Author Archives: odeboyz

A celebrity ‘empathising’ with poverty

Posted on August 25, 2015 by odeboyz

“Whenever I watch TV and see those poor starving kids all over the world, I can’t help but cry. I mean I’d love to be skinny like that, but not with all those flies and death and stuff.” Mariah Carey … Continue reading →

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Revisiting old memories

Posted on August 14, 2015 by odeboyz

Just on a whim, the other day I decided to revisit the place in Islington North London, where I and my family lived from the late forties to the mid sixties. A tedious tube journey mostly on the District line … Continue reading →

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Pull Along Cases: a macho-Norwegian speaks

Posted on August 11, 2015 by odeboyz

“…the case was heavy (but) I carried it by the handles…I detested the tiny wheels, first of all because they are feminine, thus not worthy of a man, a man should carry not roll…” Karl Ove Knausgaard A Death In … Continue reading →

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Tory Thugs

Posted on August 11, 2015 by odeboyz

Without remorse or compassion The Tory thieves ride high Austerity is their fractious fashion Deaf to starvation’s workless sigh. Workers’ rights, so hard fought won Attacked as greed from working class Swept aside most benefits, now done Banker strut their … Continue reading →

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The Press Gang: Manning the Royal Navy

Posted on August 7, 2015 by odeboyz

Royal Navy warships in the pre 20th century era were vile for the ordinary sailor. This was well known and as a result the navy suffered major recruitment challenges. The governments of the period had no alternative* but to adopt … Continue reading →

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British Police: a wordless poem

Posted on August 4, 2015 by odeboyz

    (Chris)

Posted in History, Politics | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment

Five Great, Short, Free (or nearly free) Novels

Posted on August 4, 2015 by odeboyz

1) Charlotte Perkins Gilman The Yellow Wallpaper 1892, 80p Feminist story FREE 2) George and Weedon Grossmith Diary of a Nobody 1892, 176p Marvelous comic novel. FREE 3)   P G Wodehouse Psmith, Journalist 1914 154p          Brilliant satire on USA, … Continue reading →

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Housing in the mid 70s

Posted on July 30, 2015 by odeboyz

Raised in Islington until in my early 20s, as young man in those days, I met a girl, a very pretty girl, and fell madly in love. How fickle she turned out to be? When she told me I was … Continue reading →

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East European Drinking

Posted on July 28, 2015 by odeboyz

Poland “….[he] is a steady drinker- a heavy drinker, but a steady drinker. He paces himself- he learned it from Polish drinkers, who begin slowly and continue slowly, but drink through the whole night. Visiting Poland taught him a great … Continue reading →

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Evacuee

Posted on July 28, 2015 by odeboyz

They sent me away – “To be safe” they said. My mother’s gone; maybe she’s dead. My dad’s a soldier fighting in the war. Perhaps  I’ll not see my brother any more. I am alone with a stranger who says … Continue reading →

Posted in Autobiography, Poetry | Tagged , , , , | 1 Comment