Beware British sense of irreverant humour alert!
This afternoon has been the remembrance service for those killed in the July London bombings. Someone decided to have four large candles on the alter - each candle has a name of one of the tube stations involved. Very lovely idea to light a large candle, each one symbolising those killed at that particular station.
The only trouble is listening to the Sky news reports going round and each time they mention the "four candles" I can only hear the famous Ronnie Barker and Ronnie Corbett "Four Candles" sketch where Barker goes into a hardware shop and in a regional accent asks for "fork 'andles" but it sounds like "four candles". Corbett is the shop assistant trying to get the right thing but always getting it wrong. The sketch goes on and is blisteringly simple but side splitting.
In sombre tones the Sky news reporters mention the four candles lit to remember those that have been killed and I feel really, really bad for laughing.
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But isn't that what makes us as the British so special? That marvellous 'Blitz' spirit and in this case, sense of humour?
No need to be ashamed...
Minerva
(I loved that sketch too..)
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 6:16:00 PM
I probably would have thought of that first too. I agree with Minerva, it's the Blitz spirit, and our quirky sense of humour.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 6:34:00 PM
All been said.
Someone posted, after the train bombs, that the next day as commuters took that first step back onto the train it was an equivalent show of British spirit.
Changing to the other topic, the M 'n X (Ham and Eggs) sketch was another favourite.
rashbre
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 6:51:00 PM
In your 'defence' - as if you need one! - Ronnie Barker's recent death did mean that, as a nation, we heard that joke repeatedly over several days. You'd need to be impervious not to have made the link.
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 10:45:00 PM
I always preferred Morecambe and Wise to Two Ronnies - actually, Eric specifically.
'I'm playing all the right notes - just not necessarily in the right order!'
classic! :-)
cq
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 10:47:00 PM
The British spirit, always to smile through adversity
Tuesday, November 01, 2005 11:23:00 PM
But that is such a fantastic sketch ~ it makes me cry with laughter! If I'd heard the service I would have laughed too
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 6:22:00 AM
Maybe the organisers of the service subliminally were so influenced by fork handles that's why they chose four candles!
The mysteries of energetic wotnots!
Rather like the Times crossword puzzle during the war which contained all the code words for D Day!!
Cue X Files music!
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 6:39:00 AM
Qt Ronnie Corbett: "And now a sketch set in a ball bearing factory. I play a man who's lost his bearings and Ronnie plays a man who's lost his..."
Another favourite...Ronnie Barker as the weatherman. "And now the satellite picture..." Cut to, you guessed it, a picture of a satellite!
They were priceless...
You certainly shouldn't feel ashamed at smiling at something in that service. The ability to do so is one of the things that the suicide bombers were trying to destroy. If we can smile - eventually - they don't win.
Caught only a bit of the service on the radio - sounded very moving. I hope it helped the people directly affected a little...
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 9:46:00 AM
I agree with Minerva. The way we laugh in adveristy is our greatest strength. That was a really nice post :).
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 10:38:00 AM
Ronnie ability to play on words was genius. Very astute observer. I'm sure he would have laughed too.
More shameful than laughing is the fact that I thought so little of it I hardly listed to the news reports.
Hmmm.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 10:46:00 AM
When I worked in the bank I could never say 'good afternoon'and keep a straight face because of
some comedian.
I thought the candles were a lovely idea too.
Wednesday, November 02, 2005 3:03:00 PM