8 things about a Black Sheep

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I have been tasked with telling you nice people, 8 things you need to know about Pecora Nera.  I could keep my mishaps to myself, but then I would have to decline the award that the nice lady at Sandcastles in Portugal gave me.

Ok, here we go.

Number 1

When I was 13 I was asked to be a cox for the Sheffield Rowing Club. It was great fun, I used to sit at the back of the boat and tell a crew of men or women what to do. I loved it! We raced all over the country and the two crews I raced with were very successful, we even won a Gold Medal at the Vesta International Championships.

One weekend it was peeing it down raining rather heavily. On that fateful day we arrived late at Nottingham Regatta. By the time we had  rowed to the starting position, my boat was a quarter full of water. We asked the umpire if we could empty the water out of our boat. The umpire told us that we were late and if we didn’t come to the start position immediately, he would disqualify us. I wonder if he is related to Mr Cretino?

So we started the race with enough water in the boat to take a bath in. As the oarsmen took their first stroke, all the water in the boat was forced down the boat and into my lap. As I frantically bailed the water out with my little hat, the crew slid forward to take the second stroke and all the water rushed down to the bow of the boat (the bow is the pointy bit at the front). I was just trying to work out why all the water had disappeared, when two of the crew at the pointy end stopped rowing. So I shouted at them, I told them to join back in as soon as they could. Ronnie, a huge tall Irishman, shouted back: ” We are f&%$ing sinking!!”  There was no Kate Winslet to hold my hand as my boat slowly but surely disappeared below the waves.

Pecora Nera sinks at Nottingham Regatta

Pecora Nera sinks at the Nottingham Regatta

 Number 2 (can things get worse)

When I was nineteen, I decided to host a Christmas party in my little flat. I invited my friends from the local pub including Sarah and Julie (I think those were their names). Both of them declined my party invitation, because Joy (I am 100% sure I have her name correct) was due to perm their hair on the night of my party. While I was drinking my pint of beer, I suddenly had an incredible idea. I would invite Joy and she could perm and set the two girls hair while we all partying: easy peasie lemon sqeezy. Joy and the girls agreed.

My hair needed cutting, as it was getting just a bit too long. So Joy suggested she could perm it for me (remember these were  the 70’s). Obviously I promptly declined the offer; you see… I can be sensible at times, just like my wife. However, after 2 or 6 drinks it actually did seem like a bit of a wheeze to have my hair permed.  So, having being asked again, this time I agreed.

Joy, who was no longer the Sensible hairdresser that I knew from the pub, giggled while she poured the solution on my head. We all got another drink and sat down and gossiped danced the night away. All of a sudden, Joy let out a shriek we all turned to her, and she said ” oh my gosh, you still have the perm solution on your head!”  I then looked at Sarah and Julie who were suddenly collapsing in a giggling heap. I personally didn’t understand what the problem was, even after Joy dragged me into the kitchen to wash the solution out of my hair.

Never get your hair cut at a party.

Never get your hair cut at a party.

I don’t remember much more of the party, I vaguely remember dancing to We are family and Le’ Freak.  I remember waking up the following morning with an enormous hangover; as I rubbed my poorly head, my fingers felt a mass and I mean a mass of tight frizzy curly hair, not unlike the picture above.

Number 3

When I was seven and unable to swim, my older brother took me boating in Stamford Park in Manchester. All of a sudden the heavens opened and it started to rain, which is not unexpected in rainy Manchester; knowing that I couldn’t swim, David took the decision to head for the island in the middle of the lake rather than the safety of the landing stage, where the boat owner was waving to us. As we reached the island, David said: “Quick, get out and I will steady the boat”.   I really believed him… duh! With one foot in the boat and one foot on the island, the little boat slowly drifted away. It is amazing how quickly one learns how to swim.

My very first swimming lesson

My very first swimming lesson

Number 4 (Are you still with me?)

Whereas I was slightly inebriated when I had my perm ‘done’ I was stone cold sober, when it seemed like a good idea to have a tattoo printed on my body. My younger brother had a mermaid winding itself down his leg, whereas I (mainly because I was sober and I thank the Lord I was) decided to have a discrete tattoo done. I wanted Pecora Nera (Black Sheep) printing somewhere about my body; and to this day it is still there. Mrs Sensible has obviously seen it, and the Germans at the sauna saw it.

Painful

Painful

Number 5: I ate at the same restaurant 36 times in a three month period.

Three times a week for three months,  I went to Maso Restaurant and indulged in their fine food,  in a vain attempt to persuade Miss Sensible to go out for a meal / drink with me.  She kept turning me down with excuses such as: she needed to wash her hair… she was too tired or had a much more sensible thing to do than going for a drink with a crazy Englishman. Not one to take a hint, I would simply rebook another meal.

Ah! I am sorry Miss Sensible isn't working tonight, try again tomorrow

Ah! I am sorry Miss Sensible isn’t working tonight, try again tomorrow

Number 6: I have been a pilot taa raaa.

My elder brother is stinking rich; I am poor as a …. well poor. My brother has his own plane, it even has a go faster stripe down the side. One weekend he offered to take me flying. As we flew over Lincolnshire he let me take the controls of the plane and asked: “Have you ever gone cloud hopping”, “cloud hopping?” I asked.

“Yes: you head for a cloud and pretend you are a battle of Britain pilot”. So David and I went cloud hopping, neeeeeooowwww; the plane went as we shot down through the clouds. As we burst out of the cloud into the sun we shouted Rat tat tat tat tat and pretended to blast the imaginary German Luftwaffe. We were having a great time until the local air controller asked in a very British clipped voice “could you please confirm your direction. Ooops! Once a Pecora Nera always a Pecora Nera.

Fortunately I didn't decide to fly for an airline.

Fortunately I didn’t decide to fly for an airline.

Number 7

I am a dog man. I like pussy cats, but I prefer dogs. I want a big daft dog that will chase sticks; however, at the moment I have a cat that sleeps in our garage and he isn’t really our cat. I had to dissuade Mrs Sensible from putting a collar on him yesterday. We feed him twice a day, he has been deflead and has thanked us by peeing on the stairs and leaving a little parcel for me in the garage. Mrs Sensible said he does it because he knows I won’t let him into the house.

Scooby Doo lives in a box in the garage. Although he is not completely happy with this arrangement.

Scooby Doo lives in a box in the garage. Although he is not completely happy with this arrangement. PS dear NHS supplies if you want your box back, you may come and fetch it.

8) I have been awarded The Woman’ Skirt Award, hence the 8 facts about me.

Woman's Skirt Award

Woman’s Skirt Award

And 8 other people who deserve this award? Very difficult to pick only 8

http://livinginthelanghe.wordpress.com/ Mrs Sensible and I went and visited them a week ago, Mrs Living in the Langhe was wonderful, their little dog Otto was fab, I can’t remember much about Mr Living in the Langhe.

http://ilghepardo.wordpress.com/ This lady is not scared of trees.

http://ytaba36.wordpress.com/ Yvonne from Ytaba. Maybe I will invite Mrs Sensible and I to her part of the world.

http://lifeisbutalabyrinth.wordpress.com/ He makes me laugh even on a Monday. The man has more blogs than I have fingers..

http://bluefishway.com/ Ralf is as mad as me.

http://ididnthavemyglasseson.com/ A really nice blog.

http://1writeway.com/ A great blog for all you budding writers.

And last but not least ANDY, who comments on my blog. Andy, now you have an award, go and start a blog.

You 8 now have to write a post, include 8 things about yourself and nominate 8 other blogs. To read the proper rules go and visit HERE

63 thoughts on “8 things about a Black Sheep”

  1. I want to go flying and cloud hop too. Loved the sinking boat routine 🙂 Scooby Doo is waiting to get inside so that he can leave you a gift on your pillow. He is buttering up Mrs Sensible because she looks after little chilblain and thinks he’s cute. He’s not, he’s got an evil plan to take over your world. Go and buy yourself a great dane before it’s too late.

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    • I am glad you understand Scooby Doo. The face on that pussy cat says everything; it says If you dare leave one of your flip flops or shoes outside, I will make them warm and squiggy for you.

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        • 3 weeks ago Scooby Doo sauntered back across the road to his real house, the one with the big dog. The big dog immediately ran to the fence and started growling and barking at Scooby Doo, so Scooby lifted his leg and peed through the fence on the dog!!!

          Donna who was our guestaway watched it happen. If she had filmed it, Scooby would be on you tube.

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          • Hello, you Mad Englishman. Thank you for the nomination, for which my cat and I thank you most graciously. But, after reading your acceptance speech, in 8 acts, I have such a bad case of stage fright!

            That Scooby Doo is definitely a cat with attitude, I’d be very scared of him, and wouldn’t turn my back on him.

            Cheers, and you’re welcome in the land of the Long Paddock any day.

            Yvonne

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            • I guess this post was more of a maxi skirt than a mini skirt 😉 Be careful with the invite, Mrs Sensible, Scooby Doo and I might just turn up. We went a visiting Livinginthelangue last week.

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  5. Oh my. You are funneeee as “all git out.” That is some kind of hick in the sticks expression from parts of Texas and places unknown. I am glad that you survived the perm. I am surprised that all your hair did not fall out from the perm solution being on your nutty, er I mean smart, head too long

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    • After Christmas I managed to track Joy down and ask her to cut the frizz out. Even when my hair was short as in very very short, it was still frizzy. I spent the Christmas trying to blow dry it flat. Uffa!

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  8. Did you have to shave your head afterwards?? I had a dodgy perm too – and it was pre-eyebrow plucking days. I looked like a cross between Slash from Guns and Roses and Noel Gallagher for a few years. 🙂

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    • Lol, I had to have a buzz cut, It looked really silly even when it had been cut short. Don’t mention eyebrows, on an all lads holiday, one of my friends got exceedingly drunk, during the night one of his eyebrows mysteriously vanished (aided by one of us and a Bic razor). We then placed bets on how many days before he shaved the other one off. His face looked lop sided with only one eyebrow, he tried using a marker pen to created an eyebrow…. 🙂 🙂 3 days later he turned up at the pub with no eyebrows..

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  10. FELICITAZIONI Congrats for your AWARD !
    I very much thank you for the honor of nominating me for this award… and I do love the quote about writing which does apply to me because I run out of story after about 600 words…. But I have not been ‘doing awards’ – unlike trees, awards they do scare me, and worse they bring the lazy me to the surface … they require so much work…. 8 of these and so many of that, etc. I run out of words, my writing skirt ends right there. So with all my gratitude in mind you may feel free to pass it on to another deserving blogger. And Pecora Nera, listen, by now you OUGHT TO KNOW that it is against the blood and spirit of an Italian to ‘go read the rules ‘ – god forbid …!!!
    I thank you and I remain mysteriously yours, ( the 800 secret things remain untold) – Vera

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  13. Hi PN 😀 On behalf of the staff of Bluefish Way ie. me, I must refuse this bit of skirt for 8 reasons :-
    1) I smoke
    2) My cats don’t smoke
    3) I’m single
    4) My cats are also single
    5) I’m British
    6) My cats are Spanish
    7) It’s Tuesday
    8) The skirt is too small. I wear size 14.
    I nominate Merry Christmas to both of you
    Ralph. CEO, Chairman, Teaboy of Bluefish Way dot com 😀 <smiley

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  14. Thank you for the nomination! I might just do this one; you made look like fun. And if I didn’t already have too many cats, I’d say send Scooby-Do to me … but as it is, living with four cats, all unrelated and former strays, is an uneasy existence at times 😉

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  16. Thanks for the award PN! I don’t tend to do these things, I’m far too lazy, but seeing the nomination was really for Otto, maybe he’ll give it a go… By the way, I didn’t realise that Mrs Sensible’s maiden name was also Sensible. What a coincidence!

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  17. This is the best award acceptance post I’ve ever read, you had me laughing all the way through. The life you have lived. I would say after Mrs. Sensible took pity on you and finally went out with you, you are probably going to lose in the end on the subject of Scooby Doo.

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      • You were very persistent and I”m glad it paid off. As for Scooby Doo, I’d say you need to attack that one on both fronts and sway Mrs. Sensible to your side. I am a dog person too so look forward to seeing your big dog. 🙂

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  21. From what I’ve read and seen in his pictures I’m sure Scooby Doo can hold his own against any and all dogs. He does need to be wary of a certain human with a box and a handful of stamps.

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