Lets get this straight. I deplore the throwing of eggs. As well as being a waste of one of my favourite foods, it is an awfully unfriendly act if they are aimed at people or their property. The reason I write this is that I'm taking a bit of stick for making a jocular comment about the throwing of eggs at two shop fronts in Machynlleth. I suppose the reason I was tempted to take some amusement from egg throwing is because of the dishonourable tradition of throwing eggs at politicians. I accept that I should not have said it.
One of the most memorable incidents at recent general elections was the throwing of an egg at John Prescott by Craig Evans at Rhyl in 2001 - or at least the response by Mr Prescott, an ex-boxer who hit his young assailant in the face with a left hook. When Radio Wales asked me what I thought of this incident, I said that if I'd been Mr Prescott, I'd have hit him with a right cross as well! Shouldn't have said that either. Sometimes politicians hope for eggs to be thrown at them, in order to attract media coverage, as I suspect Nick Griffin MEP did when he was pelted recently. I have some personal experience as well, in that I once took two eggs, one a glancing blow, and one full on at a 'Save the Pound' rally in Monmouth - also in 2001. The missiles were meant for William Hague, who was Conservative leader at the time. As I recall, everyone there thought it was very amusing. William was particularly pleased with me. My suit was never the same again.
Speaking of eggs, its the annual show at my village, Berriew tomorrow. A few years ago, there was a competition on the field which involved throwing an egg, and catching it, over as great a distance as possible. The late Dai Tanner took on the role of catcher. Unfortunately Dai had taken a tincture before the competition, which had effected his coordination. He missed the egg, thrown from around 50 yards, and it hit him in the eye. Everyone laughed at first (I mean hundreds of people howling) until we saw the blood. An ambulance was called and Dai was taken away on a stretcher. There was no long term damage.
The lesson to be learned from all this is that its not sensible to throw eggs, or take any amusement when some scoundrel resorts to it.
9 comments:
If I remember rightly, wasn't it some members of the far left who through the eggs at Nick Griffin?
The far left giving the extream right, publicity it doesn't deserve
Anon - Indeed it was. Nick Griffin had decided to create a situation in front of the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, despite having just been elected to Brussels. The egg throwers arrived as anticipated - and the BBC obliged by giving it top billing. Teamwork.
I'm sorry to report that there has now been another egg-throwing incident against a Mach shop-cum-residence. Dare I suggest that it was encouraged by the flippant attitude taken not only in this blog, but also by the local press?
Mr Davies, I think we met years ago at a meeting. I had you down as a thinking person, though I do not share your political views. Please feel free to visit my shop when in Machynlleth, or email me. I promise to throw neither eggs nor abuse at you :-)
The last time eggs caused such political uproar was in Gulliver's Travels.
oh no...don't tell me you're a Bigendian :-)
Are we going to hear anything from Edwina Curry?
Is Dean Swift related to Jonathan Swift by any chance?
Kelvin - Another invitation I will be happy to accept. Do I sense an ever so slight frivolous nuance slipping into your comments!!
Glyn, do sit down before reading this, but I'm not usually considered an overly serious person - rather the reverse. And Swift happens to be one of my favourite authors - sad that few people go beyond Lilliput. Laputa is very relevant.
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