ears03

Richard, Earsy to his myriad friends, was born at a very early age. Rumour has it that he was actually twelve at the time of his birth. Earsy is generosity itself, that is, after he has got his share.
Christmas 1975 was not particularly memorable, save for one small, but typically Richard event which went something like this.
Nan and Grandad joined us for Christmas lunch, and we all tucked in, after all, she who must be obeyed, was, and still is, a cook of great renown, as some of you well know.
We had crackers at the table, and of course Richard was the first to pull his cracker, isn't he always?
The cracker contained a seasonal hat, and a plastic toy, held together with a large rubber band, which mysteriously disappeared, only to reappear later in the story, Richard of course donned his paper hat.
Richard always was one for secreting small and occasionally large items up, or down, one or more of his many orifices, and that day dear reader was no exception. The large quantity of peas on his plate vanished at an alarming rate, so much so, that we were frightened that he was going to be sick, but fortunately all was well. We subsequently discovered that Richard was having problems distinguishing between his mouth and his nose.
We went to the evening Carol concert, the wonderful Gordon Harrison was in great form, and everything was going well. We had got well into the second verse of Silent Night, Holy Night, when there was a thunderclap of a sneeze. Green peas flew everywhere and Richard, holding his long lost elastic band, shouted at the top of his voice, �Look Mum, its my bastick band.�