A Bangladeshi Story

On this train
Passing through perfect houses
with brightly coloured well kept gardens,
I think back in the not-to-distant past
On the road to Mongla, at the side of the river
waiting for a bridge to be fixed.

The ramshackle shops selling all sorts
cigarettes to sweets to car batteries.
7Up, biscuits and ripe brinjal.
I head someone speak
they motioned for us to sit down.

We ate and drank.

Despite the dirt and lack of social convention I was accustomed to;
there was a surprising degree of normality and order.

Children swam down stream,
and women wash clothes in the dirty water,
followed by their bodies in the thick grey mud.

The Train Frustration Blues

a wee ditty I composed a while back when annoyed at a train conductor:

I was feelin tired and kinda red
Yesterday's Sun had burnt my head,
I just pulled myself out of bed,
to get the Mornin train
it's Monday again!
Oh dear.

Running up those high steep steps
The last few I strided and lept
onto the platform,
hoping for a train on time
I was late - train was later.

My usual fare, unusually low,
a one off, anomaly ticket.
They didn't sell it,
I couldn't have it.
Shit.
"In all my fifteen years..."
I shouted, then stopped,
falling back
don't get into trouble.

Marching up at Nottingham
I had a plan,
formed in rage,
and then, when played,
decided it was foolish.
Where was my Jeeves?

A petition!
A survey!
A mass stand-off,
strike of the like from miners,
not seen in Notts though.
Won't know what hit 'em.

It's all part of your freaky dream!

Last night I had a freaky dream!

I was in a car in London somewhere with my Dad, then a police car started chasing someone near us, they went behind a building so we followed them. Then I decided that I needed to visit some people. I went into a white house that had this old rickety staircase in it. I climbed it and opened a red creaking door. There was a small gap between the door and the floor. A thin gentleman with short grey hair and beard to match was wearing a cheesecloth red shirt and some sort of fur jacket. "Come in" he said. So I did. I hopped over the gap and was given a cup of tea. Green tea was in the air and people were painting pictures and talking about philosophy, which I greatly enjoyed.


Some girls started talking to me, then I went into a room which was really a cupboard. When I came out we were in a sort of function room which I later found out was in Donington. There were many dishes to try and some rather interesting folk too. As we drove away I remember saying "well they are going to have to buck their ideas up if they want to host the Grand Prix next year!"

So far so much!

Yes, all right, I know it's been a while, but I still think about the blog at least. If it makes you feel any better, I haven't done much work on our work blog either!

It's been a frantic few weeks indeed, as that is set to follow. In no particular order over the next few weeks I have a trip to Leeds, 3 days in Lincoln including a school trip to an outdoor centre, 2 days in London, a summer fayre, a few goes on the radio, a meeting in Crich, a birthday party, a christening, a few BBQs, relatives from overseas visiting and then a weekend in Blackpool.

Some of the things I am really looking forward to, other not so much, the rest I just think why the hell did I say 'yes' to that?

Sunday I went to John Mayall, a blues singer and band leader from the 1960s. Mayall, a white blues man and very good at that, had 12 differently noted harmonicas in a wooden rack on the stage, and his band were a right motley crew of all walks of life. His bassist did some of the weirdest solos I've ever seen.

I will link to a video for you to see a typical performance of his. He recently performed with B B King...surely enough to convince you?

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On the train this morning I spotted a chap in his about-40s, with looks akin to a weasel and a tax collector. Some may say the two are synonymous with each other! I wouldn't want to get in his bad books. There was a woman singing on there too, just between Nottingham and East Midlands Parkway, but still caused a few disturbances and laughs, may I add, to an otherwise boring and uneventful journey.

Falling asleep on the bus to Rearsby, I was woken up by a young lad with obvious behavioural problems shouting in my ear 'hey there my duck' he obviously meant 'ey up mi duck.' He then kicked the back of my chair. God I was child brutality was legal some mornings!

Luminarium

Designed in 1992 by Alan Parkinson, the luminaria are hand made and assembled in an old lace factory in Nottingham. Their coloured pieces of PVC encourage sunlight to shine through creating a unique experience. This coupled with the relaxing music creates an inflatable structure of chillaxing. Please don't run

This in an example of something I was stewarding at the weekend. It indeed is an amazing structure and one that, with your first experience, makes you laugh, cry, chilled, complacent. It was a joy to be a steward when the weather was warm outside, and not many people were there. But when it was sleeting it down and was windy, and at full capacity, and children ran around jumping off the walls then it made the job a lot more unlikeable.

An old mate from Leeds had contracted a few of us to come and steward the structure for the travelling company that had brought it. However he had said that two chaps from college were coming too. Two lads that most people liked, and I tolerated, on a good day. A very very good day.

The day started ok, but one of the lads has a very interesting mind. He likes to see the best in all situations. So here we are, freezing our tits off outside this bouncy castle thing that wasn't a bouncy castle, and it's raining, and our feet are cold too, and i say 'fuck me this is shit.' He replies, 'well don't see it like that. In some countries, these kids would be soldiers.' Now I'm no expert on either Peace studies or biology, but I am pretty certain that 4 year old girls and boys don't have the strength and dexterity in their fingers to hold AK-47s. Then he'd walk around singing and dancing, at the top of his voice, like old times. People don't want to hear the fuckin guitar for three hours on tea-on-the-landing for fucks sake!

'I've experienced something different today...the green light bouncing off your bald head.' I don't mind mates joking about my baldness, but mates only please.

PRICK

This went on for two days, and I was ready for smacking him. 'No-one has ever gunned down a New York Police Chief before' those words of Sal in Godfather Part 1. But they did it, and it ripped everything open. I should have smacked him. I'm not sure anyone ever has. Extroverts also have things to hide and hide that. Introverts have things to hide but people know it too.

Psychedelic Breakfast?

Floyd fans of you will notice the title; a track from Atom Heart Mother. I ate my cereal crunching in sync with the track. Then, as I moved to the laptop my Dad and Mum started a conversation with me. It was difficult as, whenever they said something the music kicked in, so I had to ask them to repeat.

My Dad rushes my Mum about, 'ah fuck you then' she shouts, 'go without me.' (You may be standing back now with a look of absurd shock on your face...don't worry. They don't mean it.) Dad went in to the car, Mum followed soon after. Dad drove away 'woooooooaaaaaaaahhhhhhh' exclaimed Mum as she attempted to chase Dad down the street.

Bought an mp3 player last night so I can put talking books on there. Hope it will encourage me to walk about more.

Hello...(sheepish)

So sorry for not replying sooner!

Mind you, I think there's only about 3 people who read this blog and they text me regular! Would be nice for some new readers though.

So last night was the final of the Apprentice and I really enjoyed it; the whole 12 weeks worth. There was some rate drivvle in the mix, esp Mr Ben Sandhurst and Noorul the Pathetic Fish but all in all a good bunch. Not that Phil Pants Man though. God i'd like to gerrim darrrnn vat pub and gee 'im a good threshin...as my Mother may have, on occasions, uttered.

I had a rather interesting and enjoyable weekend too but that can be saved for another blog. One thought however; there are some people from college that I didn't like, and didn't miss. This weekend has re-affirmed that thought.