SJP is currently draped with Nationwide banners. If this picture doesn't appear on Sunderland websites I'll eat my hat.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

Answers

It will now

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

What kind of hat wuld that be softie?

Terry might not put the image on a Sunderland website if the site of you munching on an hat is more amusing.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

But I bet you will Rik

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

I think you might have to eat your hat - or I'll eat my sandwiches.

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

BTW is your hat edible?

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

I wouldn't worry about the Makems. With a bit of luck, they'd be planning a "conference call" and too busy to notice ;-)

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

... yeh, just as well we don't get any mackem lurkers on here, or it would be a dead giveaway! ;o{)

-- Anonymous, September 04, 2001

Your hat looks safe for the time being as I have mailed staff at readytogo with the idea. I'll make sure you get the credit.

ML3

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2001

Phew! After years of waving a colonial fly-whisk at bearers in Africa, my titfer of choice is a pith helmet...

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2001

Softie
Is it called that because when you're caught short in an embarrassing situation you can pith in it ? :-))

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2001

Actually PB, the pith helmet was traditionally used by the military colonial forces of Europe, Africa, India and the United States. It received widespread recognition as the head-dress for notable missionaries such as Stanley and Dr. Livingstone, and became the standard head-wear for anyone traveling to the tropics from the 1840's to the turn of the century.

The range of hats had expanded significantly over the years and has been used by the Victorian Cavalry in the Boer and Punjabi Wars, the Italian Abyssinian War, the Foreign Legion in North Africa and the US Marine 1880 hat.

The hat was originally made of pith bark from indigenous trees (paper bark trees) and covered in in a cotton twill fabric. When soldiers returned to England from duty in Africa or India, the cold and wet climatic conditions caused these hats to shrink and collapse. As a result, cork was used in making the hat instead of pith bark.

All nicked from the African Trading Company who also have some quite fetching photos of pith helmets though none featuring Kathy Lloyd or Linda Lusardi.

-- Anonymous, September 05, 2001

bugger.......got any picallili to go with that?

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001

Softie what do you know about the Boer War?

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001

Ah hey Rik, wouldn't mess with Softie and his History of Empire old boy, you should be askin' 'im what he don't know....Guvna.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001

I have a certain familiarity with it Rik, why? You interested in Spion Kop or Modder River? Baden Powell at the siege of Mafeking? First use of concentration camps? Duplicitousness of the British Empire?

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001

Baden Powell and 'Scouting for Boys'.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001

I thought Softie was going to post a thousand word sumary of the war, alas he cottoned onto my time wasting ploy.

-- Anonymous, September 06, 2001