During his trade training in the RAF, (Radar Technician) my late father was sent from the class room to the stores one day for a box of 'Cal Pips'. Off he went, thinking nothing of it. At the stores, the storeman asked him what colour he wanted, and not knowing, had to go back and ask his instructor.
"Green of course" he was told, "and hurry up, the class can't carry on 'til you get back with 'em"
Off he went again, around to the stores at the double and asked the storeman for a box of green Cal Pips.
"Sorry son" said the storeman, "no green ones left, only blue or white, try technical stores, they should have them"
Now technical stores was at the far side of the camp, so after a long 'double march', poor old Dad, red faced and sweating, got there and asked his question.
"Got loads of 'em" the Sergeant in charge told him, and went off down the room, looking on shelves. On reaching the back of the stores he shouted back to Dad "What size do you want, large or small?"
Dad of course didn't know but asked for a box of each and he would return whichever box was wrong.
"Sorry lad, can't do that" came the reply "valuable items these are, I can only issue one box at a time, you'll have to go back and find out what size you need"
On his return to technical stores, by this time almost in tears and on the point of collapse, soaked in sweat, with his instructors words "Bloody small ones you idiot, 'avant you learned anything" ringing in his ears, he managed to gasp out his request to the Sergeant.
"Not your lucky day is it lad" grinned the Sergeant, "an officer from air traffic control just took the last box, you'll just have to explain to your instructor"
As he left, dad heard the Sergeants parting words........."Try again tomorrow, I might have some then"
As you will have guessed, this is the 'long stand', 'glass hammer', 'bucket of steam' trick, for those who don't know, 'Cal Pips' are Calibration Pips, the small green dots of light that mark a radar screen.
In memory of you Dad, I still chuckle when I remember you telling me that, God bless you.