Category Archives: Autobiography

The Old Shove Halfpenny Board

Posted on May 20, 2016 by odeboyz

Years ago I didn’t know that most pubs kept a “shove halfpenny board” but when I was ten I had no idea what it was all about. So it was somewhat of a surprise when, one evening, Dad came home with a board … Continue reading →

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The saw mill and the saw fly

Posted on May 17, 2016 by odeboyz

I spent many years of my life as a carpenter in Essex. I often went to the Five Oaks Lane timber yards (Hog Hill, Collier Row) in the 80s and 90s. It specialised in softwood. I was buying some timber … Continue reading →

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A Grumpy Old Man

Posted on May 16, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on May 4, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on April 21, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on April 8, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on March 24, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on March 10, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on February 25, 2016 by odeboyz

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

Posted on February 11, 2016 by odeboyz

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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