Conversations on a submarine
I have been doing some research on the Interweb.
Did you know that the submarine U-105 was a type IXB and was built in 1940? I bet you didn’t know that.
It sank in 1943. It was hardly worth building.
So why this sudden interest in submarines?
It started with a phone call on Monday.
A lovely young lass phoned me and asked if I was up for it. I of course replied that I was. I’m used to that type of call, you know. The girls around here just can’t keep their hands off me.
Anyway, it transpired that there was a bit of a misunderstanding, and what she really wanted was for me to do a radio interview.
I said I would, and asked what radio station she was from.
That’s where the submarine bit comes in.
She said she was from U 105.
That is when I did my research, and that’s when I discovered that I had been talking to a young lass who had been talking to me from a submarine that sank 69 years ago. Weird.
I didn’t expect to hear any more from them as they must have drowned by now.
To my amazement, she phoned again yesterday and handed me off to a bloke with a soft Norn Iron accent, who promptly compared me to Victor Meldrew.
Just to be on the safe side, I recorded it.
This Interweb is a surreal place.
Great Interview and never once did he say, “Sitch-E-ation”.
Great post. Has just brightened my day up
Truly an honour – to be compared to the great man
Brianf – Shit! I should have said it, shouldn’t I?
Mike – Thanks!!
Tony S – One better… He says I’m even grouchier!
Wow. Next time you get telephoned from ‘the other side’, can you ask my Grandma where she buried the rest of the silver?
Thanks.
If you ever get a phone call from myself from the SSN 679 please let me know since she was scrapped in 2001. I’d be pretty torn up about it I’d think.
And glad to know all this success hasn’t gone to your head (Love all these interviews you know. Always happy to see a friend recognized for the talent they have).
“Runs in the family”
Only after curry-night.
Susan – Was she a submariner? If she phones, I’ll certainly ask her.
Kirk M – I’ll take a note of that number in case it ever pops up on the screen of my phone. As for “all this” going to my head? It’s all a bit of a laugh!
K8 – What runs in the family? You’re right about curries though. Yesterday was a Post-Vindaloo day. You’re lucky the wind wasn’t from the South West.
Sounds like a fine stout vessel. You can’t beat your submarine, y’know, for a lot of things.
I’m surprised more people don’t opt for them in the showroom ahead of your Fiesta and little small Mercedeseseses.
I have the basic model. Starts first time every morning and off we go into the Western Approaches keeping Ireland safe in its bed and creeping up on trawlers that are stealing our Fish Suppers.
No Grandad. You’ll not top a submarine.
Captain – They are great yokes all right. When you have finished with them, you can even use them for storing central heating oil. You’re right – they can’t be topped [so long as you don’t bottom them?]
Aye Grandad. I’d not thought of the heating oil idea but now you mention it… and of course with it the back garden you could trellis up some tomatos, maybe some sweetcorn and then if you sawed it down to 12 inches in length and covered it in mayonnaise you’d end uo with a foot-long Sub.
QRT. Standing by.
Musn’t forget the earlier U-105 Type Mittel-U launched in 1917. Later adopted into the French Navy.
Grandad, I just listened to that. You dont sounds half as grumpy or old as I’d imagined.
You need to grouch it up a bit when your “on air” you have an image to live up to.
TT – You mean the one that became the Jean Autric??
Jimbo – I have that effect on a lot of people. Everyone says I should sound older, be shorter and fatter and be more grumpy. I am very sorry to be such a disappointment to everyone.
*snif*
That’s the one.
You had me intrigued with the U boat start. U 352 sunk just right off shore near where I live.
Fantastic interview with Ivan, Grandad.
JD – I told you before about throwing rocks at submarines. I hope you apologised? It wasn’t a bad interview, but listening to it after, I wasn’t sure whether we were talking about a book or a blog!