Posted by Peter Ceresole on February 26, 2012 at 06:21:58 user PeterC.
Finding out the 'reality' behind the books is great fun, instructive and it enhances at least my pleasure in the books. And it's not just a question of finding out the position of the 'North Pole' or the identity of 'Dr Dudgeon'. Even the timing of the stories is interesting- and sometimes inconsistent. We've discussed the timing of WDMTGTS, which, because of the mention of the radio masts at Bawdsey has to be after the middle of 1936, because that's when the radar station there was built. That doesn't fit the rest of the stories, unless you jiggle the rest of the timings about. But it does tally with the recces that AR did to check his story. What does it all prove? That AR made a slight mistake? Maybe. But does it matter? Does it make the books any less superb or true to life? I think not. But it's a lot of fun finding out.
I don't remember Beckfoot plumbing being a contentious discussion, and I think I possibly contributed to it in a very minor way. But I've forgotten the detail; I never felt that it became abusive or took up precious resources. After all, skipping to the next message is a keypress/mouse click away.
The essence of what I'd like to say is; let's just enjoy ourselves here.