Author Archives: odeboyz

1951 – Cherry Pie

Posted on July 23, 2018 by odeboyz

Replete with dinner, just eaten Mum brought a golden pie in from the kitchen The jug of custard quickly followed, “Be careful, the cherries have stones Just leave them round the side of your dish”. Soon after we, three boys, … Continue reading →

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My worst day!

Posted on July 20, 2018 by odeboyz

There I was sitting at the bar staring at my drink when a large, trouble-making biker steps up next to me, grabs my drink and gulps it down in one swig. “Well, whatcha’ gonna do about it?” he says, menacingly, … Continue reading →

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Bertrand Russell in Brixton prison, 1918

Posted on July 20, 2018 by odeboyz

For the first two months of his sentence, life at Brixton prison suited Russell perfectly. Freed from the demands of both political campaigning and romantic attachments,* he was able to live precisely the kind of cloistered, contemplative life he craved. … Continue reading →

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Henrietta Maria: the Heretic Queen of England 1625-49

Posted on July 20, 2018 by odeboyz

When Henrietta Maria married Charles the First, England’s vicious anti-Catholicism made her a hate figure. She was a child-bride of fifteen when she married the 25 year old Charles. Her brother, Louis XIII, agreed marriage articles with Charles, which were … Continue reading →

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Women always win

Posted on July 17, 2018 by odeboyz

A couple were having a bad patch. They agreed it was best not to talk at all as everything seemed to turn into a row. Their truce was successful and they got used to communicating through written messages. One day … Continue reading →

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Book Review: John O’Farrell ~ There’s only two David Beckhams

Posted on July 17, 2018 by odeboyz

A wonderful satire on football is exactly what’s needed in a post-World Cup period and this is that book. O’Farrell has made the wildly improbable plausible- including a Raheem Sterling goal. The book begins with Tony Blair elected as a … Continue reading →

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A conversation between my parents

Posted on July 12, 2018 by odeboyz

Mum: I’ve been bitten by a mosquito! Dad: I’ll bet it’s regretting it. Chris

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Housing upgrades, repairs and creative tension

Posted on July 12, 2018 by odeboyz

In the winter of 1969, I and five other tradesmen were directed to work in a derelict house in Rushmore Road Hackney. Two stories high it had two bedrooms, a large living room and a  brick back edition. There was … Continue reading →

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Educational discrimination at Harvard University

Posted on July 10, 2018 by odeboyz

University officials did concede that its 2013 internal review found that if Harvard considered only1 [my emphasis] academic achievement, the Asian-American share of the class would rise to 43 percent from the actual 19 percent. What they value more than … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Geraint Thomas – The world of cycling according to G

Posted on July 10, 2018 by odeboyz

Geraint has written an insightful book about pro-cycling. There are relatively short flashbacks to his early life in Wales but they’re the garnish to the main dish. He’s been in the forefront of elite cycling from its inception under the … Continue reading →

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