Monday, June 29, 2009

Fauna hazards



Here at 1zaac we received a note from Carol in South Carolina today;

"Ah jes leurve that cute lil'ol automobile in the cerise story. What is that thang?"

Well, Carol, it's called a 2CV. It has four doors and two cylinders. And you'll be seeing more of them in Episode 4, Lyon, France, Easter 1971.

While you're waiting, we think that a smart Southern Belle lady like yourself can probably guess which country the above photo was taken in?

Look out, too, for a new 1zaac "triple C" initiative: The Clever Crapcar Commission.

Do you own a Crapcar, or have you ever owned one? Do you have any motoring adventure stories to relate from the sixties, up to the modern day, illustrating the good times to be had in Crapcars?

The Commission will consider any non-libellous content for publication.

Macroglossum Stellatarum



...or Hummingbird Hawkmoth.

1zaac affiliates Daniel and Sarah visited Sainte Cécile last week, and spotted this summer visitor doing the nectar rounds in the lavender.

photo courtesy flickr

Friday, June 26, 2009

Le Temps des Cerises...

South Australian Anzac 1zaacs John and Kathy Clarke visited Sainte Cécile this week. The Crows narrowly beat the blackbirds to the cherry crop.

Click on the cherries to go to the Sainte Cécile website, where you will find some pictures of the commune, and all you never needed to know about local authority administrative procedures...
Kathy & John painstakingly de-stoned the fruit, before preparing a coulis for the ice-cream.We went for a picnic at the romanesque church at Mesnard.The 13th-century wall-paintings were re-discovered in 1950, after the de-consecrated church had been used as a barn for almost 100 years... John did a "Don't Look Now" tribute pose...(1zaac film buff committee comment; a very scary film, released during our last year in the Sixth Form...)










Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Salve Debbie; mea maxima culpa



1zaac eye candy; Judy, Debbie AND the post-war council houses of West Chadsmoor.

Welcome to the Magical Mystery Tour, Debbie. Yes, blame the 1zaac editorial dept for omitting the smouldering brunette from the 1971 Cannock Grammar School playing fields pic. (Scholars & Amazons story, infra)

The Council Planner was obviously having a bad hair day; he left a tree.

Salutations amicales de la part des Zeddeurs et Zeddeuses.

Monday, June 22, 2009

Spot the Zedders

Latest 1zaac library addition, for our "Nerds R Us" Australiana section;
From page 18...Spot the Zedders:

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Coming Soon; 1969 - 1970...

Click on the 1970 School mag for an amazing and expanding experience...

Monday, June 8, 2009

Salve, Graham

Tixall Bridge, near Stafford, UK. Sunrise in May.

This photo is to welcome our latest 1Z 1967 Zeddeur, Graham PRICE.

For the past six months, we 1zaacs have trawled through telephone directories, electoral registers, West Chadsmoor King Lear impersonator long-term residents' memories and the internet. Amongst other places. We even contemplated an Indiana Jones Crusade "up the higher reaches of Pye Green Road" as our annual outing.

We located our long-lost "Mairte" last week, and were delighted to welcome him on board our Magical Mystery TourBuzz.

The photo: Tixall is on the edge of Cannock Chase.

Graham recalled our 1973 Sixth-Form Motor Moron Games Rejects afternoon orienteering excursions, in full school uniform, embarking from Pye Green telecommunications tower. (Even WE could not fail to find THAT starting point...) Those green blazers and the acorn emblems certainly made unorthodox but effective camouflage "Up The Chase" for the afternoon tobacco addicts.

A belated thank-you to Graham's Dad, Ron, for all of those rides to the Tower in his immaculate blue Hillman Avenger.

Great to have you on board, Graham. We've got the compass somewhere. Hope you've still got those orienteering score sheets.

Sunday, June 7, 2009

(Almost) August publications in June

In 1zaac days, there were two local newspapers in Cannock: The Advertiser and The Courier.

Nowadays there is The Chase Post.

More, much more, anon.

Recent sample headlines, allegedly:

  • "Huntington's Stolen Leisure Mound St George Flag Returns"
  • "Grave Error Exclusive: Cheslyn Hay Woman Buried On Top Of Wrong Man"
  • "Fred Puts Cannock On Map"
  • "Cannock UK Chav Capital - Councillor Resigns - I Day Do It"

(supplied by embedded 1zaac proofreaders. Let us know if you have spotted others...Especially if you have any which are easier to translate for our French readership than are the above examples. Merci. On behalf of 1zaac translation committee )

French 1zaacs; Clicquez le tricolore Chase Post banner below pour latest Cheslyn Hay histoire, et un cours immersion short en 2009 local journalism central Angleterre. (Hope translation is OK. Usual translator en vacances. Bonjour et merci.)


Saturday, June 6, 2009

Buzzing Around, from Malcolm Tolley


Click on the badge to buzz to Cannock Grammar School Former Pupils' Association (no buzz pass required)
Good to hear from Malcolm Tolley, from the cgsfpa committee this week:
Hi Alan
Thanks for the update of your posts on 1zaac.

I see you have an interest in buses.

I used to live in Essington when I was at the Grammar school, and travelled on the number 56 Wolverhampton to Great Wyrley bus, also known as the Wyrley Whizzer.
There was a basic core of conductors on this bus :- Dora, a buxom ginger haired lady, and two or three Polish ? men, one was called Michael, I can't remember the other names.

I was one of about five students that caught the bus at the top of Broad Lane and travelled to Deakin's corner, and then caught the number 1 or 865 to Cannock.

Most of us were pupils at Cannock, but one pupil ( Vic Whitehouse ) carried on to Rugeley Grammar.

We were such regular passengers, that the conductors knew how many there should be, and they would tell the driver to stop at the top of Broad Lane so that they could see down the lane, and would blow their whistle to tell us to hurry up if they could see anyone coming up the lane.

This wouldn't happen today !

Monday, June 1, 2009

1zaac doyen Ash Ashley, born 1914, recites "Grumble Corner"...

Here at 1zaac we present, with affection, an offering from our most senior member.

Just click on the play button.

If you do not feel better after viewing, if your heart is not warmed and your spirits not raised, you should delete this blog from your favourites.

Carpe Video

AB


video