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johnfowles · 07-20-2004, 10:39 AM

I heard on the news this morning that it is today 35 years since Neil Armstrong uttered the some immortal words:-
When Armstrong stepped on the moon's dusty surface at 10:56 p.m. July 20 and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind,"
That day I was in England and with my family had been visiting relations some distance from my parent's home we drove back in a hurry that evening to see the moon landing and did so. Then followed a seemingly interminable wait to see Neil step down onto the moon's surface. The BBC had thoughtfully arranged for a number of pundits and space experts to be "talking heads" in case there was any delay and also the late and much-loved raconteur and all-round wit Frank Muir (half of a successful Brit sitcom team with Denis Norden)

Image stolen from a great frank Muir tribute site http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Nebula/4658/fmuir.html

When Frank's turn came he launched into a splendid comparision between how the Americans undertook such projects with how we in the the UK operated. He came up with a phrase I'll never forget as it was one of the cleverest humourous usage of words I have ever heard it went something like this:-
"The Americans do everything on a vast scale whereas the British way is more half-vast". I don't think many in the studio audience got it as there was only a litle polite laughter. If you don't geddit say it to yourself. it's all good Brit Humo(u)r folks!!!
As far as the stepping on the moon is concerned finally after several hours we were rewarded by a very indistinct Black and White television picture which by straining your imagination could be interpreted (as the NASA commentator was telling you) as the actual ladder and Neil's leg.
Nevertheless it was one of the most exciting things that I have ever seen

------------------
My Gordon Lightfoot webring
starts at
http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot

[This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited July 20, 2004).]

07-20-2004, 10:39 AM	#1
johnfowles Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2003 Location: New Jersey U.S.A. ex UK and Canada Posts: 4,846	I heard on the news this morning that it is today 35 years since Neil Armstrong uttered the some immortal words:- When Armstrong stepped on the moon's dusty surface at 10:56 p.m. July 20 and said, "That's one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," That day I was in England and with my family had been visiting relations some distance from my parent's home we drove back in a hurry that evening to see the moon landing and did so. Then followed a seemingly interminable wait to see Neil step down onto the moon's surface. The BBC had thoughtfully arranged for a number of pundits and space experts to be "talking heads" in case there was any delay and also the late and much-loved raconteur and all-round wit Frank Muir (half of a successful Brit sitcom team with Denis Norden) Image stolen from a great frank Muir tribute site http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Nebula/4658/fmuir.html When Frank's turn came he launched into a splendid comparision between how the Americans undertook such projects with how we in the the UK operated. He came up with a phrase I'll never forget as it was one of the cleverest humourous usage of words I have ever heard it went something like this:- "The Americans do everything on a vast scale whereas the British way is more half-vast". I don't think many in the studio audience got it as there was only a litle polite laughter. If you don't geddit say it to yourself. it's all good Brit Humo(u)r folks!!! As far as the stepping on the moon is concerned finally after several hours we were rewarded by a very indistinct Black and White television picture which by straining your imagination could be interpreted (as the NASA commentator was telling you) as the actual ladder and Neil's leg. Nevertheless it was one of the most exciting things that I have ever seen ------------------ My Gordon Lightfoot webring starts at http://www.johnfowles.org.uk/lightfoot [This message has been edited by johnfowles (edited July 20, 2004).] Last edited by johnfowles; 07-20-2019 at 11:43 AM.