Talbennyhall’s Weblog

There it is again, that expression;  ‘I’m gutted’  it’s so crude and unpleasant, and it makes me feel gutted, as in having my entrails removed! (dictionary definition)  Where has it come from, our North American cousins? Cousins?  how can that be when half of them are called Brodowski or are related to the Sicilian mafia? where  here on these green and pleasant isles we are Ponsonby-Smythe, if you’re English.  Llewellyn-Lloyd-Blodwyn-Davies-Jones if you’re…..it’s so obvious! Maconitsraining… Scottish (or maybe a French grape?) and O’Reallyoimoirish from just across the water.  But I digress, why have we adopted this most unpleasant word without any warning to the more sensitive of us, to describe our displeasure or mild annoyance at the most mundane happenings in our lives?  ‘I’m gutted it’s raining’  or  ‘I’m gutted that I missed Eastenders last night’……..Well I’m gutted that you’re all so gutted, so please think up a more appropriate expression to denote how gutted you really are!

Yesterday was the annual Little Haven Regatta. Well I say annual because it is intended to be held each year, but the weather has had it’s inevitable  say, not least last year!  It’s also suffered from insurance overload;  ’A regatta sir, no problem, now where will that be held?……. At sea!… Ah sea’s extra, we’ll have to load your insurance for that…..Anything else we ought to know?…….Boats with sails!……Ooh boats with sails is extra, we’ll have to load you more for that……What do you mean people in the boats, I’ll have to speak to my superior about that…..’  and so on. Fortunately the regatta is now run in association with Dale Yacht Club and the insurance problems have been overcome.

I was interested in entering the swimming events this year but I wasn’t able on two counts;  1. My swimming costume was deemed to be illegal. My mind immediately went to the World Swimming Championships in Rome and those polyurethane body suits which are about to be banned. But no, it was that mine was a woolly costume and it sags when wet, and thus too revealing!  2. I just missed out on the age thing. Maximum age; 16 years!

I had to content myself with being a spectator again and give assistance to the ailing brewing industry, which I willingy did!  There again I say spectator, what can you see standing outside the Swan when sailing boats are whizzing around Stack Rock 2 – 3 miles away and some bloke keeps shooting at them from the Point? I decided that munching a fabulous baby octopus and squid bap, and a pint of Bass was a perfect way of enjoying Little Haven Regatta, roll on next year!