Category Archives: Autobiography

A Grumpy Old Man

All dress up in our best Togs Food aplenty, on large platters The hall, nice enough Well, thought I, ‘this should all go well After all, it’s the company that matters’. Family, I’ve known for years Friends, we’ve known for … Continue reading

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The Dignified Mendicant

Many years ago, I was on my regular seven week call out rota; and at about 4 pm I got a message from the Hackney call centre one Saturday, I’m guessing about, 1976 -some forty years ago. I was asked … Continue reading

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The Governor

Mr G, or the “Guv” as I called him some nearly fifty years ago was a formidable Hackney “project manager” but that was well before such a title came into popular use. I had of course heard the stories of … Continue reading

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Different Times

When I was a boy, my two older brothers and Mum & Dad lived in the basement rooms of a large ten roomed Regency terraced house in Gibson Square in Islington. Like hundreds of other families we rented our home, … Continue reading

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Compounded Stupidity

About fifteen years ago the Council decided that they would create a structural repairs contract as well as one for external decoration for our three tower blocks which we manage on their behalf. Unfortunately, they didn’t bother to consult with … Continue reading

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Better Dream

Prior to the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) tradesmen like me, would regularly work at weekends or night-time after our days normal work. This was universally recognised as “custom and practice” and although it was appreciated that working … Continue reading

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A Weird Ending to a Night Out

Some while ago, after an evening down the pub with my good friends Chris and Mick I stood sometime at the bus-stop, before catching the bus home. Eventually I reached my stop. After getting off, I stood at the bus-stop waiting … Continue reading

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A Weekend at Ron’s

Jan and I used to spend quite a number of weekends with Ron, who we both loved dearly. Ron was in fact Jan’s uncle, her own father, Ted, had died some years before, and as sometimes happens in close families … Continue reading

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Doctor Doom

Am I your patient, I’m not here for your merriment? I feel a bit like your lab-rat, You’ve prescribed me statins! You didn’t tell me I’m your experiment Will your statins, make me diabetic? I am not being in the … Continue reading

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A Pleasant Visit

Jan was not over keen to attend an estate coffee morning meeting the other day, so I suggested that I would take her to lunch somewhere. To my pleasant surprise, she readily agreed. By eleven thirty that morning we had … Continue reading

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