Michael Johnson

As my father used to say: "Tain't so much Pappy's a liar - he just remembers big."

I've received word from the Curator that she has permission to re-open this summer.

We're already making plans for a November event at the Museum.

Michael

On 13/09/2020 at 14:58, paul wood said:

I like my tea strong enough for my spoon to stand up in. My father got me into it. When my father was at RAF Dum Dum 1943-47 most of his fellow officers drank ice cold drinks to mitigate  the heat, his Sikh batman warned him against it and said that strong hot tea would cool him down, most certainly did. 

P

I recall I did the same on hot days at Old Fort York back in 1973-74 - wool uniforms, and at 90F they would let you take your backpack off.

Michael

Thank you, Justin.

Still no sign of the video, and since my last post my wife has lost two more aunts.

Well, I did get down to the Museum, and we did the video, but I still haven't seen the rushes yet.

George Macdonald Fraser describes tea as "The British Army's cure for anything except a stomach wound."

Partial to Earl Grey, meself.  Used to be a tea drinker until Law School, where we had no cafeteria, only vending machines.  Awful as vending machine coffee is, their tea is worse.

Michael

Now it looks like I may see my exhibition for the first time in 19 months.

This year is the 65th Anniversary of the Suez Crisis, which culminated in Lester B. Pearson's invention of Peacekeeping, as opposed to Military Observers.

So the Museum will record a video of me discussing this.

I've never been able to stick to one theme.

One of my latest is women in the military.  For about ten years from 1952 to 1962, the RCAF actively recruited women to "man" the radar lines protecting against a Soviet attack.

During the Second War, women of the Auxiliary Territorial Service were attached to Royal Artillery Anti-Aircraft Batteries, called Mixed Batteries. They did spotting and tracking, plus communications, while the Gunners loaded and fired.

Two years down the line.

My mother-in-law passed away this summer, as did one of her sisters-in-law.

My exhibition opened, and we had a marvellous speakers' night with four Peacekeeping veterans, including a Meritorious Service Medal winner.  But Covid closed it down in March 2020, and while still there it hasn't reopened.

In the summer of 1972 I became bored with going to the cottage with my parents; I was shy and never met any girls there (many were from Buffalo NY and I was in Toronto, so a non-starter there) - I resolved to find a summer job next year.

After seeing a newspaper item of a young man being awarded "Guard of the Year" at Old Fort York, I applied and was hired.  We drilled with old Snider-Enfields, there were Martini-Henrys in the barracks racks, and we were issued repro Brown Besses (the quality wasn't great - once when mine was in for repairs I was issued an original Bess).

I started off collecting British military longarms, before I finished university.  Badges were an adjunct. Then came medals, which became my focus. The photo is me in 1975 with a SMLE and CFA uniform.

My collection does not give me happiness - I am old enough to have learned that things can only give you pleasure.  But that's enough.

Plus I am a fairly talented researcher, which has enabled me to bag some "sleeper" items.

Michael

I hate gardening as well.

My wife and I fill many, many bags as we try to eradicate invasive species.  Unfortunately we find that when we put them out to the street, there are some dog owners who feel that their plastic bags of dog crap qualify as "garden waste" and so deposit them to save the hassle of carrying them home for disposal.

Michael

On 02/02/2019 at 17:20, IrishGunner said:

My wife is looking to make a bread pudding from a leftover Italian Christmas Panetone. 

A teacher friend of my wife's brought a Panetone bread pudding with her (I think he son made it.  It was delicious!)

Incidentally, one of my lines is "My ancestors came over on the Pedantic."

Michael

I remember another Stratford performance (but forget which star actor, but possibly Olivier) where spying a front row patron following along in his book, he took his sword, flipped the book shut and snarled "Pay attention!"

"In my defence and as I pointed out to my father there were no witness to the alleged explosion; none that were over the age of majority that was. So really it was simple hear say that I was anywhere near this unfortunate set of coincidences, and therefore inadmissible as evidence.  It surely couldn’t be that small bit of misadventure and besides I was the injured party in that I served a period of grounding for an offence that the prosecution (aka parents) failed to prove, due to lack of evidence, and then denied me an appeal process."

As the son of a Q.C., in the years before I attended Law School, I soon learned that although he practised corporate law, my father was no slouch at cross-examination.  My elder son (who just wrote his Bar Exams) still thinks he can argue law with me.  This Court is not bound by the laws of evidence, or indeed any laws.  It is pure "palm tree justice".

Michael

I was spared that - two boys - who still have had their challenges.

I grew up at the ROM (we were about four blocks away) - I remember when I wan't tall enough to see into those table displays, and had to stop for a rest before the next set of galleries.  I also remember studying Classics at the University of Toronto - and all the classical galleries were closed.

I'm coming to terms, barely, with the fact that I'm now a senior - albeit a working one.

Incredible as it might seem to some liberals, other religions aren't offended by Christians celebrating Christmas.  I saw a posting where a Sikh had a large sign wishing us a Merry Christmas.

My wife retired recently after teaching several years up in Brampton, which is heavily East Indian.  Her school was the only publicly-funded girl's school in either the public or the Catholic Board, and so had a very large number of Sikhs, Hindus and Muslims.  After she did "A Man for All Seasons" - St. Thomas More - with her English class, one Sikh girl reported that she had attended her temple and told them the story, as someone who had put his faith first, although it cost him his life.  A Muslim girl chewed out the chaplain for having other books above the Bible on his shelf - "That's your holy book - nothing should be higher than it!'  All of these girls respected the Catholic religion, and appreciated it, while never losing their own faith.

It is well-meaning, but misguided. persons who worry about "offensive" - and others who are offended by anyone having a religion. My two cents' worth.

Oh, and Brian - Merry Christmas!

Michael (who isn't ashamed of being a European Christian)

Yes, I know that feeling all to well. In my case it is WW1 French Memorial scrolls. Some framed, as they must have hung in his parent's home, but showing wear and damage from years of being consigned to the attic or cellar by subsequent generations with their own wars and concerns.

Some I've even managed to get service records for. All handwritten, and in French script at that.

Michael

Thank you Tollywolly.

My wife says that I am at my funniest when I'm browned-off.

If you're a 'leading light' - does that mean you are allowed to carry the collection plate............

In this case it means I reach adult catechism. I keep trying to train my converts to take over from me, but it never seems to work.

Michael

The hobby has changed a lot too. Thirty years ago in Toronto I had a choice of militaria shops (Wellington House, Ed Denby, Academy, etc.). All gone now (Richard moved to Oakville, same as me, but works from home). I used to get to the CSMMI show almost every month. Ever since I joined my church choir that's a rare event.

On the plus side though, research is easier than ever, and one has the luxury of researching before buying. Three hours after spotting a pair to an R.G.A. casualty I knew his family story.

My friend Peter Monahan had a great comeback to the dealer's pitch of "It's very rare!"

"So's bubonic plague, mate; doesn't mean you want to have it."

TacHel,

Good to hear that she is doing well. Physio is no fun (as I remember from a time 12 years ago when a ladder decided to obey the laws of gravity).

Michael