Author Archives: Robin

Before we mothernaked fall

by Dylan Thomas Poem “Eleven” in Notebook “Started 23rd August 1933”; dated September 16, 1933 Before we mothernaked fall Upon the land of gold or oil Between the raid and the response Of flesh and bones Our claim is staked for one and all Near to the quarry or the well Before the promises fulfillContinue reading “Before we mothernaked fall”

Back to class for the fourth time

Unlike joining the staff at a local shop, where new assistants tend to pick it up as they go along, the workings at any Odeon cinema could not be passed along by the manager, who would be too busy running the show to teach a new assistant manager what’s what. Within a week of startingContinue reading “Back to class for the fourth time”

Caring for cinema connoisseurs as well as the dirty mac brigade

There were some real blockbuster movies playing in Odeon cinemas in 1975, when I first joined the Rank Organisation as an assistant manager early in that year. Mind you, there were some real stinkers as well. This was a time when many cinemas were being turned into multi-screen operations because the days of a fullContinue reading “Caring for cinema connoisseurs as well as the dirty mac brigade”

Dodgy lyrics or were these guys trying to play things straight?

I got into a discussion on Twitter the other day about lyrics from pop songs in the late 50s and the 60s. When it got around to lyrics that would be looked on in horror today (although some of the modern rap stuff is very close to the mark)someone referred to Young Girl by GaryContinue reading “Dodgy lyrics or were these guys trying to play things straight?”

Farewell Andy – now let’s get back to normal on our TV shows

I’m sorry that Andy Murray got knocked out at Wimbledon today (Friday, 7th July) and I am sure there are thousands of tennis fans who will be crying bucketfuls of tears as the British two-times champion at this London suburb an tennis court bows out half-way through the competition. Mind you he sometimes seems toContinue reading “Farewell Andy – now let’s get back to normal on our TV shows”

Please say hello to Horace – a regular visitor to our garden

After the foxes it is time to say hello to Horace. As far as we know Horace has been bumbling around our garden (front and back) for the last couple of years. We first put food down for him in 2021 and set a floured patch to check the tracks and it turned up trumpsContinue reading “Please say hello to Horace – a regular visitor to our garden”

Casablanca

by Roger McGough You must remember this To fall in love in Casablanca To be the champion of Morocco. The size of tuppence Photographs show Uncle Bill holding silver cups Wearing sepia silks and a George Formby grin. Dominique Had silent film star looks. With brown eyes Black hair and lips full to the brim,Continue reading “Casablanca”

Lovely or loathsome – the wide world of animals holds them all

By now I take it you will be aware that I have a great fondness for nature in general and wildlife in particular. When I was little we had a Welsh collie called Scrap and I thought the world of him. He had been part of the household long before I arrived, in fact beforeContinue reading “Lovely or loathsome – the wide world of animals holds them all”

Ferdinand the Fearless, a vulpine visitor known affectionately as BB

You have met Francesca the Fearful, now let me introduce you to her male counterpart (I have assigned their sexes based on my observations and could easily be wrong) Ferdinand the Fearless. As you will see he is not your typical image of a fox with an elegant bushy tail – which is why heContinue reading “Ferdinand the Fearless, a vulpine visitor known affectionately as BB”