Hello - its about time I introduced myself!

[1954gladiator]

Sorry for not introducing myself sooner - if you watch the popular UK TV programme 'One foot in the Grave' you will understand why I am the 'Original' Grumpy Old man & my user name should really be Victor Meldrew!!  

You wouldn't want to be my neighbour - just ask 3 who surround me!  I can't understand why one wants to build 6' high walls & gates in front of my drive!!  A second accuses me of flooding his garage when he lives at the bottom of our hill & we have had months of heavy rain!!!  The third accuses me of ruining the environment when I have 'traditionally laid' and replanted an old & dying 20' high hedge in a Conservation Style in a Conservation Area!!!  As of Sept 2010 another one (now 4) has confronted me about a rotten tree felling with Council permission!!!!      

The years have been kind to me - however thickening around my midrift now earns me the name 'Jellybelly'.  I am married to a georgeous wife - 'Cellulite' - look out for my contributions on the Trip Advsor forum!  

My best friend (apart from a WBA football supporter down the road) is a Black & White 'English' not 'Welsh' Springer Spaniel dog that has a fantastic working nose & is available at stud for interested readers.  He is Maximus Desmus Meridius 'Gladiator' or Max for short.  He is as 'hard as nails' but an old softy like me with my 2 children & 3 grandchildren.  Max is a handsome fellow as you can see from the attached image.

I live & work in Shropshire & am a Director of a UK manufacturing business - a very rare beast these days!  See for yourself with a visit to: www.full-of-beans.com - you will then understand my forum name 'greatbeanbags'    A picture attached gives you a flavour straight away.

Enough of this rubbish - thanks to the forum for helping me uncover so much about Stanley Vince my Manchester serving WW1 grandfather (picture attached) & his brothers who didn't survive the Somme & Ypres in other Regiments.  It's great to be a part of such a fascinating forum & if I can help others through with my contributions or give enjoyment through stories etc. that would be great.  

[tisgrannie]

Well welcome from tisgrannie, very cute dog you have and a "different intro than usual" I have seen several of your posts.
Your memorial to your grandfather looks very impressive.
Hope to see you around and hopefully you could help someone out.
regards
tisgrannie

[harribobs]

sorry clive

you've been beaten in the cute dog competition 

[rafboy]

Tow more competitors for the cute dog competition.
Cliff

[tonyrod]

if its a competition, my entry,

[rafboy]

Thats wild! 
Cliff

[1954gladiator]

Hi harribobs, rafboy & tonyrod,

I hadn't anticipated my topic would start a member dog show!  However, having seen your dogs (surely yours is in the wild Tony?) may I suggest that Chris & Cliff enter their next local dog show in the class 'Dog looking most like its owner'?!- if I were a judge & had to pick a clear winner from the 2 of you it's definitely you Chris.     I wouldn't be able to compete because my hair (what's left of it) is grey/silver not black/white!    

My intro was meant to be a bit of fun but somehat tongue in cheek!  It looks like it's going down well.    Cheers - Clive

[tonyrod]

its cute and it has a full pedigree going back hundreds of years and thats my back garden.  and i withdraw  rusty conidae  myself   

[harribobs]

Tony, amazing...

i'm sure you get the questions all the time

african wild dog

[1954gladiator]

Hi Chris

Max is not so cute now! 

This picture was taken last season & it goes to show what an excellent working dog he is.  I don't shoot myself but I do enjoy a day with local farmers who have a small shoot on their land - thankfully they are not great shots so the number of birds killed are small.  Because they maintain the land for game & wildlife the countryside is fantastic around their farms here in Shropshire.

Max earns his keep by picking up wounded birds that would get left behind if he wasn't around!!  Yes, all birds are taken for 'the pot' - I even 'dress & skin' some for the old age pensioners in our local small town (Church Stretton) who really enjoy eating them.

Clive

[1954gladiator]

Hi All

Thought you might all like to see another image of Max that warrants his 'Gladiator' status!  Perhaps the dog show will continue?!!

Just to let you know I still enjoy the forum even though info on my Manchester grandfather has dried up ...... probably not much left to discover out there now but what I have discovered... a lot with your help....thanks... is fantastic.  I keep recommending the forum to any others who share my interests & try & help others seeking info on the site.

Doing a 6 day Battlefield tour with 'Cellulite' in Belgium & Northern France (following in the footsteps of both our fighting grandfathers & other close relatives)in late April/early May so will post a summary with some images in due course.  Hope there will be some interesting Manchester regiment snippets for you to read/see as meeting several Belgium/French contacts made recently who share Somme interests & even lead Battlefield tours!

Best wishes to you all.

'Jellybelly'

Clive