That's like asking a bloke whether he's got a dose! No, I'm not a pilot - I'm a navigator - I can read!"

More recently I had to do the eulogy at an old guy's funeral - he'd been over weight, long winded, and was beginning to be a bit of a bore. I knew he'd been, not a pilot, but a rear gunner, on Halifaxes. A little research showed that he'd been on the mission on D-Day which had towed the gliders over to land them on Pegasus Bridge, and it was the Rear Gunner who had to watch the glider following up the runway, and ensure that the driver, up the other end, looking forward, got them both off the ground at the right moment.

A pity, really, that I hadn't realised when I could listen to him, and steer the conversation back to those days that Charlie was a man, who had been part of a hinge round which world history had turned!

[Paulwhite]

That was very interesting. The saying certainly is true...












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