We had a bit of fun a bit of a laugh

Memories

Picture the scene. its 5,30am on a cold weekday morning, the sun was just coming up.

Its 1965 on the outskirts of Moss Side Manchester, two police officers were stood on the tow path of a canal, they wore thick great coats and scarfs and gloves, their breath blowing clouds into the cold air.

A mill stood on the opposite bank of the canal it had been derelict for decades and the walls were clumbling and most of the windows were broken.

Except one.

The canal mist was rising

The officers eyed the window,
It was inviting them as it shone seductively reflectimg the suns early morning rays

They looked at each other. not a word was spoken as each bent down and picked half a brick.

The first officer, the older of the two hurled his brick over the water towards the shining pane, but it missed, by a mile a might add, the other officer smirked it was his turn his nut his attempt was no better the brick landing in the canal

The first officer chuckled and hurled another.

This went on for the next 15 minutes, both were sweating, there was no need to panic they knew the sergeant was fast asleep in the parade room back at the nick.

This was now a battle old verses young, my colleague picked up another brick and with a monumental hurl the brick arched through the air as though thrown by an olympic discus athlete it smashed the last window standing with a resounding crash, the still air echoing and exagerating the crash .

The victor raised his hand in victory, and I bowed my head in total awe of a better man.

Quite unexpectadly and spontaneously there was a rapturous round of applause from behind us.

We both turned to see six people standing at a bus stop about twenty yards away, one even shouted well done officer well done and their applause continued.

We both took off our helmets and did a theatrical bow and exited stage keft to the fading applause, as their 53 bus approached to take these early morning workers to their factories as it had done for the past twenty years.

We did the job in them thar days, but we had a bit of fun a bit of a laugh.

Couldnt do that these days could they