Bedlam Humour
Nelson at Trafalgar
2012
Fred Ashford has sent a joke:
Nelson: "Order the
signal, Hardy."
Hardy: "Aye, aye sir."
Nelson: "Hold on, this
isn't what I dictated to Flags. What's the meaning of this?"
Hardy:
"Sorry sir?"
Nelson (reading aloud): " England expects every person to do
his or her duty, regardless of race, gender, sexual orientation, religious
persuasion or disability.' – What gobbledygook is this for God's
sake?"
Hardy: "Admiralty policy, I'm afraid, sir. We're an equal
opportunities employer now. We had the devil's own job getting " England " past
the censors, lest it be considered racist."
Nelson: "Gadzooks, Hardy.
Hand me my pipe and tobacco."
Hardy: "Sorry sir. All naval vessels have
now been designated smoke-free working environments."
Nelson: "In that
case, break open the rum ration. Let us splice the main brace to steel the men
before battle."
Hardy: "The rum ration has been abolished, Admiral. Its
part of the Government's policy on binge drinking."
Nelson: "Good
heavens, Hardy. I suppose we'd better get on with it full speed
ahead."
Hardy: "I think you'll find
that there's a 4 knot speed limit in this stretch of water."
Nelson:
"Damn it man! We are on the eve of the greatest sea battle in history. We must
advance with all dispatch. Report from the crow's nest, please."
Hardy:
"That won't be possible, sir."
Nelson: "What?"
Hardy: "Health and
Safety have closed the crow's nest, sir. No harness; and they said that rope
ladders don't meet regulations. They won't let anyone up there until proper
scaffolding can be erected."
Nelson: "Then get me the ship's carpenter
without delay, Hardy."
Hardy: "He's busy knocking up a wheelchair access
to the foredeck Admiral."
Nelson: "Wheelchair access? I've never heard
anything so absurd."
Hardy: "Health and safety again, sir. We have to
provide a barrier- free environment for the differently abled."
Nelson:
"Differently abled? I've only one arm and one eye and I refuse even to hear
mention of the word. I didn't rise to the rank of admiral by playing the
disability card."
Hardy: "Actually, sir, you did. The Royal Navy is
under- represented in the areas of visual impairment and limb
deficiency."
Nelson: "Whatever next? Give me full sail. The salt spray
beckons."
Hardy: "A couple of problems there too, sir. Health and safety
won't let the crew up the rigging without hard hats. And they don't want anyone
breathing in too much salt - haven't you seen the adverts?"
Nelson: "I've
never heard such infamy. Break out the cannon and tell the men to stand by to
engage the enemy."
Hardy: "The men are a bit
worried about shooting at anyone, Admiral."
Nelson: "What? This is
mutiny!"
Hardy: "It's not that, sir. It's just that they're afraid of
being charged with murder if they actually kill anyone. There are a couple of
legal-aid lawyers on board, watching everyone like hawks."
Nelson: "Then
how are we to sink the Frenchies and the Spanish?"
Hardy: "Actually, sir,
we're not."
Nelson: "We're not?"
Hardy: "No, sir. The French and
the Spanish are our European partners now. According to the Common Fisheries
Policy, we shouldn't even be in this stretch of water. We could get hit with a
claim for compensation."
Nelson: "But you must hate a Frenchman as you
hate the devil."
Hardy: "I wouldn't let the ship's diversity coordinator
hear you saying that sir. You'll be up on disciplinary report."
Nelson:
"You must consider every man an enemy, who speaks ill of your King."
Nelson:
"What about sodomy?"
Hardy: "I believe that is now legal, sir."
Nelson: "In that
case................... Kiss me, Hardy."