Category Archives: Autobiography

No good deed goes unpunished: Hackney 1968

Posted on August 15, 2019 by odeboyz

One of my most horrifying experiences came about when I was called out to a routine job. I was told to replace a cast iron rain water pipe, at Lea View House in the Clapton area of Hackney. I pulled … Continue reading →

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A ten bob note

Posted on August 12, 2019 by odeboyz

The sash cords were rotted on My bedroom window, when it crashed down Dad said he’d fix it, for about half a crown Nip round to the oil shop, he said Ask for a knot of sash cord He gave … Continue reading →

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Dorothy Thompson’s Christmas Card list

Posted on August 5, 2019 by odeboyz

Dorothy frowned and said she simply couldn’t forgive him [Hobsbawn] for accepting the Companion of Honour: ‘OK for an actor or entertainer, but absolutely not for serious, critical intellectual work – I’m afraid I had to strike him off my … Continue reading →

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Heroic Drinking in Tanganyika

Posted on July 18, 2019 by odeboyz

One of Hosking’s jobs in Tanganyika was to buy the drinks for the dinner parties held by the mining community – the rations consisted of a crate of beer or a bottle of whisky per person. ‘It sounds more than … Continue reading →

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A start a middle and an end

Posted on July 17, 2019 by odeboyz

I’ll start this story in a tenants association hall in Myrtle Road, Harold Hill. I used the small bar for a pint or two in the 1980s when I heard that the chair had decided to resign. I put my … Continue reading →

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Film Review: Maradona (director – Asif Kapadia)

Posted on July 15, 2019 by odeboyz

Diego Maradona’s reputation, as a footballer, has survived the decades since retirement. His reputation has also survived revelations about his criminal and sleazy life-style whilst in Naples, which is remarkable testament to his genius. This documentary enhances Maradona’s reputation notwithstanding … Continue reading →

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Book Review: Sebastian Horsley ~ Dandy in the underworld: an unauthorised autobiography (2007)

Posted on July 1, 2019 by odeboyz

If you like train crash autobiographies this is for you. His family were rich and he was unconstrained from his earliest moments. Sebastian was a psychopath towards himself. He fell in love with Jimmy Boyle, a Scottish murderer, who was … Continue reading →

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Back in time for the family

Posted on May 29, 2019 by odeboyz

This past bank holiday weekend, my wife and I went to her sister’s house in Billericay. This time Aunty June came from Wolverhampton, with her two sons Andrew and Michael and their families. June was born in 1926 making her … Continue reading →

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Working on council estates

Posted on May 15, 2019 by odeboyz

I worked for fifty years in Hackney and Havering on Council estates as a plumber. Like everybody else Council tenants are of all kinds of people: loud, selfish, helpful, timid, stupid and clever and I nearly forgot the rich and … Continue reading →

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Another visit to Fordwich

Posted on May 12, 2019 by odeboyz

On holiday in 1951, we went to the beautiful garden of Kent I don’t remember the journey much, but I was so happy we went Through Blackheath, the hired car trundled the road The A2 quaint old scenery, the Oast … Continue reading →

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