Good Bastards Hall of Fame

Leo and Katie McIntyre

Well, well, well it’s time to wheel out a few home truths about Leo and Katie.

The pure facts of the matter are that Leo can be a grumpy bastard and Katie has to be a saint to put up with him. I’m sure she loves him dearly, as we all do, and enjoys his dry humour that travels just below his grumpiness.

Leo and Katie McIntyre

Now I’ve known Leo for about thirty years and I reckon Leo has everyone bluffed except me! You see he is not really a grumpy bastard at all. I’ve seen him growl at people over the littlest thing and then they scurry away out of sight to get out of the wroth of Bloody Leo.

In fact all those around him then give him a wide berth, except old Paddy. I’ve always been one to enjoy the storm from the bow of the boat. I sit there and watch him and the sly grin that cracks in front of his teeth and doesn’t quite slip through to the lips. And I think "Leo, you bloody bastard" (Hence my christening him Bloody Leo) and I have a smile to myself at how he has bluffed his way to maintain his quiet serenity. You see he is basically a quiet bastard and enjoys his own company and sometimes doesn’t like to be disturbed while sitting in a crowd.

Next time you experience the wroth of Leo, call his bluff when he growls, for it is right here you go into the most interesting phase of all. That of the big debate with Bloody Leo.

Many folk, having decided that Bloody Leo is a grumpy bastard also decide that he is a bit of a dumb bastard. Not true. Any one who can find twenty million litres of milk interesting has to be a half smart bastard. (Leo is the chemist at the Milk Powder Factory. New Zealand's most successful and only independent Dairy factory.)

If you’re game, you can have a bloody good debate about absolutely anything. In fact you can have a debate with him about nothing at all. I know because I have done it. You have to have your wits sharpened for any such an occasion or Leo will tie you up with logic you have never thought of.

The outcome is generally one of two. Either Leo won or it’s a stand off. I have beaten him a few times and he sure as hell has beaten me. Such wins on either front don’t happen very often and are cause for much celebration.

Win, loose or draw the positive of this world will find it a stimulating experience.

Despite all that Leo and Katie are part of the original Good Bastards and have been part of making our Good Bastards Days the great success they have been. I thank them for that and for being great friends over the many years we have known them.

A special thanks to Leo for being such a "Good Target" for these bulletins. Without him to take the piss out of God knows who I could pick on who has a big enough heart to take it.

Bloody Leo, Rupert Murdoch look-a-like

Incidentally, Leo sung a few bars of Joe Cockers song "I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends" on our BIG NIGHT OUT AT THE SOUTHLAND. (Mentioned in last weeks news). He is going to sing it right through at this years Good Bastards Day. He might even sing another of Joe’s great songs that will reveal the true Leo. I can just see him gruffly bellowing forth "Unchain My Heart" as he crooned out the unchained melody. Geez, that would be something else.

Congratulations on being admitted to the Good Bastards Hall of Fame.