WIX Archives
Re: Russia ... long
Posted by Tony on Wed Dec 05, 2001 09:02:45 PM
In reply top Russia ... long posted by Dave on Wed Dec 05, 2001 07:16:09 PM
Nothing sad or anorakky about what happened to 2 genuine enthusiasts in Russia, who found a well known fighter..... I believe one died as the result of a "robbery that went wrong", and the other was the subject of a hit and run. So, I guess accidents can happen to anyone, and the band played "You can believe it if you like" as they say here.
Dave's right. One of my experiences that rankles, was 1989, when I met up with 2 students, from the Eastern Baltic countries. We had a great time, they showed me piccies of the aircraft, and the dataplate (Yak 9)
We agreed a price, my Polish partner said I was far too generous,(well 45 years of occupation by a foreign power can do that to a man) and arranged to meet the followuing week, to go and survey the aircraft. At this point, all i had given them, was their travel expenses to meet me, and as we say in England, the price of a "Right nice drink".
We met the following week. This time, they had another man with them, who they described as their cousin."Cousin" Boris or whatever his name was, was an absoulte caricature of a Mafioso, LOUD Hawaiian shirt, unbuttoned down the chest., gold medallion,sunglasses on top of his head, and the most offputting of all, he chewed gum with his mouth open. The English guy I had with me, couldn't stop himself saying out loud "f##k me, who is this w@nker?"
My Polish mate just glared at the guy. The very first words out of his mouth were "One million Dollars" and this was 1989. I said, sorry, don't understand. He then produced, God help me, a clipping from a magazine, that showed an aircraft (Spitfire) being offered for around ?300,000.
I said.... It's flying, it has a history, it is easy to repair. He said yes, 1,000,000. I tried to tell him, as did the other English guy, he wouldn't have it, and he kept chewing like a masticating old Bovine, and smiling at me, like he knew he had a winning hand at poker.
I got up, and thanked him for coming, but said I wasn't interested, which wiped the smile off his face. It unfortunately, did the same for the 2 students, but I like to think they learned something from that. I'd like to say that was the only time I came across the attitude, but it wasn't.
So, yes, not all russians are stupid lazy and greedy, but by christ, they're related to someone who is..
Tony
(Wow, I'm still seething)