Author Archives: odeboyz

Hackney DLO

Posted on December 5, 2018 by odeboyz

In 1965 I was employed by the Hackney Direct Labour Organisation (DLO). I enjoyed being one of their plumbers. It wasn’t a prestigious position but aged twenty one I only wanted a steady reliable income. The talk in the building … Continue reading →

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Retirement

Posted on December 3, 2018 by odeboyz

Barbara (anxious colleague): Do you think that you’ll by OK when you retire? Joan: Oh yes. I’ve been reading about life without work and it’s lovely. Barbara: What have you been reading? Joan: Jane Austen Chris

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Film Review: The Girl in the Spider’s Web (Claire Foy)

Posted on December 3, 2018 by odeboyz

There’s nothing so attractive to Hollywood as a money-making franchise. The Scandi-noir novels about the idiot savant Lisbeth Salander (Claire Foy) has definitely come of age. Their version has all the tropes deemed necessary for a serious money-making film. The … Continue reading →

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The Meaningful Vote

Posted on December 2, 2018 by odeboyz

With just days to go Mays’ future might end Her Brexit deal dead Well soon we will know. An example of, “please only one”, Ostracized all blindly Take out objectivity Maybe, please some. Logic demands another way Chaos looms clearly Poor … Continue reading →

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Canada: a very civilised country

Posted on November 29, 2018 by odeboyz
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Alexey Stakhanov: the most famous coal miner in history

Posted on November 29, 2018 by odeboyz

  Stalin introduced a whirlwind of industrialisation in a series of Five Year Plans beginning in 1928. These plans centralised control of every part of industrial production. Every mine had productivity targets which had to be met or exceeded. This … Continue reading →

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The Good Fairy and an Ungracious Husband

Posted on November 26, 2018 by odeboyz

A married couple in their 60s were visited by the good fairy who granted them a wish each. Wife: “I want to travel round the world with my darling husband.” And two tickets magically appear in her hand. Husband: “Sorry … Continue reading →

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Book and Film Review: Raymond Chandler ~ The Big Sleep (1939) and (1946- film)

Posted on November 26, 2018 by odeboyz

The doyen of American pulp fiction is Raymond Chandler. I knew this even though I’d never actually read his work. I relied on the brilliant, Humphrey Bogart and Lauren Bacall, film The Big Sleep (1946). So I was unprepared for … Continue reading →

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My Sons (inspired by Trust the biopic of John Paul Getty)

Posted on November 26, 2018 by odeboyz

I hate my sons. They have lives which aren’t mine, they have friends who I disapprove of they have interests which aren’t mine they avoid me and they’re happiest when I’m not there. They got married and name their sons … Continue reading →

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The world’s most successful criminals: Banks

Posted on November 22, 2018 by odeboyz

A single small branch of Danske Bank in Estonia processed £120 billion between 2007 and 2015. “No one really knows where this money went. All we know is that the last people to see it was…three large banks in the … Continue reading →

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