So my first blog for a while, actually ‘a while’ is doing a lot of heavy lifting…. But I went back and realised that my last blog was written on the day of the first national Covid lockdown in 2020. Whilst I had my struggles in lockdown, I also managed to get a 2:1 BA … Continue reading “John Arlott used to drink in there in the war”

Arsenal have won their last 3 league games in a row, which none of the other 8 teams above them have…..They haven’t yet cancelled the Tour de France (Yes I know!)People never stopped loving the NHS, but who would dare starve it of funds and privatise it now? (Ok except for 1. blind ideologists and … Continue reading Reasons to be cheerful ……….

Fresher’s week is not compulsory for 69 year olds. They don’t have Rag weeks anymore. Students are just the best bunch of people, and really kind to me..... Plymouth Uni cafes are brilliant. Make friends with the ladies in the cafes. They know stuff My lecturers are amazing. Hardworking. Incredibly knowledgeable and endlessly helpful. I … Continue reading 10 things I’ve learned about university (follow up to “Eek, what have I done….”

So a quick post for Father’s Day about the Great Train Robbery. I was 14 when the Great Train Robbery took place in 1963. It was sort of the way things were in another time. Crime was different, maybe it was because security was non-existent, armed robberies of wages offices on a Friday, when wage … Continue reading The Great Train Robbery

OK so last week I retired from work. It was time. I started work in 1965 at the National Provincial Bank at 129 High Street in Southampton. But that’s now an Indian Restaurant. So it was time. But on Monday I start a 3 year BA (Hons) in Geography and International Relations at Plymouth University. … Continue reading Eek what have I done………….?

Yesterday I did my “mooch around North London” for this year or as my work colleagues call it “Les on tour”. I had a lot planned but had to re-write the itinerary on the train up as my back was bad so more buses than walking this time. Incidentally that reminds me to big up … Continue reading Metropolis Meanderings 2018

I wanted to write a ‘what Arsene Wenger means to me’ piece but from a slightly different perspective and demonstrate (as much to myself) why I am feeling his loss.So this is a quick reflection on 60+ years of knowingly supporting The Arsenal. You see The Arsenal has, and always did have, class. What came … Continue reading Arsene knew…..

When I was young probably in the very late 50’s (1950’s not my 50’s) my parents got their first portable radio. This was even before they were called transistor radios. And it was a really big deal that it worked in the car. It was massive, probably about half the size of a microwave, and … Continue reading He got the action

I thought of Gary Imlach the other day. Gary is a peerless award winning journalist. His colleague Ned Boulting wrote in his book that Gary “has never knowingly let a cliché pass his lips” I first came across Gary probably 30 years ago when he used to present the Channel 4 American Football coverage from … Continue reading ….of Gary Imlach and german bombers…..