Category Archives: Autobiography

The perils of being a child film star

Posted on December 17, 2025 by odeboyz

“I stopped believing in Santa Claus when my mother took me to see him in a department store, and he asked for my autograph”.1 Short biography: Temple began her film career in 1931 when she was three years old and … Continue reading →

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Dorothy Parker on drunkenness

Posted on November 26, 2025 by odeboyz

“The best way to avoid a hangover is to stay drunk.”

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Kerry Packer, Australian super-gambler

Posted on November 26, 2025 by odeboyz

It is reported that Packer won over $33 million in a week playing at the MGM Grand Casino instantly making him one of the most famous Australian gamblers. Another one of his famous wins came while playing a high-stakes game … Continue reading →

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Letter from the West Bank: Getting a child vaccinated

Posted on November 20, 2025 by odeboyz

Travelled first thing from Ramallah to Nablus but oh dear were delayed cos checkpoint not open so onto the next one and no one there (all Israeli soldiers absent) so onto next one queued for 35 minutes, onto next one … Continue reading →

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A Professor of Philosophy and Naomi Campbell meet Mike Tyson

Posted on November 19, 2025 by odeboyz

“Two years before his (A J Ayer) death1…he managed…. To rescue the supermodel Naomi Campbell from the unwanted attentions of Mike Tyson. Tyson informed Ayer, in rather strong words, he was the world heavyweight champion. Ayer replied, and I am … Continue reading →

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Latch Key Kid, Leeds, 1950s

Posted on November 12, 2025 by odeboyz

During the war my father worked brutal hours building bombers. He worked for 20 days and then had a day off. His shifts were 12 hours on, 12 off, which alternated every 20 days between days and nights. He made … Continue reading →

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You Really Got a Hold On Me

Posted on July 24, 2025 by odeboyz

I don’t like you, but I love youSeems that I’m always thinking of youOh, oh, ohYou treat me badly, I love you madly You’ve really got a hold on me (you’ve really got a hold on me)You’ve really got a … Continue reading →

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Winston Churchill in Casablanca, 1943

Posted on July 19, 2025 by odeboyz

“Hopkins meanwhile, had found Churchill in bed washing down his breakfast with a bottle of white wine. Asked what he meant by this. Churchill replied that he had a ‘profound distaste on the one hand for skimmed milk and no … Continue reading →

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A Ricky Gervais quip

Posted on July 12, 2025 by odeboyz

People think I say offensive things purely for the joy of upsetting people. This is not the case. I do it for the money.

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Bob Dylan and Marlon Brando on fame

Posted on July 9, 2025 by odeboyz

Bob Dylan leaned in, his voice low but charged. “Fame is just a trick, an illusion people fall for.” Across from him, Marlon Brando exhaled slowly, shaking his head. “Illusion? No, it’s a trap, a prison you build for yourself.”

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