It’s not that far off, actually… 
Although I would like to add that the FAA would demand that the Now pilot fill out multiple forms and reports and pay a fine, even if he died… 
Thanks for the reminder. I would hate to forget Valentines Day:
I’m just happy to have a place where somebody other than me knows what a triffid even is! 
I literally laughed out loud at the joke as well 
Heheh same here.
I remember reading the book a million years ago and I was blown away when I saw “28 days later” that basically it’s the same story verbatim except with Z in place of Triffids.
I know this was probably common knowledge for everyone with a passing interest in Aliens- but I still think it’s cool to see it…
Powered by a screaming jimmy. My absolute favourite engine.
the 1981 BBC version was the best conversion of the book, the 1962 film was ok … apart from the lighthouse scene, and the 2009 tv mini series was just bloody terrible
I thought we aren’t allowed pron on her @Fuzzy
My god!
I would buy an 8v71 or 12v71 just to rev it up in the garden…
I nearly bought an absolutely destroyed k900 that had a jimmy in it just because it would start
Yeah, nothing sounds quite as good as a big 'ol two stroke diesel does it.
The ringtone on my phone is an 8v71. I’m a little obsessed
I didn’t want to totally derail the Darwin Award thread (even if it is a Mudspike ‘tradition’), but talk of dangerous Aussie fauna and Drop Bears in particular got me thinking.
So, OK. Funny Drop Bear story, even if it is only tangentially about Drop Bears.
The Kangaroo (K) series of military excercises were held every three years and were the largest, involving all three services and for the first time (IIRC) K92 also included US Forces.
We were about to head into the field with a squad of Marines and one of them asked why we all had a X marked on the cap of some our water bottles.
Like this, but we had ditched the small pack and carried an extra two water bottles and ammo pouches:
The real reason was the cordial/fruit juice powder in the ration packs (our version of MREs). Once you had added it to the ‘canteen’ the flavour was there forever, so to ensure you only used it in the same one every time you put a cross on the lid. Otherwise you risked using cordial or ‘tainted’ water for a brew (tea or coffee) and it tasted horrible. Most of us just had the one cordial bottle.
What we told our new American friends was:
“You guys have heard about Drop Bears right?”
The smarter ones were sceptical to say the least and voiced that opinion.
We persisted. “No they are real, but there is one guaranteed way to repel them. You have to liberally douse yourself with human urine before bedding down for the night, that is why we ■■■■ (pee) into one of our water bottles, and mark the cap with an X and use that. Otherwise you have to get one of your mates to ■■■■ on you.”
Still some scepticsm, but increasing confusion from the Marines as we swore on our Mothers that we were telling the truth and then a Marine pointed at the webbing of one of us and said “Why does he have two canteens then?”
Quick as a flash he said “I just like the flavour” and poured a decent measure of pale yellow (lemon cordial) liquid into a cup and drank it in one gulp, then smacked his lips with a satisfied 'Ahh!".
The look on those Jarheads faces was priceless.
Good one Harry. That reminds me of my son’s recent visit to the Lone Pine Koala Sanctuary in Brisbane. He has been posted to Brizzie so went there for a look-see. He mentioned a derelict enclosure and the description was very much like the failed drop bear enclosure from the 1960s. As I recall Joh Bjelke-Petersen, the Queensland Premier in 1968 wanted one for the publicity effect. An all volunteer team from the SAS was sent out to the bush to capture a breeding pair. It didn’t go well. 1RAR had to go in and extract the now savaged SAS team. The empty, high security fenced enclosure with razor wire top was an embarrassment for Joh. That’s how he got his unwanted nickname - Drop Bear Joh.
