John York

The big problem my wife and I have with pets is they're b......y heart breakers and die. When our last little dog went, we said; 'That's it. Never again.' And we haven't. Mind you when we have visitors with a dog or cat, they get a lot of attention. And I have a very large and lifelike hairy dog sitting beside me in our lounge. He even barks when I touch his leg! The beauty is he can't b......y well die on us!

Besides England, the only Country I could be tempted to live in is Italy. The people on the whole are nice, the scenery is stunning and the food is excellent. Coupled with that are excellent health arrangements. What more could you want? The only place I would avoid is Florence which is too busy for my taste and the Artists quarter there has some of the most horrible statues I've ever seen.

I remember Bill Haley and the Comets but can't say I liked them much. I liked the tunes and songs we used to have when ballrooom dancing. A mate and I took a series of lessons in ballroom dancing when we were still young teenagers. He said it was a good way of getting friendly with girls! I thought that was a good idea too and must say I did like the music from bands like Ted Heath and even Victor Sylvester. In those days we were members of the local YMCA Red Triangle Club and in my area the YMCA had a huge building that accommodated a swimming pool, two dance floors one of which doubled as a club room, A large cafeteria, snooker hall with about a dozen tables, a basketball court, and a table tennis room. It was massive! Apart from the front, there were outside tennis courts. On Sunday evenings the whole gang of us would go to the cinema filling up two rows in the circle and see all the latest films. We even lied about our ages and saw 'The Outlaw' starring the busty Jane Russell. There were some uncomfortable nights after seeing that film!!! This was all in East London and I must emphasise you could walk about there at any time of the day and night in complete safety. The gangsters wouldn't allow crime in the area they lived in! Playing football in the winter and cricket in the summer and when we could fit it in, tennis in the summer and table-tennis in the winter. Boy, were we fit in those days! And I had met my future wife and started going out with her. National Service at 18 brought it all to an end except my attraction for my lovely Sheila and you know the rest. Oh, and acrylic. Tried it, didn't like it and turned my interest to writing. Now, I simply read and love it.

Well, John I spend much of my time reading Westerns. And there's a reason for that. But, I'll start from the beginning. I started with photography and then oil painting for which I had a studio and the pictures I produced now adorn the walls of our home. I couldn't carry on painting in our present home because it stunk the place out so I started writing fiction and six of my books have been published on Amazon. I ran out of stories to write so now when I'm not listening to the music of The Seekers and Vera Lynn, I read Westerns stories on my Amazon Paperwhite. Daft I know but the reason I read Westerns is that I found reading stories about any time after 1901 (the year Wyatt Earp died) made me too depressed. Much of mine and my wife's early life was dominated by war. I had relatives who fought and were affected by the 1914/18 war. My wife and I were heavily involved in the 1939/45 war. She in China as a prisoner and me in the heavily bombed East End of London When I was 18 I was conscripted into the British Army and sent to Malaya to help fight in the war against communist terrorists trying to take over the Country. So, now I read stories which are so far removed from the world we know and knew that I can walk away from them without any lasting emotional involvement. Hope that explains it.

Damn. I know things don't last but I wish I hadn't asked now. Shame Judith had such problems. In my romanticizing I was hoping I would see Judith and Athol getting together!

Belated happy birthday Rodger. By the way, is it my turn to write? John

I know this is not flight related and for that I apologise but I do not know any other people to ask. Does anyone know if Judy Durham and/or The Seekers are still together and recording, or even, still alive please? They've given me so much pleasure over the years that I'm wondering what's happened to them?

'B' = Miserable ole bugger!

At 88 I'm too old to do anything active now. I don't really want to remember my younger life much of which was taken up with the wars and the aftermath. When I retired I continued to play golf but it became too embarrassing when the Pro's had to come out with the buggy to the 15th or 16th hole to collect me because I was too knackered to carry on! I also wrote and had published half a dozen books - all fiction. So, now I read, mainly Westerns about things before 1901, the year Wyatt Earp died. I think his friend Doc Holliday died quite a bit before that because he suffered badly with consumption now known as TB. And I enjoy the forum and a continuing friendship with Rodger and, of course I shouldn't forget, I listen a lot to the music of Vera Lynn and The Seekers.

Goodness me. That looks 'orrible!

D'you mind John?!!! I come from the east end of London and the fish and chips sold and wrapped in old newspapers, specially the Daily Mirror with 'Jane' on the next to last page was the best!

Sorry Adambar. Not my cup of tea.

Cardiff-I can see the runway and a parked aircraft across the Bristol Channel from my lounge window!

I'm still listening to 'The Seekers'. Fabulous!

Well, at 88 (me) and 87 (her) the best thing that happened is we survived! Hopefully that will continue especially as I am looking forward to receiving my new Kindle Paperwhite and I want to wear it out! I completely echo Landon's sentiments and wish you all a happy and successful year. JohnY

Yes, happy new year every one and let's hope this is the year that see's the defeat of covid.

I think I would rather stay INSIDE of something when my feet leave the ground!

With no visitors today we've got chicken legs and brussels sprouts may well put in an appearance. A slight flavouring with woucestershire sauce and they'll be alright. But then again I eat anything and everything that's put in front of me.

Hottest: Kuala Lumpur, Malaya Coldest: Horsham, Sussex (Snow 3' high everywere that year) Wettest: London's East End (All roads flooded that year) Highest: Basingstoke, Hampshire Happy Christmas to all of you. We've had to cancel our's this year due to covid!

Sorry. Just remembered another game. 5 Stones. You needed to be quite hands dextrous to play that.

You've all just reminded me. Before the 2nd world war I had a mickey mouse cine projector made of CARDBOARD would you believe. It showed five minute pictures featuring Mickie Mouse, Minnie and Donald Duck. Didn't last long but was amusing at the time. Oh, and what about cigarette cards. If your parents were smokers, you could collect sets of them. Then there were marbles to collect. Lovely coloured glass balls you could play the game of marbles with. If you could flick your marble and hit your opponent one and win his marble. I even had a stamp collection in an album containing, would you believe, my most treasured stamp a 'Penny Black'. The war came and that was the end of all that.

Anderson Air Raid Shelters! Sorry, but mine and my Sheila's young lives were dominated by the 2nd.World War.

I'm guessing but the difficulties of getting anywhere near lifelike scenery for China & Russia must be tremendous.

I think we have a difference of interpretation here. You can like the result but not necessarily the person who performed it.

I'm not looking for sympathy but I don't remember ever receiving any praise for anything!