Unofficial Christ's Hospital Forum

OK - Gemma burst upon the scene last year, opening this thread even before she had taken the entrance exams and been accepted for direct entry to the Deputy Grecian year 2007. There are many pages of discussion between Gemma and the rest of us, on many aspects of her entry to Christ's Hospital. En route she had a brief relationship with Euresto, but (I think) this no longer pertains. Euresto has continued to contribute to this thread off and on throughout last term - but at the end of term and into the Christmas holiday, Gemma herself has re-entered the thread. Ermmmm does anyone else have anything to add to this brief sketch? I am sure that I speak for all of us when I wish both of them well.. for next term and for the future.
Kerren

I can confirm that it is most definitely over!

Has 'Hello Magazine' been informed ?

Stop teasing, JR!

kerrensimmonds wrote:Stop teasing, JR!

I just thought there might be a bob or two in it for 'em !

gemmygemmerson wrote:I can confirm that it is most definitely over!

You'll make a politician or a movie star yet, Gemma.

These denials just go to prove what most people always suspected .........

michael scuffil wrote:As one of the working population I have been deterrred from reading this thread by its length. Can anyone produce a summary?

You've had the short 10 line summary; whilst I can understand the deterrent value (like a well trained rottweiler), this was one of those rare threads which did not degenerate and most of which will be a good learning experience for future entrants to the school and their parents.

Admirably put.

Gemma, glad that Housey life is treating you well... I'm glad that you liked the Christmas party - Mum was telling me about the Col B one... seemed like quite a giggle...

Dear Gemma

Seeing the point of us grandfathers is to reminisce, or to put it another way, to supply future historians with original material, here is my recollection of being a Deputy Grecian in 1959/60.

I became a Dep at precisely halfway through my CH career, four years down and four to go. (This is in itself an interesting point: O Level in four years, and then four years of what would now be called a Sixth Form.) It was a carefree year. O Levels behind me, maths and science given up, two years to go to A Level, which was neither graded in those days, nor very important if one was destined to go further. What counted was S Level a year later (that could get you a State Scholarship) and Oxbridge scholarship exams in the following December. But at the beginning of the Deps year, that was an eternity away.
In the house too I was becoming quite senior -- a top-tabler (which came with certain privileges, like sending juniors on errands) and a senior senior (i.e. at the senior end of the senior dormitory), which came with the inestimable privilege of being allowed to lie in bed until the trades bell at 7.15 (everyone else had to be out of bed by 7.00). (This was Thornton B -- other houses had other curious customs).

Our form master on the Modern Language Deps was Mr A.L. Johnstone, also known as Stine. He was a bachelor, had red hair, a red face and a notoriously bad temper, but if you got on with him, you could detect a sense of humour. He once came up with the following: "If I want to know about a tricky point of French grammar, I go and ask Mr Dean, and then I go and ask Mr Rider, and then I have the casting vote." His catch phrase was "common or garden", and he also over-used the expression "as it were". We took to dropping things on the floor when he came out with one of these, but it got embarrassing.

'ere, JT, is there any way that I can change my name on here? Eruresto is starting to lose its edge...hmmm. Thanks!

PS. fratres, optime cum vivendo bono dabuntur gratias nostras ... if anyone knows the latin for grateful I'd much appreciate it!

Eruresto wrote:'ere, JT, is there any way that I can change my name on here? Eruresto is starting to lose its edge...hmmm. Thanks!

PS. fratres, optime cum vivendo bono dabuntur gratias nostras ... if anyone knows the latin for grateful I'd much appreciate it!

Especially when it is mis-spelled.

Try "memor" (that is what the online dictionary came up with but my Latin days are far in the past)

Yes - whoops, sorry about the mis-spelling......

Hi Guys.

This is CH as it ought to be...things are going very well at the moment!

Phoebus, my faithful steel steed is back and good as new - now folds down instead of falling down, is no longer held together by gaffer tape and the wheels stay on. Phoebus is, of course, called thus because it is the latin name of Apollo, which is naturally the make of my bike. Phoebus also has a new bell - with a compass on!

Was very pleased to see two notable YOB Scouts within two days of each other: Mark Laichena on Sunday/Monday, and Richard Lebon today, who was speaking in chapel to introduce the termly charity.

Still investigating the mystery trip that CLB is taking the Explorers on at the end of term - no more than three hours driving each way. Any ideas? It's a weekend thing - leaving after lessons Saturday and getting back late Sunday. Mysterious...

Writing Llanwyd's Saga, which is highly exciting - wrote the coolest 300 words yesterday, which follow:

Of the battle of Llanwyd and Klarnus, and the death of Olaric

Now when Llanwyd came to the wastes before the fortress of Medregil, he found before the gates a barren land, filled with ash and devoid of all growing things. Nonetheless, he came to the gates without challenge, for if the spies of Klarnus saw him, then the more did they fear his wrath, and out of fear hid themselves and reported him not, for though they knew not his name, they had heard of his deeds and his hatred of the Troll-Horde. And so it was that though he came boldly to the gate, he spoke no word until he stood before the very ramparts of Medregil and under the shadows of the Black Fells, and no challenge was raised against him.

As the bleak sun raised itself to the head of the sky, Llanwyd suddenly drew his sword, and even in that barren place the sapphire on its hilt shone like the brightest of stars.

“Klarnus!” he cried in a loud voice. “Klarnus the sorcerer, abhorred by all the world! Come forth, Klarnus, that I may slay thee!”

For a long while the wastes were silent, save for the whistling of the wind. Then with a horrific grinding noise the vast gates of Medregil’s outer keep opened slowly, and forth came a single rider, on a black armoured horse. He too was armoured, in a suit of armour once iron-grey but now blackened by the soot of Klarnus’s forges. He approached Llanwyd without fear and when he stood a bowshot away, dismounted and spoke in a cold voice, filled with malice and devoid of any mercy.

“Who comes to summon Klarnus the Great in such base fashion?” he asked.

“I am Llanwyd of Campana, and I seek the head of Klarnus, and my prize!”

“What is your prize, mortal?”

And then I went off to play worms. I might tell you what his prize is later...but it's a good-un. Really a bit of a cross between Narnia, The Children of Hurin and Beren and Luthien, but what the hey!

Hee hee! Yes, a little. I'm working my way through Grettir's Saga at the momnent. Luckily for me, a latin teacher who is also my Scout Leader and unofficial tutor did here degree in ASNaC and so has a lot of books like that.