Once in a Lifetime
I have always been interested in history, where we came from, what was the origin of my surroundings and how did I get here.
Getting a distinction at O level in History, I thought things happened and took time to change………..wrong!!
Margaret Thatcher changed our society in 10 years, we are no longer caring for others just walk on people to get to the top…….not my style.
Also I wonder if my mum or her ancestors saw so much change in their lifetime, maybe since the Victorians we have. People do not like change, like me they appreciate Status Quo.
I remember walking round Church Road Willesden with a shopping bag. Susie the dog would help herself to greens on the greengrocers stall as we passed with one swoop, yes a veggie dog!!! There were butchers, no supermarkets, grocers, fish monger, newsagents toy shops, cycle shops, pie and mash shop. There were off licences too, alcohol sales were limited and controlled, so much for free enterprise.
Now the Supermarket created by Tesco in the 70’s has killed off the smaller shops. Now we don’t have High Roads, we have shopping malls and cars queuing into car parks 7 days a week. Is that progress or greed?
The town landscape has changed, not for the better. I am now in sleepy Thrapston, a place I never heard of 2 years ago, and I dare say many still have not. But at least here there is still England’s pastures green, it has a small high street empty on a Saturday afternoon. We too have charity shops that have filled the vacancies left after Supermarket suffocation. But we have a quaint tea shoppe, and those are from a by gone era.
School friends houses are now underpasses, so is the Cambridge Pub where Jimmy Greaves Pat Jennings and the rest of the Spurs team would drink after the match. Some pubs have even transformed into McDonalds and fast food outlets instead of fish and chips or pie and mash. As I drive around, I can’t say things are better because they are newer. Some planners and architects should be put against a badly designed wall and fired. Like the scilly isles roundabouts in Hemel Hempstead, perhaps they had shares in car insurance. I do remember being in my 20’s, yes I can still, and not liking antiques but modern furniture and how my tastes have changed. I have visited Ikea once, yuk, rubbish, not for me. I like things properly made.
So bigger is not better, its like a dinosaur, and reaction times are not knee jerk, communications get lost on the way too. Sharper Image came and went. That was small , just like the small shopkeepers, it could not compete with multi nationals, but that was not to say it was crap. Number 2 in the video charts once, 2nd only to Walt Disney, see 2nd again.
Also shop names come and go . 99 years for FW Woolworths. My first job while still at school apart from that newspaper round. MFI furniture, well there is no loss. Dewhurst the butchers chain went a long time ago. I used to get cases against them.
Cars are more reliable today but all our makes have gone bar 2 that struggle to survive, When I was a kid we made for the world and gave to the world, now look at us eating McDonalds hamburgers.
Even my old school was demolished…………..bastards.
Its not all doom and gloom, but I have no time for this political correctness, say it as it is, I believe, call a spade a spade, at least it’s honest.
To be contd
Thursday, 15 January 2009
Wednesday, 24 December 2008
And so this is Chistmas Volume 87
And so this is Christmas Volume 87
The Edited Highlights and low lights of years gone by………………….
In no particular order the nominees are:
Ian as a circa 5 year old dancing with me to Manuel and the Music of the Mountains Guitar concerto though the thru lounge at Torbay Road Harrow, when I came home at night.
2 year old Graeme waving goodbye with his nose pressed against the bay window at the same former matrimonial home, after the marriage collapse. (Not a highlight)
Graeme as a teenager playing at Wembley, yes Wembley Stadium in an England Schools Cup Final, video recorded by some bloke who worked on Watchdog and was Deputy Dog.
At about 9, Graeme having a spasm attack, lucky you were around Dad, said the hospital doctor, great………….good job I went on the 1st aid course…………worse moment of my life.
In Wales pulling a younger Graeme out of the way of an oncoming nutter on a bicycle.
Ian as a toddler tripping and hitting the furniture causing old faithful out of his forehead and a mad dash to Northwick Park A&E by a wet red shirted father.
Helen swimming out to rescue Ian when the ball got further and further out to sea.
Blimey these incidents come thick and fast. Eat your heart out Baywatch.
Ian and Graeme Graduating at University…………that’s better.
Ian & Graeme getting married…………poignant stuff.
2 Grand daughters soooooooooo cute.
Fun times at the Ponderosa with my only sister and her off spring, the comedy store.
Falling in love, conversely falling out of love, highs and lows, action replays of the former not the latter.
Spurs winning anything ………………glory glory hallelujah.
The Edited Highlights and low lights of years gone by………………….
In no particular order the nominees are:
Ian as a circa 5 year old dancing with me to Manuel and the Music of the Mountains Guitar concerto though the thru lounge at Torbay Road Harrow, when I came home at night.
2 year old Graeme waving goodbye with his nose pressed against the bay window at the same former matrimonial home, after the marriage collapse. (Not a highlight)
Graeme as a teenager playing at Wembley, yes Wembley Stadium in an England Schools Cup Final, video recorded by some bloke who worked on Watchdog and was Deputy Dog.
At about 9, Graeme having a spasm attack, lucky you were around Dad, said the hospital doctor, great………….good job I went on the 1st aid course…………worse moment of my life.
In Wales pulling a younger Graeme out of the way of an oncoming nutter on a bicycle.
Ian as a toddler tripping and hitting the furniture causing old faithful out of his forehead and a mad dash to Northwick Park A&E by a wet red shirted father.
Helen swimming out to rescue Ian when the ball got further and further out to sea.
Blimey these incidents come thick and fast. Eat your heart out Baywatch.
Ian and Graeme Graduating at University…………that’s better.
Ian & Graeme getting married…………poignant stuff.
2 Grand daughters soooooooooo cute.
Fun times at the Ponderosa with my only sister and her off spring, the comedy store.
Falling in love, conversely falling out of love, highs and lows, action replays of the former not the latter.
Spurs winning anything ………………glory glory hallelujah.
A Man for all Seasons
The Complaints Department is open 365 days a year, for those that want me to change, but I learned a long time ago, you can't change people, they are what they are and you live or let die.
And it is all the theory of relativity. On the Sports Personality of the Year programme recently some poor bloke got an award on his retirement as a broadcaster cos he had Motor Neurone disease, This guy had been a captain for his England at Cricket and Rugby in his former glory, and his speech was all about gratitude for what he had achieved in his life, not what life had cursed him with now. I thought that was truly commendable. True there are people worse off all over the world including Ethiopia.
I was Deputy Editor of BBCTV Watchdog for 3 years, that was me age 40 something. At least I got that high up the ladder, yes 2nd again. I have done a lot, I only wish I had opportunities to do more of the same now.
It does make me grumpy, but not in my mind a miserable old git, just someone who takes a look at life all around him and makes comments. Now the Sharpe name has its origins in medieval England and was given to people with the characteristic of cunning and wit. So there you go, that's me, well I think so anyway, even if I grump it's with a sense of humour, and if the listener has not got humour on their wave length, then they miss the joke, miss the boat and miss the opportunity.
C'est la vie.
And it is all the theory of relativity. On the Sports Personality of the Year programme recently some poor bloke got an award on his retirement as a broadcaster cos he had Motor Neurone disease, This guy had been a captain for his England at Cricket and Rugby in his former glory, and his speech was all about gratitude for what he had achieved in his life, not what life had cursed him with now. I thought that was truly commendable. True there are people worse off all over the world including Ethiopia.
I was Deputy Editor of BBCTV Watchdog for 3 years, that was me age 40 something. At least I got that high up the ladder, yes 2nd again. I have done a lot, I only wish I had opportunities to do more of the same now.
It does make me grumpy, but not in my mind a miserable old git, just someone who takes a look at life all around him and makes comments. Now the Sharpe name has its origins in medieval England and was given to people with the characteristic of cunning and wit. So there you go, that's me, well I think so anyway, even if I grump it's with a sense of humour, and if the listener has not got humour on their wave length, then they miss the joke, miss the boat and miss the opportunity.
C'est la vie.
and so this is Chrsitmas Volume II
And so this is Christmas Volume II
The Ghosts of Christmas past, where are they now, it must have been love but it’s over now…………..
Memries (memries), good days (good days), bad days (bad days)
Theyll be (theyll be), with me (with me) always (always)
In these old familiar rooms children would play
Now theres only emptiness, nothing to say
No more carefree laughter
Silence ever after
Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
We just have to face it, this time were through
(this time were through, this time were through
This time were through, were really through)
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
(I have to go this time
I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you
Its the best I can do
I can be romantic , even charming, it is not an act, not even in a former life, but it has to be inspired, and we are all different with different people around us. Perception is a wonderful key. Though I normally assess a person in 5 seconds, obviously I don’t always get it right, just most of the time. A job as a law enforcement officer does make you cynical and a human lie detector. I suppose I display a hard crust under which is really a soft core. I always wanted to do good to mankind in general, change things for the better and I do think there have been and still are wasted opportunities. I learned at the age of 12 that demolition was easy, but it took far longer to build and create. That was the age I embarked on DIY as my mum could not employ somebody to Do it All. So with relationships. You spend time with someone and then it is all destroyed just like HMS Hood , blown out of the water with few survivors. There are no winners in those situations.
At this time of year we get on TV those that have passed away during the preceding months, I hope I die before I get old, hold on I am as old as I feel.
I think of Christmas past and what might have been.
Sally Price was my 1st girlfriend, age 13. We sat in my bedroom, yes sat in the bay window on a sofa and kissed every Sunday afternoon, she was at my Grammar School the year below.
Pat Kelly was at Jesus and Mary School. Most of the girls worked at Woolworths in Harlesden , where I worked on the Delicatessen Counter Friday nights and Saturdays. Sad to see 99 years of a high st name demise at this time Pat came round every Sunday night age 16, without her strict Catholic Mum and Dad knowing.
Lynn Hoyte. She was my first steady girlfriend, lived on the North Circ in Neasden. I had to park the scooter at the back and disrobe, so her Mum & Dad did not know.
I finally lost my virginity at age 17 to Kim, a 25 year old, who walked past my home every evening. I would rush out at 5.30pm to polish the scooter and stare. Then one day she invited me to her flat, and that lasted for 6 months before I wanted a change. Kim was really the reason why I never got to university. She affected my revision pattern, which was read, digest, memorise. Even Mr Major, a small rotund lovely history teacher who every one mocked except me, could not believe my history grade at A level, when I had got a distinction at O level. I think my papers were marked incorrectly, but by then I was fed up with exams, and just took what I had, I was joint 2nd in the school, see 2nd again, story of my life. The school had appealed before when only four of us passed Economics O level, me included, so I think there were marking scams then as there are today, why change the habit of a lifetime.
Anyway I digress education standards from sex education (Seventeen) ( yes the film is based on truth) .
The first girl I did not recognise when I woke up in the morning was Carol. But that was because she wore so much make up at night that she looked “and now for something completely different” in the morning.
By now I had generated to four wheels and a 105e Ford Anglia. Then my first holiday abroad, amazingly it was a week with my biological father and a new woman in his life that wanted an extended family, right person to go to then!!
Magalluf Majorca opened my eyes, to feminity international. Eve was from Norway, daughter of a Vauxhall Dealership Manager in Oslo. She spoke no English, my Norweigan was as today……………zilch, the chemistry was like lightning striking at the same spot all the time. It was hard to say goodbye. Bad enough when hundreds, thousands of miles apart to carry on. Especially when every Thursday night I was down the Oldfield dance hall in Greenford and weekends down the Boat House (now demolished) at Kew and the Castle (now Henrys Bar - Meat Market) in Richmond.
I had met Suzanne in Boulogne age thirteen and three quarters, on a school trip, where every one except me and Derek Johnson were green faced and sea sick (form a queue over the side, toilets are blocked !!) She spoke no English, I spoke un peu. We had a blissful afternoon, fond farewells, au revoir ma cheri. Merci to Miss O Kane who paid for me, ‘cos Mum could not afford it. She was good looking too, Miss O’Kane. She taught us French in French for 3 weeks and left me froid and the rest of the 33 class except 3 girls. So then she reverted back to Anglais, tres magnifique !!
There was also Claire, she was Jesus and Mary too, say 3 hail Maries and 42 holy fathers. Poor Claire, she would be sitting there with my Mum , waiting for me to come in at about 11pm. She was so pretty with electric blue eyes, but had no figure at all.
At 6th form in the coffee bar queue with Clive Willey , Bob Sweet and Ken New the 4 Musketeers, Prefects who run the school with tyranny and favours ha ha. We were all gawping with dribble on the floor as well as our lower jaws at Carol the blonde busty beauty of the entire school. She was wow wow wow as she moved and didn’t she know it. Ask her out was the dare. Bob couldn’t cos he had his glasses on and if he took them off he could ask the wrong person………. Clive was too small he would only come up to her boobs, oh thats a handy height then.... . Ken was “attached”, so it was down to me, no chance……no no chance, no way, she well never say yes, never ever.............The Lady from Del Monte.........…she said yes…………….. trouble is after a week I found out I was second in line, 2 timed, so that was that.
Hilary Scarr was my first love, as opposed to lust. She had an hour glass figure, trouble is all the males agreed. She was bubbly effervescent.There was no phone at Essex Road Willesden, so I had to walk round to the Post Office to use a pay phone, or use the phone at work which was awkward ‘cos I had just started there as a trainee, 249 Willesden Lane Brent Weights & Measures.
One night Hilary said she was washing her hair. I got to hear that excuse many more times over the years. Also, another tip of the trade - never go out with a hairdresser, they like the mirror more than anything or anybody. I drove passed her house. I now had a Sunbeam Rapier, loved that car. I saw a red Triumph convertible Vitesse outside her Mum and Dads house in Kingsbury. It was the same car as some dick head that worked in her office Cibie in Dollis Hill. So I went and knocked on the door, you should have seen her face, amazed you will be, astonished oh my. The Mum and Dad did not like me, they wanted better for her daughter. I was learning fast, etiquette. I had not ever visited a restaurant till 18 and I started work, went into a Chinese in Wembley at lunch time. I had to ask my colleagues to order for me, sweet and sour pork and rice. I also have a confession to make. Not that I am Roman Catholic like the Jesus and Mary girls, I am Church of England lapsed. However I never liked my voice, nor my hair, nor my face, and especially my nose, which I got from my Mum. If I had my nose given to me as a present I would have got my money back. However there are those that say I look like Neil Diamond, even in a New York Café, which goes to prove the prognosis on my proboscis.
Anyway uncouth of Willesden was on the doorstep, and swathe, older slimeball came to the door behind Hilary to see what was going on. So in the red mist, I moved Hilary aside and one punch in the face laid slimeball out onto the carpet, Mum and Dad said get out, don’t worry I am going…………….knowing me knowing you ah haaa. It must have been love, but its over now.
At 19 I was banned from 3 dance halls in 3 weeks. Normal scenario, dance with girl, boyfriend turns up, she is my f’’’g fiancé not yours, fiancé ?? I exclaim, and let battle commence, bouncers storm in with blue peace keeping berets missing, and out into the car park I go. There was a funny car chase once, where with the 2 girls in my car I eluded 4 chasing cars full of Neanderthals by feigning at speed on the Western Avenue dual carriage way to go right at a slip road, and then using a passing lorry to block their view and go left across the carriageways instead………..Steve Mcqueen eat your heart out or even your Bullitt out.
That’s all for now folks, stayed tuned to this channel for further adventures of Tin Tin sorry I mean Me…………………….
The Ghosts of Christmas past, where are they now, it must have been love but it’s over now…………..
Memries (memries), good days (good days), bad days (bad days)
Theyll be (theyll be), with me (with me) always (always)
In these old familiar rooms children would play
Now theres only emptiness, nothing to say
No more carefree laughter
Silence ever after
Walking through an empty house, tears in my eyes
Here is where the story ends, this is goodbye
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
There is nothing we can do
Knowing me, knowing you (ah-haa)
We just have to face it, this time were through
(this time were through, this time were through
This time were through, were really through)
Breaking up is never easy, I know but I have to go
(I have to go this time
I have to go, this time I know)
Knowing me, knowing you
Its the best I can do
I can be romantic , even charming, it is not an act, not even in a former life, but it has to be inspired, and we are all different with different people around us. Perception is a wonderful key. Though I normally assess a person in 5 seconds, obviously I don’t always get it right, just most of the time. A job as a law enforcement officer does make you cynical and a human lie detector. I suppose I display a hard crust under which is really a soft core. I always wanted to do good to mankind in general, change things for the better and I do think there have been and still are wasted opportunities. I learned at the age of 12 that demolition was easy, but it took far longer to build and create. That was the age I embarked on DIY as my mum could not employ somebody to Do it All. So with relationships. You spend time with someone and then it is all destroyed just like HMS Hood , blown out of the water with few survivors. There are no winners in those situations.
At this time of year we get on TV those that have passed away during the preceding months, I hope I die before I get old, hold on I am as old as I feel.
I think of Christmas past and what might have been.
Sally Price was my 1st girlfriend, age 13. We sat in my bedroom, yes sat in the bay window on a sofa and kissed every Sunday afternoon, she was at my Grammar School the year below.
Pat Kelly was at Jesus and Mary School. Most of the girls worked at Woolworths in Harlesden , where I worked on the Delicatessen Counter Friday nights and Saturdays. Sad to see 99 years of a high st name demise at this time Pat came round every Sunday night age 16, without her strict Catholic Mum and Dad knowing.
Lynn Hoyte. She was my first steady girlfriend, lived on the North Circ in Neasden. I had to park the scooter at the back and disrobe, so her Mum & Dad did not know.
I finally lost my virginity at age 17 to Kim, a 25 year old, who walked past my home every evening. I would rush out at 5.30pm to polish the scooter and stare. Then one day she invited me to her flat, and that lasted for 6 months before I wanted a change. Kim was really the reason why I never got to university. She affected my revision pattern, which was read, digest, memorise. Even Mr Major, a small rotund lovely history teacher who every one mocked except me, could not believe my history grade at A level, when I had got a distinction at O level. I think my papers were marked incorrectly, but by then I was fed up with exams, and just took what I had, I was joint 2nd in the school, see 2nd again, story of my life. The school had appealed before when only four of us passed Economics O level, me included, so I think there were marking scams then as there are today, why change the habit of a lifetime.
Anyway I digress education standards from sex education (Seventeen) ( yes the film is based on truth) .
The first girl I did not recognise when I woke up in the morning was Carol. But that was because she wore so much make up at night that she looked “and now for something completely different” in the morning.
By now I had generated to four wheels and a 105e Ford Anglia. Then my first holiday abroad, amazingly it was a week with my biological father and a new woman in his life that wanted an extended family, right person to go to then!!
Magalluf Majorca opened my eyes, to feminity international. Eve was from Norway, daughter of a Vauxhall Dealership Manager in Oslo. She spoke no English, my Norweigan was as today……………zilch, the chemistry was like lightning striking at the same spot all the time. It was hard to say goodbye. Bad enough when hundreds, thousands of miles apart to carry on. Especially when every Thursday night I was down the Oldfield dance hall in Greenford and weekends down the Boat House (now demolished) at Kew and the Castle (now Henrys Bar - Meat Market) in Richmond.
I had met Suzanne in Boulogne age thirteen and three quarters, on a school trip, where every one except me and Derek Johnson were green faced and sea sick (form a queue over the side, toilets are blocked !!) She spoke no English, I spoke un peu. We had a blissful afternoon, fond farewells, au revoir ma cheri. Merci to Miss O Kane who paid for me, ‘cos Mum could not afford it. She was good looking too, Miss O’Kane. She taught us French in French for 3 weeks and left me froid and the rest of the 33 class except 3 girls. So then she reverted back to Anglais, tres magnifique !!
There was also Claire, she was Jesus and Mary too, say 3 hail Maries and 42 holy fathers. Poor Claire, she would be sitting there with my Mum , waiting for me to come in at about 11pm. She was so pretty with electric blue eyes, but had no figure at all.
At 6th form in the coffee bar queue with Clive Willey , Bob Sweet and Ken New the 4 Musketeers, Prefects who run the school with tyranny and favours ha ha. We were all gawping with dribble on the floor as well as our lower jaws at Carol the blonde busty beauty of the entire school. She was wow wow wow as she moved and didn’t she know it. Ask her out was the dare. Bob couldn’t cos he had his glasses on and if he took them off he could ask the wrong person………. Clive was too small he would only come up to her boobs, oh thats a handy height then.... . Ken was “attached”, so it was down to me, no chance……no no chance, no way, she well never say yes, never ever.............The Lady from Del Monte.........…she said yes…………….. trouble is after a week I found out I was second in line, 2 timed, so that was that.
Hilary Scarr was my first love, as opposed to lust. She had an hour glass figure, trouble is all the males agreed. She was bubbly effervescent.There was no phone at Essex Road Willesden, so I had to walk round to the Post Office to use a pay phone, or use the phone at work which was awkward ‘cos I had just started there as a trainee, 249 Willesden Lane Brent Weights & Measures.
One night Hilary said she was washing her hair. I got to hear that excuse many more times over the years. Also, another tip of the trade - never go out with a hairdresser, they like the mirror more than anything or anybody. I drove passed her house. I now had a Sunbeam Rapier, loved that car. I saw a red Triumph convertible Vitesse outside her Mum and Dads house in Kingsbury. It was the same car as some dick head that worked in her office Cibie in Dollis Hill. So I went and knocked on the door, you should have seen her face, amazed you will be, astonished oh my. The Mum and Dad did not like me, they wanted better for her daughter. I was learning fast, etiquette. I had not ever visited a restaurant till 18 and I started work, went into a Chinese in Wembley at lunch time. I had to ask my colleagues to order for me, sweet and sour pork and rice. I also have a confession to make. Not that I am Roman Catholic like the Jesus and Mary girls, I am Church of England lapsed. However I never liked my voice, nor my hair, nor my face, and especially my nose, which I got from my Mum. If I had my nose given to me as a present I would have got my money back. However there are those that say I look like Neil Diamond, even in a New York Café, which goes to prove the prognosis on my proboscis.
Anyway uncouth of Willesden was on the doorstep, and swathe, older slimeball came to the door behind Hilary to see what was going on. So in the red mist, I moved Hilary aside and one punch in the face laid slimeball out onto the carpet, Mum and Dad said get out, don’t worry I am going…………….knowing me knowing you ah haaa. It must have been love, but its over now.
At 19 I was banned from 3 dance halls in 3 weeks. Normal scenario, dance with girl, boyfriend turns up, she is my f’’’g fiancé not yours, fiancé ?? I exclaim, and let battle commence, bouncers storm in with blue peace keeping berets missing, and out into the car park I go. There was a funny car chase once, where with the 2 girls in my car I eluded 4 chasing cars full of Neanderthals by feigning at speed on the Western Avenue dual carriage way to go right at a slip road, and then using a passing lorry to block their view and go left across the carriageways instead………..Steve Mcqueen eat your heart out or even your Bullitt out.
That’s all for now folks, stayed tuned to this channel for further adventures of Tin Tin sorry I mean Me…………………….
Tuesday, 23 December 2008
I wish it could be Christmas every day
And so this is Christmas
Time the 4th Dimension is a curious thing. Whatever I did today won’t happen again, there is no fast rewind or post edit in life. I will not type the same thing here again in this moment of time, by the time I have typed these words the time has gone.
I was day dreaming behind the wheel today, but I won’t miss my turning again not today anyway.
Hindsight is a wonderful thing, so is the elixir of life, but despite letters to some old geezer with a white beard and a funny red costume, I never got either for Christmas.
I think he is fake.
At Christmas time I tend to reflect on the year past and the past Christmases.
What might have been in a parallel universe. How you can be with someone 24/7 for many Christmases then poof all gone, and there is not even a ghost of Christmas past apart from the memories. It’s as if it happened to someone else and I just heard it or read about it.
Christmas is a family time and that does not change, except we all get older and run out of ideas for gifts to give. It’s those that were invited for Christmas and life as we know it, who change, who are just visiting, except it was not made clear at the time that a parking meter was ticking.
Christmas is also for kids. Once I started getting clothes and not scaletrix, I did not wake up at
But seriously, as you have kids and grand kids at least the sparkle of Christmas comes alive again in their eyes and faces. Personally I always wanted to be on a beach, not
Of course there are other parts of Christmas. No work, yes, well the economy has extended that benefit in 2008. Batteries not included, was another favourite pastime. Now I rip open the packaging in the shop to check the merchandise. As a kid, I always had to fix the toys after their 5 minutes of statutory working too. As a father, no not father Christmas, he is fake remember, I had to fix the toy boats, trains, planes and automobiles, else Ian & Graeme would not be smiling, and their Dad would be cross, money for nothing a dire strait indeed. Charades, well yes, let’s pretend all those toys do work and we don’t have to play with the wrapping paper or the boxes instead. No they are not more interesting than something that cost 2 arms and one leg.
I saw a video the other day. My first grand daughter is in Vancouver and she woke to find a Christmas tree in her home, she waddled over to it, it was so cute, she is one and a half almost, kissed a dangly angel twice, then pulled the tinsel off to wrap round her neck, much better, I suppose.
I dare say I had seen similar before, but today we have the technology to record all these events for posterity or to be saved in cyber space.
Being divorced when Ian & Graeme were still young also meant that every other Christmas Day I missed them, until I collected them days later from their mum. So those alternate Christmases were emptier for me personally.
It’s nice getting presents though, well done
There used to be good films on TV, not any more, not even Zulu or the Great Escape, video and dvd has put paid to that. No more Eric Morecombe and Ernie Wise. Time changes everything.
And so this is Christmas, and what have you done, another year over and a new one just begun.
Monday, 22 December 2008
Read all about it
I just read an email from Ken, my old school friend, he said he can't believe we are 60 next year, and yes it still seems in my head that we are still 17. The days of the Mods and Rockers, Carnaby Street, Parkas and my TV175 Lambretta, I was a mod. Certainly the successive decades have been eye openers, if only I knew it would be like this, river deep mountain high, do I love you my oh my.
4 times I nearly killed myself coming off that scooter. One time I overtook 4 cars in the fast lane of the North Circ...... on my bum ...........my scooter following me. The wind in your hair, no crash helmets in those days, chrome side panels all the mirrors and racks, talking about my generation, why don't you all fade away to Itchicoo Park. Transport meant I could escape from Willesden. Hitherto it had just been a bus ride with Mum, or cycling with the Essex Road Gang to Box Hill Surrey every summer. Scooters meant girlfriends too..............but thats another chapter.
The first recollection of Ken was he was a Norman, I was a Saxon at Grammar School. I liked being a Saxon, but we were green, hate green. Norman's were red. Anyway Saxons always beat the Normans, unlike poor Harold at Hastings. In a football match we squared up against each other, I was a defender he was a forward. In the 6th year we clicked for some reason. He still looks the same these days except the hair is grey not black. He has not changed, same old grin and chuckle. WE ruled that school in the 6th 2 year as prefects. Anyone good looking and female got favours, ugly and fat or male you had no chance................
Best days were dinner queue monitoring and order on a Friday...............fish chips and cannon ball peas. Once we had to restore order during a pea slinging riot and entered the dining hall as a phalanx with dustbin lids as protection against the hail of cannon ball peas. Eat your heart out Maximus !!!
To Do is to Dare, live long and prosper, strength and honour.
4 times I nearly killed myself coming off that scooter. One time I overtook 4 cars in the fast lane of the North Circ...... on my bum ...........my scooter following me. The wind in your hair, no crash helmets in those days, chrome side panels all the mirrors and racks, talking about my generation, why don't you all fade away to Itchicoo Park. Transport meant I could escape from Willesden. Hitherto it had just been a bus ride with Mum, or cycling with the Essex Road Gang to Box Hill Surrey every summer. Scooters meant girlfriends too..............but thats another chapter.
The first recollection of Ken was he was a Norman, I was a Saxon at Grammar School. I liked being a Saxon, but we were green, hate green. Norman's were red. Anyway Saxons always beat the Normans, unlike poor Harold at Hastings. In a football match we squared up against each other, I was a defender he was a forward. In the 6th year we clicked for some reason. He still looks the same these days except the hair is grey not black. He has not changed, same old grin and chuckle. WE ruled that school in the 6th 2 year as prefects. Anyone good looking and female got favours, ugly and fat or male you had no chance................
Best days were dinner queue monitoring and order on a Friday...............fish chips and cannon ball peas. Once we had to restore order during a pea slinging riot and entered the dining hall as a phalanx with dustbin lids as protection against the hail of cannon ball peas. Eat your heart out Maximus !!!
To Do is to Dare, live long and prosper, strength and honour.
Sunday, 21 December 2008
curriculum vitae
PROFESSIONAL OVERVIEW:
Over 30 years experienced Consumer & Health Protection Consultant with a proven track record of success in the private and public market sectors, specialising in investigations, law enforcement and factual television programme making.
A strong pro-active leader, empowering staff to take ownership, providing coaching, training and mentoring to build cohesive teams working together to achieve individual targets and company objectives.
Results oriented and customer focused, with excellent relationship management skills.
Experienced in consumer protection, legal procedures and advice, crime investigation, risk assessment management and locating people, tobacco control, alcohol abuses, factual TV film making.
AWARDS & RECOGNITION:
· 2007 Accredited Smoking Cessation Advisor
· ACG Award 1999
· Former Lead Officer and Spokesman on anti counterfeiting for Professional Institute.
· Consumer Journalist Award 1984 for the expose of you won’t go further with Shell at the petrol pumps.
· Covert recording of mobile phone unblockers led to new legislation.
EXPERIENCE:
Smoking Cessation
Was one of the 1st to use April Age progression software, in reducing smoking prevalence in the next generation.
Consumer Advice and Enforcement (includes the following highlights) :
· Secured extra funding for Consumer Support Network to revamp delivery of community advice
· Secured the longest conviction in the
· Pioneered Extradition and Proceeds of Crime Investigations
· Ensured compliance with the Health Act 2006 and reduction in the prevalence of smoking
· Worked with Multi Agency Task Force working on Fear of Crime & Anti Social Behaviour projects
· Revamped the entire legal proceedings and evidence gathering procedures
· Played a vital role in closing down the crime ridden Hackney Market
· Sank DVD Pirates operating various bank accounts and aliases
· Closed down “Bodge the Builder” now a guest in HMP
Trading Standards in the
· Head of the investigations Team from 1977 to 1982
· Apprehended 44 fraudulent petrol stations in 7 years
· Apprehended almost all West End Hotels for short measure drinks
· Closed down a
Investigative Journalism / TV Productions
· Hooligans: The definitive analysis of Football Hooliganism (Rising to number 2 in the retail charts within 2 weeks of release)
· The Decline and Fall of Virginia Bottomley as Minister for the NHS for Channel 2
· White Witches and Black Magic for BBC2
· The Hitman is really an Undercover Cop for Channel 4
· Norman Conquest BBC2 expose of the corrupt world of Mr Fixit in British Athletics
· Ron Aylward, Master of Phoenix from the Ashes to cheat and con again in home improvements
· Airtours and the Old Age Pensioners with involvement of Watchdog, gaining them a fair deal
· Recycling – live outside broadcast from Meadowhall Shopping Centre
CAREER HISTORY:
Currently HGV driving for
2007 to 2008: Smoke Free Officer: East Northamptonshire Council (Fixed Term Contract)
2005 to 2006: STY Agent: Sainsburys and Agency HGV Driver Parkhouse Recruitment
2005: Consumer TV Consultant
1998 to 2004: Team Leader – Consumer Advice and Enforcement: LB of
1994 to 1998: Director of Own Company: Sharper Image TV Productions
1985 to 1993: Producer Director / Deputy Editor of Watchdog: BBC TV
1982 to 1985: Investigative Journalist: TVAM
1975 to 1982: Head of Investigations:
1974: Trading Standards Officer: LB of Hillingdon , obtained DCA
1968: Trading Standards Officer: LB of Brent (qualified after 4 years)
KEY SKILLS & EXPERIENCE SUMMARY:
· Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Explorer)
EDUCATION:
· Accredited Smoking Cessation Advisor
· Department of Trade and Industry Professional Qualification 1972
· Diploma in Consumer Affairs 1975
` 11 O levels, 3 A levels : Latin, French, Eng Lan, Eng Lit, History, Economics, Geography, Physics, Chemisty, Biology, Maths
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