My Daily Banana

Photo of the day:

The Beauty of Spring

 

 

Word of the day:

Bonnie

Attractive, or beautiful

My Bonnie Lass

 

 

Name of the day:

Vulcan

Comes from Latin fulgere meaning to flash. Roman god of fire

 

Spock the Vulcan

 

 

Event of the day:

13th May 1912

The Royal Flying Corps:

 was established (it later joined up with the Royal Naval Flying Service and formed the Royal Air Force)

RFC Hat Badge

RFC Recruiting Poster

 

 

When I think of the RAF there’s always one thing that comes into my mind.

 

 “Operation Black Buck”

 

Back in 1982 the Falkland War broke out, the British Navy and the Regular Army shipped off to recapture the island. They were fully equipped with war material including Sea Harriers; capable of carrying bombs missiles (all the atrocious man killing things).

Well the RAF couldn’t put up with being left out, they wanted to have their part in all the fun: So, they decided to send three Vulcans from RAF Waddington, Lincolnshire, England to their outmost post in the Atlantic, the Ascension Island. From there the bombers were to fly the rest of the way to the Falkland’s, destroy the Stanley Airfield and fly back to the Ascension Island.

6000 Kilometres from the Ascension Islands to the Falklands

Vulcan flying over water

 

 

You might say “A bonny idea”, but that’s a roundtrip of over twelve and a half-thousand kilometres, which had never been flown before. To accomplish this feat eleven Victor air fueling airplanes were sent from RAF Marham, Norforkshire, England to the Ascension Island. Eleven because they had to play a relay game fueling the Vulcans and fueling themselves in midair. There were seven sorties planned; only five were flown. The result of these five bombing trips one mobile radar was hit, one bomb exploded on the main runway, the airfield stores and facilities were severely damaged.

Fuelling a Vulcan in mid-air

A Victor fuelling a Vulcan

 

 

They did nothing to end the war, but the RAF chiefs got to play war and held the record for the longest ranged bombing raid; until 1991, when the Americans flew B52 bombers from mainland United States to Iraq and returning to RAF Mildenhall in England

 

Here a quote from Ian Dury:

"What A Waste!"

 

Birthday of the day:

13th May 1950

Stevie Wonder

Blind, black singer and songwriter. He signed on with Tamla Motown at eleven years old, a child “wonder”. One of the big money makers for Motown Records, selling over 100 million. He is also very politically involved; he campaigned for the day of Martin Luther’s birthday to become a public holiday.

Stevie the "Wonder" kid

I remember in the sixties he played in Boston, Lincolnshire and during the performance, jigging about as he does, he fell off the stage. What a fright; imagine if that happens as a seeing person it’s frightening and then as a blind person it must magnitude to terror.

Stevie in the seventies

I nearly forgot: Stevie wrote his own birthday song "Happy Birthday to You" and here it is:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inS9gAgSENE 

 

Died on this day:

13th May 1961

In Los Angeles, California, United States

Born 7th May 1901

In Helena, Montana, United States

Gary Cooper

(aka Frank James Cooper)

Gary Cooper as Marshall Will Kane

 

Gary won his second Academy Award for his part as Marshall Will Kane in the film “High Noon” We all remember him and his duelers, the Miller Band going towards each other on Main Street ready to draw and his young bride fretting in the background, pining for him. Did he die? I don’t remember but I do remember the song “Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling”

Poster to the film

 

 

Trailer “High Noon”:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9CR_tib0CA

and sung by Tex Ritter: “Do Not Forsake Mo Oh My Darling”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NREYLREGsv4

,

Non-Cycle ride of the day:

Lazy, lazy, lazy. I’m just having a short walking round today, have a cup of cappuccino and a raisin bun. Isn’t life good?

The coffee was good and we had time for ourselves, usually when I get home from work, it’s a quick cuppa, on with the Lycra and off on the bicycle. I’m missing it, maybe tomorrow?

On Wednesday I’ve got to be back on the bike, Heike’s expecting guests; her half-sister, our daughter Kirsty and her two youngest ones. Trouble in the house, time for me to take a “timeout”. Aren’t I a loving one?

The car was brought over from Victoria, Australia.

A wheel from a MGB, a state of art

 

The Challenge:

 

Well I cannot give you any news, there's a German quote that sums it up "Schweigen im Walde!" translated "Silence in the woods".

 

 

Bye, see you all tomorrow. Have a good day