Over the last few weeks I’ve been thinking about our senses and how important they are to our memories. For a start, looking at the OMA web pages using the sense of sight bring back memories of friends and indeed those that we considered not so friendly but still play a part in the rich tapestry that is the life of even the most mundane Old Michaelian. Some of the pictures in the galleries are a sight for these old eyes.
Hearing is another wonderful sense. like when I hear a hit of the sixties and I remember Listening to the same song under the covers after lights out (Radio Caroline) or singing Along with “My Generation” on the top deck of the bus but more than that, hearing the Voices of friends that you haven’t seen or heard in 35 years makes hearing a sense to treasure.
Even the sense of feeling can spark a memory. For example the other night the temperature Dropped to –6c and no matter what I could not get my toes or nose warm and the first thought that entered my mind was; ”This is as cold as Gresham on a December night”
The self same cold night brought another memory. A neighbour has an old diesel four Wheel drive and it would not start so he used some Easystart and with a loud backfire and a cloud of black diesel fumes mingled with the smell of Ether came the memory of a cold morning at Gresham, .the Chieftain and Chris White. Smell! What a sense.
The smell of Fish Pie, Baked Beans, Chocolate Pudding with Thames Mud…some
pleasant, others? It depended on your own sense of taste . I well remember
that few on my table liked fish pie but John Card loved it and would eat our
share off of our plates.
I hope that come October that I will have all my senses enriched and that
the reunion will be filled with those who have the sense to support our many
memories we have of our time at St. Michaels.
David McMahon-Winter (from Oz)
A Old Michaelian decided to emigrate to
North America and was told by the people who were in the know that he would
require brain surgery before leaving as he would need to have a third if his
brain removed. Following the operation he awoke to find a very worried
Surgeon leaning over him. “There’s been a terrible mistake “the Surgeon
exclaimed .
”We took out too much brain you only have half of your brain left.”
“Don’t worry sport” answered the Michaelian. “I’ll bloody well emigrate to
Australia”.
How is Martin? Give him my best wishes.
See you all in October.
David McMahon-Winter
