I think he'll tell us it was a joke and 'we' should 'lighten up'. Like Hamzen, I can fairly put myself on the 'detached' side of the false divide that Paddy proposes existed way back, though I can't say it affords me the comfort that Paddy seems to derrive from it.

Trying to achieve a single, 'correct' history out of memory is a futile endevour - there will never be a right or wrong - unless that is one set of remembered occurences is supported by documentary or other physical evidence and another is refuted by the same evidence. This does not mean that remembered history is not valuable - just that it will always be particular to the individuals who hold the memories.

Paddy's analysis strikes me as similar to the kind of irritating person who, on hearing you've had 'flu, temperature of 105, sick a dog etc - berates you with how they got over the same disease in three days by going for twenty mile walks, eating a pound of garlic and drinking a half bottle of whisky, following which they ran a marathon. Even if these feats really were true - how is one to respond ?

Nik ( reminds self to book this year's flu jab)