Valentineâs Day was last week.  And this week we take the time to remember an event that took place on Valentine's day five years ago, when the wife of Max Load, affectionately known to all as "Dum Dum" decided to surprise Max with a special Valentineâs Day present.

What with Max being a collector of rare shot guns, "Dum Dum" somehow managed to find an almost impossible to obtain a four barrel twelve gauge shotgun.

Carried away by the romance of the day, "Dum Dum" had the ancient but pristine stock engraved with the inscription: " Dum Dum loves Max Load "

Obviously a lady with an eye to detail, it was loaded, all four barrels, with magnum double ought buck when she proudly presented the weapon to Max in his study.

At first delighted with the gift, Max froze in horror when he saw the inscription that adorned the now disfigured walnut stock of the wonderful old shot gun.

Bad move, the weapon was not designed for a modern magnum shell. Consequently, when Max froze in horror, He also squeezed off the round that was snuggled into barrel # 1, and barrels 2, 3, and 4 went off in sympathy.

The ensuing blast destroyed the old shot gun, a show case and the seven vintage Winchesters it contained, shattered Maxâs right wrist and elbow, and left him permanently deaf in his right ear.

On recovering from his surprise, Max was quoted as saying, "Oh, what the hell, she meant well."

Yes, love is a wonderful thing.

Recently, when asked how he felt about it after five years have gone by, Max cupped his hand over his left ear and said, "What did you say?"

His left ear probably isnât too good either.

Till next week
Helga Biermeister
Secretary