"SPIKES" ...on their combat boots...

[Rongar]

The London "Daily Mirror"

May 31st 1982

Milestones of the month

by Chatty Cathy

It did not go well for the Brits in the Falklands campaign at the start of this month ; after April's intitial success in overcoming the South Georgia garrison, our forces encountered disaster after disaster. Even our early sinking of the Argentinian cruiser "General Belgrano" caused controversy, since the attack by the nuclear submarine "HMS Conqueror" sank it with virtually all its 323 hands.

Then our lack of air cover enabled the Argentinians to strike back with their Exocet missiles, and (American- built) Douglas Skyhawks which sank
H.M.S. "Shaffield" , HMS "Ardent", "Coventry", and "Antelope", as well as the carrier of our own Skyhawk force, the SS "Atlantic Conveyor"
Fortunately, its vital cargo had already been delivered, and played a major part in the battle of Goose Green towards the end of the month, when the British contingent overwhelmed a much larger Argentinian force occupying the islands.
https://www.google.com/search?q=+the...t=firefox-b-ab

In contrast to all this mayhem, the world went upon its business as if nothing so significant was happening. A crowd of over 100,000 attended the first day of the 1982 World's Fair in Knoxville, Tennessee, which was opened with an address by President Reagan.

The Weather Channel broadcasted on cable television for the first time.

The International Maritime Organization (IMO) was established during May.

Pope John Paul II's visit to the United Kingdom] was the first ever by a reigning pope.

And Spain became the 16th member of NATO...the Spanish government must have heard that we were beating their fellow Latinos in South America, and were hedging their bets!
-30-

[Rongar]

Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos
July 27, 1982

TOP OF THE FIRST
Tim Leary takes the mound for the Expos.
Lonnie Smith flied out to left. <--->
Rudy Hernandez lined out to center field. <--->
Jerry Martin singled up the middle. <--1>
Gary Hargis lined out to short. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Jim Gideon takes the mound for the Phillies.
Tim Raines singled to left. <--1>
The Expos put on the hit and run.
Joe Strain doubled into the right field corner, scoring a run. <-2->
Joe Strain was caught stealing third. <--->
Chet Lemon doubled down the right field line. <-2->
Andre Dawson singled through the right side, scoring a run. <--1>
The Expos put on the hit and run.
Tim Wallach grounded to short. <-2->
Ray Cosey struck out. <-2->
2 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the first, Montreal leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Keith Moreland grounded to short. <--->
Dave McKay walked. <--1>
The Phillies put on the hit and run.
Vance Law flied out to right. <--1>
Jim Essian lined out to left field. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, Philadelphia trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Chris Speier grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Bob Boone grounded to the shortstop. <--->
Tim Leary grounded to the second baseman. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the second, Montreal leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Jim Gideon flied out to right. <--->
Lonnie Smith grounded to third. <--->
Rudy Hernandez flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Philadelphia trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Tim Raines grounded to third. <--->
Joe Strain walked. <--1>
Chet Lemon grounded back to the pitcher for a double play (1-4-3). <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, Montreal leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Jerry Martin popped up to third. <--->
Gary Hargis struck out. <--->
Keith Moreland walked. <--1>
Dave McKay grounded to the second baseman. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Philadelphia trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Andre Dawson doubled down the first base line. <-2->
Tim Wallach singled through the right side, scoring a run. <--1>
Ray Cosey walked. <-21>
Mike Jackson now pitching for the Phillies. <-21>
Chris Speier singled through the right side. <321>
Bob Boone grounded to the shortstop for a double play (6-2-3). <32->
Tim Leary struck out. <32->
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, Montreal leads 3 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Vance Law singled to left. <--1>
Jim Essian grounded to first base. <-2->
Tim Flannery pinch hit for Mike Jackson. <-2->
Tim Flannery grounded to second. <3-->
Lonnie Smith grounded to third. <3-->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Philadelphia trails 3 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Rod Scurry now pitching for the Phillies. <--->
Tim Raines grounded to third. <--->
Joe Strain flied out to left. <--->
Chet Lemon flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, Montreal leads 3 to 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Rudy Hernandez flied out to right. <--->
Jerry Martin grounded to the pitcher. <--->
Gary Hargis singled up the middle. <--1>
Keith Moreland doubled in the left field gap, scoring a run. <-2->
Dave McKay singled back through the middle. <3-1>
Keith Moreland went for an extra base and was thrown out at home. <--1>
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Philadelphia trails 3 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Andre Dawson homered over the left field fence. <--->
Tim Wallach popped up foul down the third base line. <--->
Ray Cosey struck out. <--->
Chris Speier singled to left. <--1>
Bob Boone singled down the third base line, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Randy Bockus now pitching for the Phillies. <3-1>
Tim Leary walked. <321>
Tim Raines walked, scoring a run. <321>
Joe Strain singled to short right-center for two RBIs. <3-1>
Chet Lemon singled to left field, scoring a run. <-21>
Joe Strain advanced on the error by Lonnie Smith. <3-1>
Andre Dawson struck out. <3-1>
5 runs, 5 hits, 1 error, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, Montreal leads 8 to 1.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Vance Law lined out to short. <--->
Jim Essian singled to left. <--1>
Bob Dernier pinch hit for Randy Bockus. <--1>
Bob Dernier flied out to left. <--1>
Lonnie Smith lined out to right. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Philadelphia trails 8 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Porfi Altamirano now pitching for the Phillies. <--->
Tim Wallach grounded to short. <--->
Ray Cosey grounded to second. <--->
Chris Speier grounded to short. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, Montreal leads 8 to 1.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Rudy Hernandez struck out. <--->
Jerry Martin struck out. <--->
Gary Hargis popped up to second. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Philadelphia trails 8 to 1.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Bob Boone walked. <--1>
Tim Leary singled to right, advancing the runner to third. <3-1>
Tim Raines singled up the middle, scoring a run. <-21>
Joe Strain doubled to left-center, scoring a run. <32->
Chet Lemon struck out. <32->
Andre Dawson singled to short left-center for two RBIs. <--1>
Bob Buchanan now pitching for the Phillies. <--1>
Tim Wallach walked. <-21>
Ray Cosey lined out to left. <-21>
Andre Dawson tagged up but was thrown out at third. <--1>
4 runs, 4 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, Montreal leads 12 to 1.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Keith Moreland popped up to short. <--->
Dave McKay grounded to short. <--->
Vance Law lined out to left. <--->

EXPOS WIN: 12-1

[Rongar]

Expos best game in July

Philadelphia Phillies at Montreal Expos
July 27, 1982

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
      Phillies (PHI) 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0    1  6  1
         Expos (MON) 2 0 0 1 0 5 0 4 x   12 16  0

PHILADELPHIA                 ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Lonnie Smith (LF)             4  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .214
Rudy Hernandez (SS)           4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .253
Jerry Martin (CF)             4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .304
Gary Hargis (1B)              4  1  0  1  0  0  1  0    .333
Keith Moreland (RF)           3  1  1  0  0  1  0  0    .315
Dave McKay (2B)               3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .288
Vance Law (3B)                4  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .162
Jim Essian (C)                3  1  0  0  0  0  0  0    .229
Jim Gideon (P)                1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .145
 Mike Jackson (P)             0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 Tim Flannery (P)             1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .395
 Rod Scurry (P)               0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 Randy Bockus (P)             0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 Bob Dernier (P)              1  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .333
 Porfi Altamirano (P)         0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
 Bob Buchanan (P)             0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS                       32  6  2  1  0  1  3  0

   2B:  Keith Moreland (14)

   DP:  Jim Essian, Gary Hargis 2, Dave McKay, Vance Law, Rudy Hernandez, Lonnie Smith
   E:  Lonnie Smith

            PHILADELPHIA   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
              Jim Gideon  3.0  6  2  0  3  3  1  59   4.01
            Mike Jackson  1.0  1  0  0  0  0  1   7   2.45
              Rod Scurry  1.2  3  0  1  3  3  1  33   5.14
            Randy Bockus  0.1  2  2  0  2  2  1  23   2.70
        Porfi Altamirano  1.1  4  1  0  4  4  1  34   4.09
            Bob Buchanan  0.2  0  1  0  0  0  0   7   2.22
                  TOTALS  8.0 16  6  1 12 12  5 163

MONTREAL                     ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Tim Raines (LF)               4  2  1  3  0  2  0  0    .276
Joe Strain (2B)               4  3  1  1  0  4  0  0    .315
Chet Lemon (CF)               5  2  0  1  0  1  1  0    .242
Andre Dawson (RF)             5  4  0  2  1  4  1  0    .324
Tim Wallach (3B)              4  1  1  0  0  1  0  0    .244
Ray Cosey (1B)                4  0  1  0  0  0  2  0    .257
Chris Speier (SS)             4  2  0  1  0  0  0  0    .253
Bob Boone (C)                 3  1  1  2  0  0  0  0    .203
Tim Leary (P)                 3  1  1  2  0  0  1  0    .200
TOTALS                       36 16  6 12  1 12  5  0

   2B:  Joe Strain 2 (21), Chet Lemon (19), Andre Dawson (22)
   HR:  Andre Dawson (21)
   GDP:  Bob Boone, Chet Lemon
   CS:  Joe Strain

                MONTREAL   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
               Tim Leary  9.0  6  2  0  1  1  3 136   5.18
                  TOTALS  9.0  6  2  0  1  1  3 136

     WP: Tim Leary (9-4)
     LP: Jim Gideon (7-10)

     Temperature: 81F
     Wind: None (Domed Stadium)
     Attendance: 35,598
     Time: 3:10

Expos (59-48) lead the NL East by 4 games over the Phillies (54-52)

[Rongar]

Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
July 4, 1982

TOP OF THE FIRST
Micheal Targret takes the mound for the Padres.
Jose Cruz singled to center. <--1>
The Reds put on the hit and run.
Mike Hargrove lined out to center. <--1>
The Reds put on the hit and run.
Mike Scioscia allowed a passed ball. <-2->
Harold Baines lined out to left. <-2->
Jose Cruz tagged up and reached third. <3-->
Billy Conigliaro was intentionally walked. <3-1>
Bob Bailey grounded to short. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
In the middle of the first, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIRST
Steve Dunning takes the mound for the Reds.
Al Greene grounded to short. <--->
Ray Knight struck out. <--->
Ron Oester grounded to the second baseman. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the first, the game is tied at 0.

TOP OF THE SECOND
Mike Heath struck out. <--->
Jerry Manuel flied out to right. <--->
Tom Runnells singled to center field. <--1>
Steve Dunning struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the second, the game is tied at 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SECOND
Pat Spratt walked. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Paddy Moira grounded to first base. <-2->
Mark Brouhard grounded to third. <-2->
Bucky Dent doubled down the left field line, scoring a run. <-2->
Mike Scioscia singled to right, scoring a run. <--1>
Micheal Targret grounded to the second baseman. <--1>
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the second, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE THIRD
Jose Cruz singled to right. <--1>
The Reds put on the hit and run.
Mike Hargrove struck out. <--1>
Jose Cruz was caught stealing second. <--->
Harold Baines struck out. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the third, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE THIRD
Al Greene flied out to center. <--->
Ray Knight flied out to center. <--->
Ron Oester struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the third, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE FOURTH
Billy Conigliaro struck out. <--->
Bob Bailey walked. <--1>
Mike Heath struck out. <--1>
Jerry Manuel struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the fourth, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FOURTH
Pat Spratt grounded to short. <--->
Paddy Moira walked. <--1>
Paddy Moira was caught stealing second. <--->
Mark Brouhard grounded to third. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the fourth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE FIFTH
Tom Runnells grounded to first. <--->
Steve Dunning struck out. <--->
Jose Cruz flied out to right. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the fifth, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE FIFTH
Bucky Dent grounded to the shortstop. <--->
Mike Scioscia grounded to third. <--->
Micheal Targret singled to left field. <--1>
Al Greene walked. <-21>
Ray Knight grounded to second. <-21>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the fifth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE SIXTH
Mike Hargrove singled up the middle. <--1>
Harold Baines singled up the middle. <-21>
Billy Conigliaro struck out. <-21>
Bob Bailey grounded to first for a double play (3-6-1). <-2->
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the sixth, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SIXTH
Ron Oester reached first on a throwing error by the third baseman. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Pat Spratt grounded to short. <-2->
Paddy Moira struck out. <-2->
Mark Brouhard grounded to first. <-2->
0 runs, 0 hits, 1 error, and 1 left on base.
At the end of the sixth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE SEVENTH
Mike Heath singled to center field. <--1>
Jerry Manuel grounded to the second baseman for a double play (4-6-1). <--->
Tom Runnells singled to left. <--1>
Skeeter Barnes pinch hit for Steve Dunning. <--1>
Skeeter Barnes struck out. <--1>
0 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, and 1 left on base.
In the middle of the seventh, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE SEVENTH
Ken Dayley now pitching for the Reds. <--->
Bucky Dent grounded back to the pitcher. <--->
Mike Scioscia grounded to the third baseman. <--->
Micheal Targret struck out. <--->
0 runs, 0 hits, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
At the end of the seventh, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE EIGHTH
Jose Cruz singled to left. <--1>
The Reds put on the hit and run.
Mike Hargrove struck out. <--1>
Jose Cruz was caught stealing second. <--->
Harold Baines grounded to third. <--->
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 0 left on base.
In the middle of the eighth, Cincinnati trails 2 to 0.

BOTTOM OF THE EIGHTH
Al Greene singled through the left side. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Ray Knight popped up to second. <--1>
The Padres put on the hit and run.
Ron Oester grounded to second. <-2->
Ken Dayley threw a wild pitch. <3-->
Pat Spratt was intentionally walked. <3-1>
Paddy Moira struck out. <3-1>
0 runs, 1 hit, 0 errors, and 2 left on base.
At the end of the eighth, San Diego leads 2 to 0.

TOP OF THE NINTH
Billy Conigliaro struck out. <--->
Bob Bailey grounded to second. <--->
Mike Heath flied out to right field. <--->

PADRES WIN: 2-0

[Rongar]

Padres best game in July

Cincinnati Reds at San Diego Padres
July 4, 1982

                     1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 +  R  H  E
          Reds (CIN) 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0    0  8  1
        Padres (SDP) 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 x    2  4  0

CINCINNATI                   ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Jose Cruz (LF)                4  3  0  0  0  0  0  0    .286
Mike Hargrove (1B)            4  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .307
Harold Baines (RF)            4  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .294
Billy Conigliaro (CF)         3  0  1  0  0  0  3  0    .295
Bob Bailey (3B)               3  0  1  0  0  0  0  0    .265
Mike Heath (C)                4  1  0  0  0  0  2  0    .246
Jerry Manuel (2B)             3  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .320
Tom Runnells (SS)             3  2  0  0  0  0  0  0    .285
Steve Dunning (P)             2  0  0  0  0  0  2  0    .167
 Skeeter Barnes (P)           1  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .318
 Ken Dayley (P)               0  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .000
TOTALS                       31  8  2  0  0  0 12  0

   GDP:  Jerry Manuel, Bob Bailey
   CS:  Jose Cruz 2
   E:  Bob Bailey

              CINCINNATI   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
           Steve Dunning  6.0  3  3  0  2  2  3 103   4.04
              Ken Dayley  2.0  1  1  0  0  0  2  34   4.00
                  TOTALS  8.0  4  4  0  2  2  5 137

SAN DIEGO                    ab  h bb  r hr bi  k sb     avg
Al Greene (LF)                3  1  1  0  0  0  0  0    .281
Ray Knight (3B)               4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .321
Ron Oester (2B)               4  0  0  0  0  0  1  0    .310
Pat Spratt (1B)               2  0  2  1  0  0  0  0    .387
Paddy Moira (CF)              3  0  1  0  0  0  2  0    .309
Mark Brouhard (RF)            3  0  0  0  0  0  0  0    .215
Bucky Dent (SS)               3  1  0  1  0  1  0  0    .295
Mike Scioscia (C)             3  1  0  0  0  1  0  0    .282
Micheal Targret (P)           3  1  0  0  0  0  1  0    .111
TOTALS                       28  4  4  2  0  2  5  0

   2B:  Bucky Dent (14)
   CS:  Paddy Moira

   DP:  Pat Spratt, Ron Oester, Bucky Dent 2, Mike Scioscia 2

               SAN DIEGO   ip  h bb hr  r er  k pit    ERA
         Micheal Targret  9.0  8  2  0  0  0 12 119   2.16
                  TOTALS  9.0  8  2  0  0  0 12 119

     WP: Micheal Targret (6-2)
     LP: Steve Dunning (0-4)

     Temperature: 77F
     Wind: Calm
     Attendance: 44,250
     Time: 2:31

Padres (76-28) leadthe NL West by 19 games over the Reds (52-47)

[Rongar]

The "San Diego Clarion "

June 6th 1982

Deadwood

by Al Terego

Two problems solved, the Amateur Draft, and the cull of the franchise, what can the Padres' management ask for the deadwood that it wants to unload, the coaches then asked Dan Conway. His solution: Draft picks.

He reasoned that a mere exchange of players with other clubs would only result in the franchise lending up with deadwood, again, less deadwood , probably but deadwood, nevertheless.

On the other hand, gaining draft picks from next year's intake of talent would surely be like boosting the Padres up nearer the top of those clubs selecting; if the Padres could do so well through having virtually the last picks of the Amateur Draft, most seasons, how much better they could expect to do by leapfrogging to earlier choices.

So the staff set to work arranging for a mass cull of players whom they did not expect to ever play for the Franchise's major league team, the Padres. There were some useful players among them, but only useful to bottom-feeders like the Athletics, Seattle, Brewers, Red Sox, all currently looking to finish 1982 at the base of the American League Divisions.

There was no idea of offering any of the Club's surplus talent to any competing National League team, of course, even deadwood can catch fire, and burn former owners as they all knew, so it was that once-promising players like Al Greene, Gorman Heimuller, and Peter Stember, so far, have been offered and accepted by those aforementioned American League Clubs.

In all 21 redundant Padres and Beaver players were offered out for draft picks in this month's initial ciull.

There will be many more to follow in the weeks ahead, before the July 31st trading deadline. We will lose some tried and true favourites like gritty. but worn out second baseman Dai Boyd, and elegant but ageing starting pitchers like Ron Hall, but this is the destiny of ballplayers - that anno domini inevitably follows boundless competence.
-30-

[Rongar]

May 13th 1982. American President Ronald Reagan telephones British Prime minister Margaret Thatcher (Based upon the original account by her son-in-law , Jonathon Aitken)

RR: Good morning Margaret...how are you?

MT: Very well, thank you, Ron...busy with this Falklands thing, of course.

RR: I hear that negotiations are going well

MT: That is not the case, Mr President...others are negotiating...I am going to fight.

RR: I'm worried about rumours that you're planning an attack on the Argentinian mainland

MT: Not true, Ron...we'll just take our islands back, and let others debate the whys and wherefors

RR: I was hoping that there would be no shootout over this...the world will think we're like the Soviets.

MT: No, Sir, we're English...we look after our own ...Falklands is a British colony ...no one takes it from us.

RR: I was hoping you'd see it my way on this Margaret. Over here, we're trying to stop South America from going Communist. One of our allies getting into a brouhaha with Argentina, isn't going to help.

MT: I do appreciate that, Ron, but I'm sorry...I must do what's best for Britain

RR: Suppose you don't make it? My military guys say you've not a snowball's chance....slogging through 8,000 miles just to get there with a tiny force to be met with a heck of a well-dug in army...your boys get repulsed, Margaret, you're in a jam with your electorate.

MT: I'd be in worse trouble if I backed down...they'd throw me out...besides being politically practical, offence is the best defence as I pointed out to you, when we helped you out over Nicaragua

RR: I was hoping you wouldn't throw that in my face, Margaret.

MT: I'm sorry, but all's fair in war, Mr President. I'm going to presume on your debt to us, and ask you to make available your naval base at Ascension Island, so's we can supply our forces, while we're down there.

RR: And I'm going to ask you, Margaret, to hold off your dogs untill the U.N.can negotiate a settlement.

MT: (Seething)Argentina attacked our ships only yesterday!....we cannot delay military options simply because of negotiations

RR: The world might see this as David versus Goliath with Britain being the bad guy

MT: This could hardly be true at a distance of 8,000 miles...and how would you like Americans to live under a brutal junta? And those islands are going to be of strategic importance to you if Panama closes the Canal, and your commerce has to come around the Horn
******************************************************************************** *********Aitken wrote "Margaret Thatcher called these exchanges 'a difficult conversation' President Reagan wrote more emolliently in his diary "Talked to Margaret but don't think I persuaded her against further action"

[Rongar]

Rongar writes:Hi Pals. Sorry for the silence. Heart trouble , and I r34egretabbly have to pack up this story. Thank you for your past attention , and may all your baseball dreams come true

[Alloutwar]

Rongar writes:Hi Pals. Sorry for the silence. Heart trouble , and I r34egretabbly have to pack up this story. Thank you for your past attention , and may all your baseball dreams come true

You are a gentleman and a scholar sir. We wish you the best of health and thank you for your 12 years of community involvement here.

[hotchickenstew]

sorry to hear of your health troubles! Hope they're over quickly, and agree thanks for all your work on the story. Take care!

[Rongar]

The reason I stopped writing "Spikes" was that I was whisked away to hospice, with the medical opinion that I would be dead within days. It hasn't happened yet, and I may even make some sort of recovery. I have access to the Hospice's computer as you can deduce, but their policy, understandably is to use it only for reports on one's condition, thanks to well-wishers, (like Hotchickenstew), and socially-correct musings, not blood and thunder stuff like "Spikes"

However, I've improved from terminal patient to care-home candidate, and once I'm settled -and/or "spared" - I'll resume the Chronicles. watch this space.

My best to all readers

[jshaw]

Good to hear rongar. Hope all continues to go well