My brother Fergus came up from Galway last night, and so we went out for some lovely pints. Sometimes when we're out in the pub together the people we meet have a hard time believing we're brother and sister. This is because Ferg is kind of short and I'm a skyscraper — although if you ask him about this he'll tell you it's just my heels.
But the real reason we're so different in height is because we have different fathers, which means, of course, that we have different grandfathers too — and Fergus's grandfather was one of the shortest men in Europe. In fact, he was so short that the King of England at the time, George VI, commandeered him to work as his butler.
It seems strange, doesn't it, that the King would want an extremely short butler, when a large part of a butler's job is, presumably, to reach for things. But the truth is that King George was a very short man himself, and so he hired two very short men as his butlers to stand either side of him whenever he was having his photograph taken.
And that's why people sometimes have trouble believing us when we say we're brother and sister.
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But you have the same mother, and boys always grow taller than their mothers.
ReplyDeleteThe advantage of being very short is that it will take much less time for Fergus's beard to reach the ground.
ReplyDeletePeople have trouble believing the same of my brother and I for the opposite reaon. He is a marathon running beanpole and I am an average height, non-sporty redhead.
ReplyDeleteAll of that aside, the photo of your brother here is stunning.
(Sorry for the typo before- must type more slowly)
I still can't get over Fergus with a beard, to me he'll always be that mysterious teenager who moved in next door with his little brother who turned out to be a sister!! ;)
ReplyDeleteLovely to see the pictures of him and the family. The kids are sooo gorgeous. Say hi from one of the nexts next time you see him.
Just how short is he?
ReplyDeleteJust how tall are you?
"he'll always be that mysterious teenager who moved in next door with his little brother who turned out to be a sister"
ReplyDeleteHa, yeah, back when my name was Tom.
I just want to point out that this story about King George is absolutely true, as some people in the pub tonight said they'd thought I was just making shit up. But no, Ferg's grandfather really did work for him and yes it was because he was short.
I think I'm about 5'8" but my friends tell me I'm delusional. I dunno how tall Ferg is. I'm taller than him anyway.
fergy says i am 5`4" and 5`8"is certainly delusional
ReplyDeleteHow come Fergus's beard is a different colour from his hair?It's not a false beard is it??
ReplyDeleteIts a fantastic picture, and probs to your brother for the beard. As a proud sporter of facial folicles myself, I always admire guys who can manage a serious soup-catcher...I always give up and trim the thing.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fantastic Victorian/Edwardian beard. Does he re... sorry Fergus, do you rent it out? Btw, 5'8" aint so tall, I've a youngster that height, although the boots must add about three inches.
ReplyDeleteI think I saw him in the Lord of the Rings
ReplyDeletei like his beard.
ReplyDeletemy big brother has blonde hair and a red beard, but when he got a new job they made him shave his bead for health and safety reasons. they let him keep the 'stache, but he looked better with the beard.
lemme know when we can see the short. i actually run a short film festival in nyc.. be cooolllliioo to see it
ReplyDeleteOh, the picture felt shy and ran off. It's okay, nice picture, we won't hurt you....
ReplyDeleteThe pic is in the link. I take them down when something new gets posted so I don't have too many pics on the front page. Sorry!
ReplyDeleteCheers Grumpy! Will stay in touch.
Ah. I haven't met you so when I learned you were Fergus's sister I assumed you were also vertically challenged, er, I mean short.
ReplyDeleteMind you, I find most people are.