Dear Morgan, This is an open message calling upon you to show great loyalty and pride towards your country this Sunday. This weekend provides you with a rare opportunity to show great patriotism and bravery to avenge the defeats of your country’s brave Navy. When you were at school you surely learned about the Bataille d’Aboukir in August 1798 known in this country as the Battle of the Nile in which your brave Navy was defeated by the British Navy. You would also have learned about the Battle of Trafalgar in October 1805 when your Navy was once more defeated by the British Navy. Then there is the terrible incident of 3 July 1940 when the British Navy attacked the French fleet at Mers-el-Kébir resulting in the deaths of 1,297 French servicemen. France and Britain were not at war but the British Navy insulted your compatriots by not believing them when they said the fleet would not fall into German possession, the British Navy acted upon the assumption that Admiral Darlan's promises were in fact lies. So there you have it. The British Navy has lorded it over your nation’s Navy and to add insult to injury they did not believe one of your finest and bravest Admirals. Now it may have passed your notice that Portsmouth is home to the British Navy and that many of Portsmouth FC’s fans over the years have been sailors. So this Sunday is your chance to avenge your countrymen. They expect you to as does every Saints fan. You had the chance to score a hat trick last weekend, there will be no excuses for missed chances this Sunday. If you mess up you may never be allowed back into France again. Just for once this Sunday Nicolas Sarkozy will not be trotting dutifully along in Angela Merkal’s wake trying to look important but instead will, along with every French man and woman, be glued to the BBC TV expecting to see you emerge as a new National Hero. Who knows what great honour may await you. You could become revered in your own country as well as your adopted City of Southampton. Finally I know what great pride you take in the correct use and pronunciation of your beautiful language and I would like to draw your attention to the terrible way it is treated by the women of Portsmouth. Large numbers of them gather on the steps of the Guildhall in Portsmouth and shout out the French maritime cry of “To the water it is the hour” which they have translated as “a l’eau cest le heure” which they have corrupted and in their dialect comes out as “ ’ello sailor ”. This is an abomination and a corruption of your mother tongue and a further insult to your great nation. You now know what you must do this Sunday. The French nation will be watching and they expect no less than a great victory. “Ce n’est pas le football c’est la guerre. Vive la France.”
I had a dream that he scores a goal against pompey, it seemed so far out I wasn't going to mention it. Still reckon he'll have 5 goals to his name this season, he's been getting closer in recent weeks. As for the history lesson, I reckon that would go over most french peoples head, let alone young Morgan.
TBF, I think we Sotonians did that. Because the town was invaded so many times by the French, the call of Moosh was for foreigner, I believe.
Excellent, St Godders! Incidently, I think that Schniederlin's family actually come from Alsace which could actually have mean't that his ancestors might not have been as partisan as you would have imagined in the Napoleonic era since they could have had split loyalties with Germany or whatever constituent it was back then. A lot of the pro-French people from Alsace move west when the Prussians invaed in 1870 and loyalties were often a bit ambiguous in this part of France.
My old dad used it when he was alive. He worked in Southampton Docks and everybody called everyone else moosh, I believe, unless they knew each other well.
I still use Moosh alot, its easier than remembering names, Chav was the pikeys word for stranger, or even mate if they didnt want their names spread about
When Southampton was raided by French pirates in the 14th Century I believe that one of the culprits was called Grimaldi and he is the descent of the royalty inthe principality Monaco. Often thought what would Southampton be like know if we still had the money and it had accrued 650 years of interest. Author Geoffrey Chaucer's father had something to do with the walls that were subsequently erected around the city.
Blimey! Moosh is a word that I haven't heard since I was a kid. It was not used for foreigners but for any one you knew. All right moosh? Typical greeting at the time. Gone the way of conkers and also the 2 fingered salute, which seems to dying out. All that fuss over Harvey Smith! Sorry, anyone under 40, just the ramblings of a middle aged codger!
