My generation grew up in the pioneer days of 'learning TV'. My mum used to tell people that I spent a lot of time sat mesmerised by black and white Open University programmes, but in reality I just hadn't worked out how to change the channel on our set. Still, aside from hours of confusing bearded and bell-bottomed lectures, my lasting memory of 1970s tele-education is of the puppets and people of Sesame Street.
Granted, I didn't learn about much of life from Cookie Monster (unless you've been witness to the frenzied way that I tackle plates of biscuits), but saying 'zee' instead of 'zed' and announcing to my mother that today's dinner was brought to you by the letters 'M' and 'B' on bangers and mash night brought me a sense of scholastic achievement and sophistication.
It was 'math' (yes, sorry - took me a while to get out of that habit) that I enjoyed the most. Count von Count, the benign and benevolent numerically obsessed vampire taught me that counting up to 10 in a mock Eastern European voice was hilarious when suffixed with an 'Ah-aaahh' after every digit.
Imagine my unbridled joy, some 40 years later, to see that not only is the Count still going strong - of course he is: he's the Undead - but he has made it onto a cycling jersey. Now I can enhance my cycling and running experience with hearty Count-related puns and impressions, courtesy of those wonderful guys at Brainstorm Gear.
True, there have been other attempts to promote pre-school arithmetic's poster boy - but none, in my humble opinion, deserve to succeed like the designs released recently by the Portland-based company. I can even sport a Team Count running top on my weakly (sic) exploits at the local ParkRun.
The Count Jersey is a real head-turner. The trademark monocle, widow's peak and eyebrows are featured heavily on the front, with purple bat accompaniments on the raglan sleeves. Over on the flip side, there's a hint of fang out of the rear pockets and a catchphrase tribute along the bottom.
Oh, and the shirt's made of some wicking material, fits and flatters a fat boy like me, and is super quality - just threw that in to satisfy contractural obligations. In all seriousness, this jersey isn't only about the design, which is fantastic - did I mention? The whole range of Brainstorm jerseys are of the same quality, and if Count von Count isn't your thing, there are many other eclectic retro themes to prick your nostalgia.
Or, if you have no nostalgia, just marvel at how great they look. After all, you still see teenagers wearing Ramones T-shirts - you don't have to know the back story to sport an iconic look.
The Count jersey, $89.99 from www.brainstormgear.com
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