Author Archives: odeboyz

Working on council estates

Posted on May 15, 2019 by odeboyz

I worked for fifty years in Hackney and Havering on Council estates as a plumber. Like everybody else Council tenants are of all kinds of people: loud, selfish, helpful, timid, stupid and clever and I nearly forgot the rich and … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Finance, Health, Politics, tenants rights | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Eat your heart out lottery winners: this is winning

Posted on May 13, 2019 by odeboyz

“Over the past 54 years, shares in his [Warren Buffet’s] company, Berkshire Hathaway, have outpaced the S&P 500—a broad index of American stocks—by almost 2.5 million percentage points. The degree to which Buffett has outwitted successive generations of Wall Street … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Finance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Book Review: Nigel Slater ~ Toast: the story of a boy’s hunger (2003)

Posted on May 13, 2019 by odeboyz

Slater’s autobiography is unique. He doesn’t pamper readers with a chronology. Hints are offered. Hit records are mentioned. Primary school becomes secondary; a catering college; various jobs culminate in the Savoy Hotel. His sexuality develops. A randy gardener, a girl … Continue reading →

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Another visit to Fordwich

Posted on May 12, 2019 by odeboyz

On holiday in 1951, we went to the beautiful garden of Kent I don’t remember the journey much, but I was so happy we went Through Blackheath, the hired car trundled the road The A2 quaint old scenery, the Oast … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Poetry, Travel | Tagged , | Leave a comment

The epithet for 2010-15 Coalition Government

Posted on May 9, 2019 by odeboyz

Liberal Democrat MP: I should like to point out on behalf of the Liberal Democrats that although we are very nice people we have absolutely no idea how to run a country. A quote from New Statesman, a TV show … Continue reading →

Posted in Humour, Politics, TV sitcom | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Slaughtering Civilians as a Military Tactic: Japan, March-August, 1945

Posted on May 9, 2019 by odeboyz

Japan stood alone against the USA in the Second World War. Unlike America, it didn’t have natural resources; or a huge population. By early1945, Japan was defenceless. All that was left was their indomitable spirit. The USA had been taught … Continue reading →

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Why your boss is an incompetent fool

Posted on May 2, 2019 by odeboyz

“The Peter Principle is the observation that if people are good at doing their jobs they will be promoted. It follows that eventually everyone will be doing a job that they are not good at (otherwise they would have been … Continue reading →

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Corporal Punishment at Sir Philip Magnus School, 1950s

Posted on May 1, 2019 by odeboyz

Unfortunately, all schools throughout my childhood indulged in barbaric acts of sadistic punishment attempting to intimidate.  I’ve been subjected to some of these acts and I’ve witnessed all of them. At various times as a young boy, I was accused … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, education, School | Tagged , , | 3 Comments

 The strange story of Beethoven’s grave

Posted on April 29, 2019 by odeboyz

A tourist in Vienna came to pay respects to Beethoven’s grave. Suddenly he hears music and realises it’s coming from the grave. Although it sounds strange he recognises it as Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony: played backwards. Puzzled, he leaves and brings … Continue reading →

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Oxford University has a lot to answer for

Posted on April 29, 2019 by odeboyz

Theresa May         Train crash Michael Gove        Collaborator Jeremy Hunt         Mine! Sajid Javid              Gate crasher (Exeter Uni.) Boris Johnson       Buffoon Jacob … Continue reading →

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