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04 Jul 2005
We had a family celebration at the weekend, and all converged on Bourton-on-the-Water to eat, drink, go for walks and spend some time together. We chose Bourton mainly because it was the nicest place to spend a weekend that was roughly equidistant between all of our home towns. And it is lovely---if somewhat 'chocolate-boxy'---but the main street is fearsomely busy on sunny weekends.
If you walk away from the main street (and we did that as much as possible), you can find peace and quiet, but the centre of the village was packed with people strolling about, paddling in the river and eating ice cream. We were having a coffee on the terrace of our hotel and witnessed the surreal sight of at least 30 mini motorbikes roaring up to the green. They all seemed to be scale models of particular bikes, but were ridden by full-sized men (with their knees up under their chins), and were as noisy as ordinary bikes. After a number had parked up, a police woman came over to them and evidently asked them to move on. There wasn't any argument, and they all rode off again like a tiny, well-behaved pack of bonsai Hell's Angels.
I'm left wondering why anyone would buy a tiny motorbike. I'm sure that you can probably fit one in the back of a car to transport it, but it must be uncomfortable, and---to be honest---it makes you look like a bit of a wally.
2
Good to see the use of the phrase, "bit of a wally" again! A great phrase from the 1980s that has fallen into disuse in more recent times. Long may this revival continue.
by Pete @ 05/07/2005 8:08 am • Permalink •
3
'bit of a wally' -- we don't have that in the 'States, but I'd be happy to introduce it (I'm quite the trendsetter, you know). I will need to be instructed on its correct usage, however.
4
Jonathan Briggs: No way! Really? Well, this lot got off pretty lightly then.
john(j.c.): 
Pete: I'm running a one-woman crusade to bring the term back into popular usage, along with 'badger' (a West Country term, circa 1988, meaning great or brilliant). e.g. "Oh, that scrumpy's badger!"
bitweever: Yay! A US introduction! A wally is someone who is (or looks) a bit foolish. It was a semi-affectionate term, often used between friends, when someone did something a bit stupid. The word 'muppet' seems to fulfil the same function (at least in the UK) now, but I've got all nostalgic for 'wally'.
5
Good for Nottingham. Don't get me started on the idiots who buy these for their kids who ride them round our local parks, annoying the Hell out of everyone else.
by comsomol @ 06/07/2005 5:08 pm • Permalink •
6
On the subject of "a bit of a wally", don't forget "bit of a berk". I writepoetry (lots of it) - in fact I am a "compulsive poet". So I have just written a poem on this subject. Your articles set me off again. Hope you like it:
WALLY THE WERK
By Josie Whitehead www.whiteheadm.co.uk
“Whatever happened, then, to Wally the Werk?†For we all thought he was a bit of a berk. He wasted his time all day in our class. He caused all our teachers a lot of harrass.
He was boring and stupid - well, a bit of a prat – He never would wash and his hair was a matt. I never knew Wally to polish upon his shoes. When other folk worked, he’d be taking a snooze.
So, what did become, then, of Wally the Werk? When I tell you the truth, you really will smirk. For Wally’s done well – he’s a millionaire! So if you think you’re a wally, please don’t despair.
Copyright 2007
Hope this explains fully the term "wally", and remember that there's hope for you wallies out there.
The dictionary definition of wally is: Wally - a silly and inept person; someone who is regarded as stupid
Berk - a stupid person who is easy to take advantage of
by Josie Whitehead @ 06/06/2007 11:44 am • Permalink •
1
Not to mention that they are illegal - get caught riding one in Nottingham, they'll confiscate it and crush it - the coucil introduced a rule banning them on council property; park one in your council house and they'll evict you.
Bloody fun fascists!----- "bonsai Hells Angels"... heh-heh. Good one!
by john(jc.) @ 05/07/2005 5:08 am • Permalink •