Cogitations… concerning Oak Trees, 0/0 (?), Cats, Cyc-Ous, A Million Bikes etc. etc.
This headline serves as an index to some of the seemingly random collection of forthcoming Thompson Topics to be covered in future posts that are NOT directly MTB related.
Though they are a Detour from the Beaten path, they do however have a linking, unconventional thread connecting them. You are cordially invited to recalibrate your expectancies to allow a consideration of the stories presented.
They may provide a fresh perspective on some issues either cycling related or of general interest, concern or contention vis Why cycling two abreast in groups of eight makes for safer cycling on open roads.
Headlines are meant to lure the reader in to read further. Or, as is the case here, when you stumble on an Unexpected Intruder, puzzling enough to possibly investigate further.
I am somewhat of an intruder here thanks to the kind offices of Sean. The subject matter of these pieces is a bit of a detour from the expected content.
Perhaps some explanation is required.
My name is Ron Thompson and I am 88 years old. I’m here by accident. The accident – (if you can call a heart attack an accident) – that happened to Sean.
I have known Sean for a long time. At one time he was my editor at Ride Magazine. This was pre-cell phones and the internet explosion.
The internet enabled us to reconnect when Sean started posting his experiences with the op and progress towards recovery.
I too have hit many potholes in the road to where I am now. Those Bumps in Life’s path can cause a Pause to Reflect on what was and what awaits. Those are often Forced Pauses – as Covid was for all of us.
During those Pause times – when Life’s daily pressures are less demanding – we may even question the Where am I going? Which direction? Whether change is possible, if so, When? and even Why?
I’m not talking about the Meaning of Life philosophical thing. That’s BS.
You are here now… Deal with it. But the Practical Question remains…HOW? These may be things to Ponder in Pause Time.
Sean has allowed me Space here to carry on some of the Reminiscing Rambling, Musing things I wrote about at Ride – some of which I hope you will find amusing, interesting or just “Things to Think about”
So- as to one of the subject matters in this headline- let’s start with “0/0”.
In the Olden Days of the then Union of South Africa, when the currency was in Pound Shillings and Pence, petrol dispensed in (Imperial) Gallons, measurements were made in Inches, Feet, Yards, Furlongs and MILES.
Along the side of the road, at a distance of one mile apart, the roads department erected concrete slabs giving distance from a Starting Point.
The starting point slab read Nought over Nought.
0
__
0
The beginning.
Karl (Bloom) Bloomfield was Bwittish and-although much older than me, a great friend. No – that is not a misspelling of the nationality of the country Bloom came from but the accent of blokes who came from the East End of London.
Although not a Cockney (you had to be born within the sound of Bow Bells to merit that) he too Wolled his “Rs” like them when he spoke.
Apart from the accent, Folk from That end of the Wood were noted for other characteristics – Wit being one and Straight talk another. Oh! and Rhyming Slang.
“Whistle and Flute” being a suit was one. Others that I remember were” Apples and Pears” = stairs and” Bees and Honey” for money.
Convoluted but that was precisely why it was used: outsiders could not understand the conversation.
A quick Bloom story (amongst the many he told me that I, in turn, put into print)…
Bloom and his mate Stoppa Clark rode pro on the continental circuit pre-war. He knew Coppi and other top riders, having ridden in some of the major races that they took part in.
In the off season he would return to Britain and, in the spring, would go back to the continent to race – with a case full of Brooks saddles. These were expensive there due to heavy import tax.
(Fausto) Coppi bought some to sell to other riders, paying Bloom in notes. When Bloom took these to the bank, the manager called him into the office. The notes were forged.
It was the practice on the Continent for Race organisers to pay riders Appearance Money “under the counter” which arrangement the riders condoned to avoid tax.
Everyone knew that the Germans had printed and circulated forged currency during the war. Since the riders had no recourse to the perpetrators without revealing their own tax evasion scheme, they just passed the notes on.
Accepted practice on the Continent…as long as you did not try to deposit the money at a bank. The bank manager burned the notes in front of Bloom. “Naughty Boy! Don’t do it again”
Devious doings… and I interjected this detour here purposely.
I had five different editors during my 20-year tenure as a freelance writer at Ride Magazine.
My style of writing is like my gravel road riding. The ride was never about getting from A to B in the shortest time. The object of the exercise was to enjoy the scenery, and routes were chosen with this in mind.
If a side road beckoned, the possibility of discovering new vistas dictated that I detour to find out.
So to my stories. It goes with my philosophy. Life is a journey Enjoy the ride.
The Bloom story deviation came to mind as I was on my way to telling you about the 0/0 mile-posts.
Quotes are usually attributed to an Author.
“Your word is good enough for me. Just put it in Writing” is known as a Goldmanism after Sam Goldwin, the movie mogul, whose contradictory utterings were legendary and well illustrated the nature of the personality.
In Bloom’s house in Mulbarton there was a milestone he had (literally) picked up on the side of the road when milestones were made redundant.
In the 1950s we would time our ride between two and were thus able to determine our rate of progress and so estimate our speed and, knowing the distance to the destination, calculate arrival time.
If a side road beckoned, we could decide if we had time to investigate before needing to return to Mulbarton where Molly would have tea waiting… or leave it for another time.
The headline gives the “itinerary” for the intended journey for this piece.
Looking at the “clock” at the bottom of the page, it now reads precisely 1014 words.
Sean will decide whether this is enough already or to append the next piece about oak trees and acorns or leave that for another time.
NB the apre-ride teacup Bloom drank from was more than twice the size of the conventional cup. Blooms reasoning…
”The second cup never tastes as good as the first”
Being unconventional in a world full of conformists makes one stand out in a crowd and, as such, a target for derisive disapproval by the majority of me-too followers.
Individuality is bought at the cost of being accused of contrariness (a word I have only recently rediscovered, to my delight)
People are entitled to their opinions but when these conform to the Approved Doctrine of Behaviour, one should perhaps pause to take stock of one’s own individuality.
How did Ron’s writings end up here? Here’s how.
Disclaimer: The opinions and views of Ron Thompson are not necessarily those of TREAD Media.
