Category Archives: Autobiography

Old Times in Hoxton

Some years ago I was working as a plumber out of the small Stamford Hill depot (area 3) for Hackney Council. It wasn’t a cheery place to work as the Area Foreman was a self-centred egotist who had originally worked … Continue reading

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Best Dedication in a book

“In memory of my late parents, Jacob and Esther Kaletsky, who experienced true calamities and crises- the Russian Revolution, the two world wars, the Holocaust, the purges of Stalin- but whose joyful and indomitable spirits lived on.” Anatole Kaletsky, Capitalism … Continue reading

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The cost of everything, no longer has value.

Whilst waiting at the bar, to be serve, two young men finally finished their food and drinks order. As the barmaid totalled up the cost on the electric till the lad standing next to me whipped out his mobile phone … Continue reading

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Retirement

Recently, well at the September AGM I carried out my last duty as the PETRA Chair, and after giving the committee my last ever monthly Chairs report – my 147th in the 13 years I held the position as Chair, … Continue reading

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A worn shabby old book

The small book, given to me by my Dad, soon after I started my apprenticeship in the plumbing trade was called “Tables & Memoranda for Plumber, Builders Sanitary & Electrical Engineers”, by J. Write Clarke. It languished for years in … Continue reading

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Old Age

It is said, three score years and ten Is your allotted span So after seventy, you have to wonder, when? Especially now you’re a shaky, old man. If lucky, I won’t have to wait too long I won’t miss this … Continue reading

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Councils

Just about any Council, be it Local Authority, district, Parish or Metropolitan, usually is only as good as its leadership, strategic planning and the capabilities of its workforce to implement planned decisions. Also pivotal to success, can often be the good … Continue reading

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I Know What I Know

Not metres, centimetres or millimetres What’s wrong with an inch, foot or yard As for centilitres – well, I know what’s a pint Time was a pound had twenty shillings With a thousand pounds you were rich You’d  struggle to … Continue reading

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Goodbye to PETRA

After seventeen years of developing and nurturing PETRA – our Tenant Management Organisation I set up all those years ago with Jan (my wife) and four others who jumped ship about seven years ago, I feel it is now time … Continue reading

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Mornington Crescent

“I’m sorry – I’ll read that again, or I’m sorry I haven’t a clue” the popular radio programme chaired for years, by Humphry Lyttleton, had been running for decades. I never did find out the rules to the panellists starting … Continue reading

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