Respect to the fallen, but the bit that impresses me most is not that Staff Sgt. (as he ended the war) Anderson lasted longer than anyone else, it's the way he is spoken of.

He was a very gracious and unassuming man... Alfred was a fine old soldier who was a brilliant example of old world courtliness... Everyone who met him was always impressed by his vitality... He was gentle and very humorous, with a quick wit. He used to say until recently that his ambition was to die shot in bed by a jealous lover.

Excerpted from the BBC report on this grand old man's death. We all gotta go some time. I doubt my epitaph will read so well!

Alanabit & CH - please squabble by PM, but perhaps if you agree to call it Yule (the *real* name for it), you might at least agree a 'truce'? ;-)