December 9th 2022 New Start begins
As the end of 2022 approaches at a very fast pace (still 24 hours in a day tho?) I embark on a new phase of my life. I will be doing my bucket list in my home town Blackpool situated on the North West coast of England and the wonderful Irish Sea. On very clear cold days I have seen from that place the far off Barrow in Furness ,the Great Orme in Llandudno ( a favourite place of my dads) and even the Isle of Mann ( cats have no tails there,and the National Mann flag consists of 3 legs ! use your own imagination on that one !) I will catch up with family and friends from my very distant mispent youth . Age & health have caught up with this old geezer and after I return to Perth more adventure awaits ( details coming soon) Now racing towards 80 I still have lots to do and see .Many of my friends and immediate family are no longer with us and I am very fortunate to have reached my current age and experienced a very full life …SO stay tuned ,more to come .Hopefully ( if I can find free wifi) I will do blogs on my Blackpool Christmas/New Year stay
All Quiet on the Western Front
I have just watched a German made movie based on the lives of battle front Germans in WW1 called All Quiet on the Western Front.It shows the absolute horror of painful deaths,amputations and great family losses.
Numbers of losses were a strain on the manufacture of uniforms of which were heavily blood stained and retrieved from slain soldiers and reissued .Although these lads were German, they were human and fighting because a group of men declared they must go and fight !! Those soldiers of all nations couldn’t refuse to fight because they were classed as cowards or traitors and consequently, would be condemned to death by their own leaders ! ( think that would be called a Catch 22 situation these days)
I recently watched a moving short based on New Zealands HAKA history ,when during the world war at Christmas opposing enemies came together to play football.The New Zealanders performed the HAKA in uniform and the terrorized look on the oppositions faces was great until they realized they were being entertained ! The football match proceeded and ended with handshakes and jovial back slapping,wishing each other Merry Christmas and then (ironically) sadly back to killing each other !!
In this year of 2022 one very awful person has ordered 1000,s to go and die in a country that doesn,t belong to them ,for what? domination ? This planet is so very unique in our solar system and yet a small minority are hell bent on destroying this wonderful, beautiful world that belongs to ALL humans. People of this world, rise up, strive for peace (for three score and ten average life time that is not a long enough to appreciate life )
Looking at news films on Ukraine and to see how that country has been ravaged by a meglomaniac is reminscent of past wars ,only this time it could possible escalate to a catastrophic era never before witnessed ,all brought on by the lunatic rantings of again, ONE man.Current fad is for people to sit in roads to prohibit “normal” people going on with their lives and I say to this lunatic fringe get yourselves organized into one massive group and protest for world peace!! People of colour (black,brown,white,yellow,red,creed,religion,ethnicity and any I have missed ) get yourselves together and create world peace !! Wouldnt that be nice ?
1000 BLOGS !!!
I have loved writing in this form for around 12 years and for me it is a reminder of what was and where I have been .
Firstly I,d like to have a go at Woke People ,why the hell are they trying to make life a misery? Comedians must find it extremely tough these days ,In my pub/club days if I walked in late and the performing comedian was in full swing they would invariably have a go at me ( and others) People laughed and had such great times .Bernard Manning to me was a brilliant comedian and I have been in his club many, many years ago .Nobody was safe from him, BUT that was part of his show .People who don,t like his material were advised to stay away ( they didn,t!) Chubby Brown is renowned for his very bluntness and crude jokes ( I,m not a fan) People who find his material offensive simply keep away .I am not now or ever will be a racist which seems to be fashionable these days and I am certainly NOT a “privileged white person”
Being one of seven we weren,t rich but happy . Mam kept us in good food and at times struggled to clothe us with new stuff .At school people had nicknames that had to be accepted (whether we liked the names or not) We didnt have luxuries like phones ( thanks for that) or computers . Walking was necessary as we didn,t get lifts , teachers caned me and we still survived ! Respect was earned ,bad lads were sent to juvenile detention ( Borstal) Currently there is a black comedian who has done very well for himself and even got a Knighthood !! Always complaining about diversity and yet he is playing a dwarf in a Tolkien series ( he is by the way 6.3 tall) but thats ok eh Len? Sadly the world is on edge at the moment BUT people are still complaining about wokeism !! Ive had a great life, been lots of places, still got childhood pals ( thinning out a bit now tho ) I,m an Atheist but still believe in wrong & right
So come people (never find out who “they” actually are) stop being miserable,have a laff and learn to live with each other ,So endeth my 1000 th Blog
The Lady Of Heaven & other Stuff on my 999th Blog
Just reading about a group of so called religious MEN protesting outside a cinema in the UK and causing the Cinema Group to withdraw the showing of The Lady Of Heaven .It is very noticeable that there isn,t any women noticed in the pictured protest. People showed the protestors waving placards , using loud hailers to get the message across and begs the question WHY are the empowered enough for this action? The manager of the cinema looked terrified SO? should the protesters be sued for intimidation?
In another story illegal migrants are suing the Government because they do NOT want to be sent to Rwanda. Whilst people who are living on the streets and being British born are receiving nothing .Who advises these people ? are they made aware of their rights before they leave Europe via small craft? Army barracks have been available near a village in Yorkshire for the migrants (that were good enough for soldiers once upon a time) It has also become noticeable that the residents of the near by barracks are up in arms and protesting very strongly (where ere these people when other parts of the country were being invaded?) and probably the Barracks will remain empty
It is rumoured (?) that migrants (illegal) are being housed in the best Hotels ,provided with 3 meals a day and provided with pocket money. The migrants are probably informed well in advance of the “easy” life that awaits them in the UK ,and after a short while will be able to protest on such issues like the fore mentioned movie . The Britain I knew as a kid has gone ., protection for the weak and homeless is virtually non existent ,crime has gone through the roof BUT rest assured you will get caught and punished very quickly if you are a naughty motorists
Comon UK Gvt do something and make the UK great again BTW when I was born in the 40,s the world pop was around 2.5 Billion (after WW2) it is now 7 Billion plus !! So glad to have lived school all through the 50,s Teenager through the 60,s and a very fortunate life. Good luck for the future World
Ageism versus Youth
Recently watched Punk Rockers series PISTOLS, and was interested to hear them taking on the world in the early 70s. Interestingly as young teenagers they referred to old people not accepting their music and being dinosaurs , are now themselves pensioners. Admittedly I was of the same opinion as a teenager but on reflection I wish I had envisioned what the future held for we potential “oldies” and how we could make it better. Through the generations I and my peers never gave much on how to plan our retirements ( hindsight is a wonderful thought) .The NOW generation are probably of the same opinion as I was back in those now far off days. Old age is a privilege and I am grateful to be in this “state” as a lot of my immediate family and some great friends are no longer with us .Yes I miss them very much and IF a time machine is invented I will revisit a lot of my past earthly adventures .A favourite song of mine in the 60.s by the group The Who featured a line “Hope I die before I get Old ” (Song My Generation) and the lead singer would be in his late 70s! Some of my “now” ageing friends are confined to wheelchairs and the greatly use of walking aids and tales of falling over ,unable to get back up without assistance.SO message for you young uns ? beware hopefully you will reach seniority. Moral is…don,t wait for age to creep up unexpectedly, plan for the future .Stay Safe
Sad Times for Renters
This past few days a rental came up on my Face Book,so I decided to register and go and have a look . I arrived at my dedicated time slot and there were literally dozens of people having a look see .It was advertised as a one bedroomed premises with shower and toilet. On arrival the quoted car space was a small patch of grass and a fair walk down a darkened passage to the “house”
Inside was a single room with a small half dividing wall and that was it !! SO the lounge,kitchen,bedroom were in one small area and just hidden away a toilet and shower (at least it was private)
The back exterior was extremely small impossible to be utilized for any outdoor activity .If a proverbial cat was swung there it would be definitely be brain damaged ! .The air con machine outside has seen better times, I actually felt sorry for the estate agent whose job was to lease it
For this property ( incidentally tagged onto a main house that are affectionately named “Granny Flats” not for my granny tho )..Rent is an incredible $260 weekly with a $1100 bond deposit !!
Australia is a massive island and I m sure the Govt could spend money on building buildings for young people, retirees and charge a nominal rent . Rentals are at a premium and therefore command silly rental prices at the moment
One redemption feature about the premises is it is only minutes away from the railway station !!
I am well past the “one foot in the grave” stage ,so comon Gvt,why does everything have to be about money?
Me ? think I will buy a tent !!!
This Blog dedicated to Nowhere Boy 2009
Just watched a movie on John Lennons pre fame life and the camera work was so good it stirred a lot of my youthful early days. His radio was probably a Bakelite cased model ( I had one wih lots of live bulbs inside) the wiring was probably pre plastic and outer protective “skin” was like a old fashioned bandage ( material) Mine was connected to the ceiling light outlet and I listened to it under my blankets ! (no idea why I,m still alive !! Teddy boys were the fashion of the day, drainpipe jeans with turn ups.Jackets woth velvet collars.brothel creepers (suede shoes with around 1 ” soles ! and of course lime green socks ( not the same pair,but I still wear them today !! later on in life we got to wear very pointed Italian winkle pickers ) Hair was fashioned with Brylcreme using a comb that was very greasy !! But so what? we looked great (lol)
Story was around the late 50,s .Buddy Holly was back ground music and Lennon apparently tried to imitate him .Buddy was and still is my all time musical hero and sadly he never made the 1960 ,s.My home town Blackpool was instrumental in this movie and the North Pier jutting out into the Irish Sea was instantly recognizable !! and also part of my child hood playground. Characters (holiday makers) wearing Kiss Me Quick Cowboys hats were very popular and also an open invitation ( ahemm) Donkeys giving rides ( me and my younger brother used to run them for their owners)
Skiffle groups were very popular,instrumens used were a Tea Chest with a broom handle stuck in the and ONE string that was plucked for sound.I used to support a good late friend of mine who played and he is sadly missed .Smoking in the school bike sheds was p[popular coz in those days smoking didnt kill !!
Summer village type Gala,s were fantastic fun and put together in some country side field.Getting home from scchool and lighting the coal fire on very wintry days,being able to buy bundles of kindle wood from the local corner shop and there was always snow in Jan.Feb doesnt seem like that now
Cigarettes 100p a packet,beer not much dearer but the at just 15 my first work pay was 2 pound 10 shillings !! Short telephone numbers,deck chairs and Tape Recorders ! hoping no one walks in the room as I taped music of the Radio.
So much to remember,didnt have much money BUT we were happy and most of all we had FUN !! Would have written more but its currently 42C in my non conditioned office !!! Happy New Year to you all
Australian Housing & Land & Employment & Made in Australia
Been having a look around Perth Centre and so sad to see people sleeping in doorways, and at the moment the weather is the worst I have experienced in 4o years !! So much wind and rain! Must be Global warming ? although currently it is freeeezing !! Australia is currently witnessing massive rent hikes, housing prices have gone balmy, people who cannot afford rent or they are being snapped up because of a huge demand and shortages,rents are at a record high etc are resorting to living in their cars and some have children.What I don,t understand is why the government doesn’t build more, this Island has so much land to spare .An Aboriginal M.P who is no longer with us suggested a pipeline is brought down to Perth from the top of Western Australian where the water catchment area is apparently 3 times as large as Sydney harbour and I believe has been said it can actually be seen from space it is so BIG ! I am fortunate enough to have stayed up in that area and the Ord River is amazing !! Billions have been spent and lost on this horrible disease that has affected the world and yet when it comes to peoples basic welfare there is no money to be found. New towns can be built anywhere in the massive space we have here (3 times the size of Europe) water from the Ord dam would supply the new towns quite easily . Money shouldn’t be a problem, employ people out of work,build factories BIGGER than those in China .I have shopped around for different items from clothes ware to pots and pans to fridges and freezers ALL made in China with it being very difficult to buy Australian made wares,we have the space. So C,mon Aussie C,mon ,think positive, think future
Wokism,no,no,no
Enough is enough ! Parkin is the latest to be labelled racist !! That is (was) part of my growing up especially around the beginning of November. That particular cake treat is synonymous with the burning of Guido(Guy) Fawkes on on the 5th of that wonderful month. Mums/Mams (not moms!) would bake these delights and hand them round at our local bonfires (yes all races,creed,religions ate the delicacy )Almost daily on British radio I am classed as a “white privileged” person and I object to that very strongly! I am one of 7 kids who lived life as a kid from 1945 and we certainly weren,t rich! I wore jeans with holes that identified me as “poor” yet today those same jeans would have made me fashionable. Cardboard was placed in shoes that had holes in the souls,wellington boots (wellybobs) were worn to school on very hot days. Pocket monety we earnt by doing paper rounds,carrying holidaymakers luggage Mam worked at least 2 jobs to keep us fed,warm and occasionally well clothed, My peers ( mates) parents were Mr or Mrs and single lady teachers were miss and male teachers Sir. As kids we would offer seats to seniors as a standard issue. “Stick and Stones may break my Bones,but they will never hurt me” was often used ( of course they did!) My friends of the day went to either Catholic or Protestant schools BUT after school we were FRIENDS. Late 50 and early 60s Immigrants from all over the world started a new life in Britain and to this day I have wonderful pals of different denominations/colour ethnicity and I can never recall racial arguments mentioned ( because quite simply there weren’t any) My youngest daughter has an Aboriginal as her godfather because he was my good friend. I blame the press for stirring the racism card. 3 English footballers were called out because on their $600.000 weekly earnings they missed penalties and YES i called them out also not because of colour or creed BUT because they missed penalties !! Never mind they were able to console themselves by jetting off to the Sun ,while I have to stay isolated here in Australia with a son in London currently suffering the horrible disease that has virtually affected ALL human life. SO come on everyone live this wonderful life together as we are only here the once ( sorry I,m an atheist) Work to helping the poorest countries and making life livable for poor souls living in so called Third Word Countries.no one man/woman should be worth Billions
Buddy Holley and Me
Music has always played a huge part in my life and after watching the stage performance of Buddy my mind was hurled back to 1959 and that was my last full year at school. Saturday mornings we would always go round to a friend of ours and listen to music before heading off into town for future adventures in the local store (British Home Stores) The winters in those days were freezing as winters were BUT always seemed to be snow around and we were 13 yr old teenagers on the discovery of life. We were having a giggle at one of our gang who was eating a huge pile of toast ( he reckoned his manhood was,nt getting any bigger,and some well meaning adult told him eating lots of toast would solve this problem !! and this was an actual happening) Buddy Holly was my all time song hero ,just as he is today.Being at a daft age we were all laughing and having fun as there no bloody iPhones in those days and we actually spoke to each other ! The current song playing was interrupted by the awful announcement in February 1959 that Buddy Holly had been killed in a plane crash along with The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens consequently I was shattered by this tragic news ( my bakelite radio with the very large bulbs inside was a big feature in my life and to keep the noise down I listened to the music of the day under my blankets even tho the power was supplied by the ceiling light! )That horrible death was probably one of the first big upsets in my life,now 62 years later the memory of that day is still strong in my mind. I have no doubt that if Buddy had survived he would have ousted Elvis from his top spot.The full stage show can be seen on Youtube and well worth a visit.Finally when the movie The Buddy Holly Story came out I took my family go and see it, and as Bobby said “Rock on Tommy”
Watch me play Didgeridoo
Geoffs Life After Work ! 