Wednesday, August 26, 2009
On This Day In History...
17:41 Fifteen Minutes Late
August 26 1979:"I've got a form from Edge Hill. Shall I fill it in?"
The day the results came out I realised I wouldn't be spending my next three years at the University of East Anglia after all. Mum & Dad were on holiday and, once I'd got the crying out of the way, I realised I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do next. The first person I tried to call was my English teacher. Luckily for him, he was unavailable. The second person was my RealBestFriend. Luckily for me, her dad was a head teacher.
Anyway, I filled the form in and was interviewed by a man who reminded me of my of my old maths teacher (which was a Good Thing even though maths was never a strong point although - bearing those results in mind - it turned out that my strong points weren't strong points either).
It's very possible, thinking about it, that they were, at that time, happy to accept anyone and everyone who applied. It would explain a few things. But I'd rather hang on to the belief that what got me in was a vehement antipathy to DH Lawrence and the fact that I owned up to enjoying the 'Peace' in "War & Peace" but being bored by the 'War'.
It's just as well, all things considered, that I didn't make it to East Anglia. I would never have lasted.
August 26 1979:"I've got a form from Edge Hill. Shall I fill it in?"
The day the results came out I realised I wouldn't be spending my next three years at the University of East Anglia after all. Mum & Dad were on holiday and, once I'd got the crying out of the way, I realised I didn’t have a clue what I was supposed to do next. The first person I tried to call was my English teacher. Luckily for him, he was unavailable. The second person was my RealBestFriend. Luckily for me, her dad was a head teacher.
Anyway, I filled the form in and was interviewed by a man who reminded me of my of my old maths teacher (which was a Good Thing even though maths was never a strong point although - bearing those results in mind - it turned out that my strong points weren't strong points either).
It's very possible, thinking about it, that they were, at that time, happy to accept anyone and everyone who applied. It would explain a few things. But I'd rather hang on to the belief that what got me in was a vehement antipathy to DH Lawrence and the fact that I owned up to enjoying the 'Peace' in "War & Peace" but being bored by the 'War'.
It's just as well, all things considered, that I didn't make it to East Anglia. I would never have lasted.
Labels: nostalgia
Monday, August 24, 2009
17.41 On Time
Before we went on The Holiday I swore that was it. No more holidays ever. Not planned by me anyhow and that's for sure. Never. No siree.
We've been back for four weeks now. I'm bored. I tried re-arranging the furniture but that was too easy. I need a new project.
So, what's next?
This Is A Low - Blur
The Universal - Blur
To The End - Blur
Out Of Time - Blur
Before we went on The Holiday I swore that was it. No more holidays ever. Not planned by me anyhow and that's for sure. Never. No siree.
We've been back for four weeks now. I'm bored. I tried re-arranging the furniture but that was too easy. I need a new project.
So, what's next?
This Is A Low - Blur
The Universal - Blur
To The End - Blur
Out Of Time - Blur
Labels: real life
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Another Reason I Love The Internet Is...
Thursday, August 13, 2009
16:44 On Time
A woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, sobs silently against her mother's shoulder. After a couple of minutes she wipes her eyes and, arms around her mum's waist, they head for the exit.
Her dad walks a couple of paces behind, doing the only thing he understands right now - carrying the pink suitcase.
Come Undone - The Delgados
A woman in her mid-twenties, wearing a brown leather bomber jacket, sobs silently against her mother's shoulder. After a couple of minutes she wipes her eyes and, arms around her mum's waist, they head for the exit.
Her dad walks a couple of paces behind, doing the only thing he understands right now - carrying the pink suitcase.
Come Undone - The Delgados
Labels: train
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
15:52 On Time
Shunned a dying man in order to make a train.
It sounds like something from Earl's list, but it's what I did today.
Had to visit the BoyDentist this afternoon (we're getting on better these days, which is just as well as I'm back again in another four months) and as I was ambling back towards the station it dawned on me that, if I got a move on, I stood a slim chance of catching the next train rather than having to kick my heels for another whole hour.
So, there I was walk-running along the pavement when in the distance I saw a mobility scooter, scooting erratically towards me. As it got closer I recognised it's driver as the shadow of a former colleague, a man I used to work closely with ten years ago. We drew level. He said "Hello." I said "Hello".
I didn't stop, neither did I shout back "Train! Station!Got to..." as some form of explanation. I ran-walked away.
He was never a strapping, rosy complexioned picture of health - more a man constructed entirely from tobacco leaf - but today he was strapped to a tank of oxygen and grey as a squirrel.
He didn't stop either, but that's a feeble excuse isn't it?
Shunned a dying man in order to make a train.
It sounds like something from Earl's list, but it's what I did today.
Had to visit the BoyDentist this afternoon (we're getting on better these days, which is just as well as I'm back again in another four months) and as I was ambling back towards the station it dawned on me that, if I got a move on, I stood a slim chance of catching the next train rather than having to kick my heels for another whole hour.
So, there I was walk-running along the pavement when in the distance I saw a mobility scooter, scooting erratically towards me. As it got closer I recognised it's driver as the shadow of a former colleague, a man I used to work closely with ten years ago. We drew level. He said "Hello." I said "Hello".
I didn't stop, neither did I shout back "Train! Station!Got to..." as some form of explanation. I ran-walked away.
He was never a strapping, rosy complexioned picture of health - more a man constructed entirely from tobacco leaf - but today he was strapped to a tank of oxygen and grey as a squirrel.
He didn't stop either, but that's a feeble excuse isn't it?
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
"...you call the shots"
I guess there are some fish that just won't bite.
Am I using the wrong bait? Or fishing the wrong ocean?
Am I using the wrong bait? Or fishing the wrong ocean?
Sunday, August 09, 2009
"...not my place to know what you feel. I'd like to know, but why should I?"
I'm curious.
Say you could meet yourself at nineteen?
What's the second thing you'd tell yourself?
Talk Of The Town - The Pretenders
Too Nice To Talk To - The Beat
Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Take Me I'm Yours - Squeeze
Say you could meet yourself at nineteen?
What's the second thing you'd tell yourself?
Talk Of The Town - The Pretenders
Too Nice To Talk To - The Beat
Electricity - Orchestral Manoeuvres In The Dark
Take Me I'm Yours - Squeeze
Labels: nostalgia
Saturday, August 08, 2009
I need to make a compilation CD (mostly) spanning the years 1979 - 1982.
I've got until the second week of October.
You wouldn't think it would be too much of a challenge would you?
Currently, TV21's 'Playing With Fire' is proving elusive.
I've got until the second week of October.
You wouldn't think it would be too much of a challenge would you?
Currently, TV21's 'Playing With Fire' is proving elusive.
Thursday, August 06, 2009
16:44 Fifteen Minutes Late
Sometimes I think he must want me to kill him.
One day maybe I will lose control. Leaping over the desk, leaving paper clips and treasury tags in my wake, brandishing an improvised and ineffectual weapon ... Then I remember: that's what he wants.
If I were to staple him to his chair, he would be the winner.
So, I close my ears to the irksome adolescent monologues (alternately whining and boastful) and remember: he is as old as I am, yet he still lives with his parents.
Lose Control - James
Went Crazy - Teardrop Explodes
She's Lost Control - Joy Division
I'm Not Angry - Elvis Costello
Sometimes I think he must want me to kill him.
One day maybe I will lose control. Leaping over the desk, leaving paper clips and treasury tags in my wake, brandishing an improvised and ineffectual weapon ... Then I remember: that's what he wants.
If I were to staple him to his chair, he would be the winner.
So, I close my ears to the irksome adolescent monologues (alternately whining and boastful) and remember: he is as old as I am, yet he still lives with his parents.
Lose Control - James
Went Crazy - Teardrop Explodes
She's Lost Control - Joy Division
I'm Not Angry - Elvis Costello
Labels: work
Tuesday, August 04, 2009
16:44 On Time
Don't panic Lancashire - everything's going to be fine - the new logo's here and it won't cost a penny. Pay no heed to the sceptics! I'm loving that 70's retro font and the slightly mis-alingned Tudor rose, it certainly says "up-to-date" to me.
(Do I need to point out that he's the new leader of the county council?)
Monday - The Jam
Liza Radley - The Jam
Tales Of The Riverbank - The Jam
Dreams Of Children - The Jam
Precious - The Jam
Don't panic Lancashire - everything's going to be fine - the new logo's here and it won't cost a penny. Pay no heed to the sceptics! I'm loving that 70's retro font and the slightly mis-alingned Tudor rose, it certainly says "up-to-date" to me.
(Do I need to point out that he's the new leader of the county council?)
Monday - The Jam
Liza Radley - The Jam
Tales Of The Riverbank - The Jam
Dreams Of Children - The Jam
Precious - The Jam
Labels: real life
