nonsense?

[Tony Kearns]

Phew! that's a relief GttC so I won't have to go in for another  IRAN ( I use the old fashioned terms)
Tony K

[Orion]

Quote (GoneToTheCanner @ 25 Feb. 2007,21:34)

Hi all Clearly, my reference to the mainland Air Force roused a few sleeping irony-deficient republicans.Guess you missed that little event in Croker then...PD got the Hawk flight because he was a Military person.If you really want to find out how hard it is to get a backseat gig as a pure civvy, read the Military Aircrew section of Pprune.They are running a current thread on the same subject. regards GttC

"Clearly, my reference to the mainland Air Force roused a few sleeping irony-deficient republicans."

Yes, that's one way of looking at it. But, on the other hand some of us may just be fed up with the imperialist overtones of an assumed (dominant)political connection between one land mass and a neighbouring smaller land mass.

"Guess you missed that little event in Croker then..."

I watched the little event at Croke Park on the BBC and that channels coverage was almost flawless. The minor flaw was that one of the BBC's commentators made reference at one point to 'back on the mainland'. Bit like a fly you can't swat ..... not a huge problem but its better if its not there.

"PD got the Hawk flight because he was a Military person"

I'm pleased that the courtesy was extended to PD, it demonstrates respect for the individual as well as the service he represents.  

"If you really want to find out how hard it is to get a backseat gig as a pure civvy, read the Military Aircrew section of Pprune."

I don't need to read any current posts about 'getting a backseat gig' I know how difficult it is. Which is why I was concerned that a post on you_tube such as the one that started this thread would make it more difficult for others to follow in PD's footsteps.

Having said all that ....

P.Doff .. I hope none of my comments have dulled the shine of your fairly unique experience. If they have it was not intended.

GTCC .. I'm presenting a view, an opinion if you will, from my perspective. I live, and have done for very many years on what some may call the mainland, to me its England no more no less.

And yes ... I really have to stop taking life so seriously'

O'R    

[John K]

Hey GttC that was very well put, another way to describe 11th hr republicans! Having said that I could never understand how the UK could be described as the 'Mainland'. I live in the South East of England and just a short distance away I can see France, now to me that is the 'Mainland' after all taken individually neither England, Scotland nor Wales could be described as being massively larger than Ireland. But try riding a motorbike the length of France in a day and you realise how big that place is! And that's just one part of continental europe!
Fair play to you P.Dof for getting the flip in a Hawk.

[Orion]

Quote (John K @ 28 Feb. 2007,17:07)

Hey GttC that was very well put, another way to describe 11th hr republicans! Having said that I could never understand how the UK could be described as the 'Mainland'. I live in the South East of England and just a short distance away I can see France, now to me that is the 'Mainland' after all taken individually neither England, Scotland nor Wales could be described as being massively larger than Ireland. But try riding a motorbike the length of France in a day and you realise how big that place is! And that's just one part of continental europe! Fair play to you P.Dof for getting the flip in a Hawk.

What exactly is an 11th hr republican?

"Having said that I could never understand how the UK could be described as the 'Mainland'."
 
I agree but it has and I refer you back to the fly analogy

"I live in the South East of England and just a short distance away I can see France, now to me that is the 'Mainland' "

Do all of your English neighbours agree?

[Shamrock145]

Oh Dear!

OK, a little histroy lesson as to where the "mainland" comment comes from.

From 1801 to 1922 there existed an internationally recognised political entity encompassing two geographic locations known as "The United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland".

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki....Ireland

Under that "Union" the reference to Britian as "The mainland" UK was acceptable. Post the creation of "two state" Ireland, with the establishment of an Independent Ireland and "The United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland" the comment, well lets say, fell out of favour in "the south", however, it can still be correctly used with regard to the North and "the mainland UK", seeing as how Northern Ireland is a constituent satellite entity to the main body of the United Kingdom.

In the same way as the term was applied to Britian when Ireland was a part of that political union, today as a member of the EU, the term can be more accuratly be applied to the main body of the Continent.

Now, don't get me started on the IONA concept (Islands Of the North Atlantic).

...145

[Orion]

Quote (Shamrock145 @ 04 Mar. 2007,22:02)

Oh Dear! OK, a little histroy lesson as to where the "mainland" comment comes from. From 1801 to 1922 there existed an internationally recognised political entity encompassing two geographic locations known as "The United Kingdom of Great Britian and Ireland". http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki....Ireland Under that "Union" the reference to Britian as "The mainland" UK was acceptable. Post the creation of "two state" Ireland, with the establishment of an Independent Ireland and "The United Kingdom of Great Britian and Northern Ireland" the comment, well lets say, fell out of favour in "the south", however, it can still be correctly used with regard to the North and "the mainland UK", seeing as how Northern Ireland is a constituent satellite entity to the main body of the United Kingdom. In the same way as the term was applied to Britian when Ireland was a part of that political union, today as a member of the EU, the term can be more accuratly be applied to the main body of the Continent. Now, don't get me started on the IONA concept (Islands Of the North Atlantic). ...145

Sound 145 - no argument from me..... (although I had a slight doubt about the relative sizes of the countries that make up these islands but then what’s a few Sq. Km. between friends? I could go on but I think it’s premature...... by about 10 minutes or so)

This 11th hour republican will be singing "Amhrán na bhFiann " at Murryfield on Saturday. Hopefully I'll be in very FULL voice!!

Worked with a couple of RAF chaps last week. They were from Brize Norton. As you would expect first class professionalism and decent blokes too.

PAX