A year on, almost, from the previous post. And we don't have 'covid marshals' any more. No - we have 'vaccines' and 'vaccine certificates'...and covid testers...
'So. Dave Nark's a covid tester now. Sticking cotton buds up people's noses in a caravan in the tourist car park for what he claims is a 'competitive salary'.' The T-G had stopped by for a glass of piping hot Madeira and was reading a crumpled copy of last week's 'Daily Bugle'.
'He needn't bother sticking one up my nose,' I said, throwing a piece of driftwood on the fire.
'Or mine', agreed Geoffrey.
'Or indeed mine,' said the T-G.
'Is he still posting those wildlife vids on Youtube?'
'I believe so Tuppy. He did get banned for a while after his trail cam filmed a staycationer doing the toilet in the burn. He posted it without realising, or so he said.'
'Gracious.'
'Indeed. Number twos, as well. Val was mortified. People were saying Dave was a pre-vert. She was terrified the negative publicity would ruin her ear-candling and hot stones for well-being business. She was running out of furlough money and it happened at exactly the wrong time, so she told Mrs T-G anyway. Not that there would ever be a right time for that kind of thing.'
'Good grief.'
'Indeed. Apparently the clip went viral before it was removed. They've put portable toilets in the car park now so there's no reason that kind of thing should happen again. Black Bogey?' The T-G proffered his worn Spanish leather tobacco pouch.
'Thanks T-G. How does Mrs T-G feel about it all?' I asked. 'Is she pro or anti vax?'
'Oh she's been double-jabbed, like me,' replied the T-G. 'We've had no side effects to speak of, other than the pustule eruptions, the chronic halitosis and the growth of the tail. And of course Mrs T-G has the enormous wart on the end of her nose - but that was there before.'
'When I went for my jab I asked - ' Geoffrey spluttered and had to pause to control his laughter - 'I asked - ' Geoffrey doubled over in hysterics - ' I asked -'
'Oh do get on with it Geoffrey. We've heard this one umpteen times already and it doesn't get any more amusing in the telling.'
''I asked if I'd be able to play the piano after the jab,' he blurted, ' Of course, replied Dr Wilson, looking amazed as he waved a needle in my face. That's great, I answered. Because I can't play it now! Ba-boom!' Geoffrey rocked back and forth with laughter while the T-G and I lit our pipes and stared grimly into the glowing embers.
'Interesting times, Tuppy,' said the T-G. 'Interesting times...'
more later