Going to the engagement party of my oldest friend on Saturday. Known him and his family 30 years.

[Berni]

Trouble is, his dad used to teach me chemistry and I find it well-nigh impossible to call him anything but 'sir'. No matter how much he insists I call him 'Alan', it just seems wrong. :-

Isn't it odd how effectively childhood indoctrination sticks?

[Classic Jorge]

They called me by my first name, I called them by theirs. They called me by my second name, I called them by theirs.

[Berni]

You do remember what happened to him in the end, don't you?

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

He should be addressed as 'Sir' until the day you die.

Standards, old chap.

[Berni]

party and a large number of his son's friends are going to be calling him 'sir'. I think he'll find that awkward.

Even more awkward is the the fact that - after 30 years - I've absolutely no idea what my friend's mum's name is.

[Classic Jorge]

I reckon Reg showed it to the class for that reason.

I used to say to the headmaster "respect is a two way street, Mike" I'm not sure whether I got through to him at the time but I like to think that, as he got older and matured, that he came round to my way of thinking a little.

[Billy Goat Sverige]

[Classic Jorge]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Tell 'em the old trouble's flared up a bit. Khyber Cough, Raging Delhi Trots. Dhobi Itch perhaps.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

You'd have been tied to a radiator and buggered insensible.

[Berni]

The end of corporal punishment must have been a sad day for teachers.

[Classic Jorge]

Hang on, I thought you were a young scruffer-me-lad from the mean streets of south london who made his considerable way in the world through chutzpah, vim and vinegar.

[Berni]

I fear I'm far too bourgeois to do that - however tempting it is. :-(

[Billy Goat Sverige]

Or Bumbaclot by the black half of the class.

Mr Nash :****er:

[Classic Jorge]

Part of the reason they put up with me though was that, even as a voluntarily part time student, I kept their averages up. Someone had to be there to offset the feeble minded rich kids effect on the curve.

[Berni]

[Supermac1976]

It never did me any harm either.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

These things are rarely linear. I've been undressed by kings and I've seen some things that a woman ain't s'posed to see.

[Classic Jorge]

:hehe: you *******

[Berni]

the headmaster. The only one I hold anything against was a chap who used to hit kids on the backside with a tennis shoe in front of the whole class and was actively disappointed if you didn't cry. Nasty piece of work. I sincerely hope he's dead.

[Berni]

[Berni]

So who did the I've been to paradise one?

And no, I can't be bothered googling.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

I'm pretty sure I've seen that movie.

[redgunamo]

[Classic Jorge]

She should make them go one at a time from now on.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

Jesus H f**king Christ. An engagement party. Is he having a stag weekend in Ibiza as well?

The chap is jolly well old enough to know better, and there's an end to it.

[PSRB]

[Berni]

(and himself) that it will actually happen.

I'm quite cynical, though. And I've known him 30 years.

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]

[PSRB]

[Sir Charlie of Nicholas]