When I was working in Australia in the late 70s early 80s there was a joke doing the rounds about Rupert Murdoch – a joke which had an undertone of reality. “Rupert Murdoch arrived in (insert town or city name) and booked into a hotel. The following morning he sent his secretary out to buyContinue reading “Better watch out if Rupert’s about”
Category Archives: My life
Finding my place within the pack
There are hierarchies within journalism and the cub reporter, like the wolf cub, is at the bottom of the pack. Above this you get a junior reporter, then a senior, then a chief reporter. Sometimes the chief reporter might also be the deputy editor – then you get the head honcho, the editor. Somewhere inContinue reading “Finding my place within the pack”
I’m a handy chap in the kitchen
I have always enjoyed cooking. I don’t just mean knocking up the odd meal of fish fingers and chips (although the time I did do that I was accused of burning the fish fingers). No, I mean the real thing. The reason I probably enjoyed it can be pinned down to two things – IContinue reading “I’m a handy chap in the kitchen”
Hair and gone with a quick snip
This afternoon I feel like Samson, not when he slew the lion with the jawbone of an ass but as he was after Delilah gave him a swift back and sides and robbed him of all his strength. Yes, I have had my first haircut since lockdown began. I didn’t even have to leave theContinue reading “Hair and gone with a quick snip”
From Moggies to Jags and more
I have always liked cars. Note well the terminology – “liked” NOT “loved” because I am not a petrol head seeking to gain an image through the vehicle I use to get around. Cars are a useful means of getting around. Faster and safer than a pushbike. Faster and safer than a motor scooter (notContinue reading “From Moggies to Jags and more”
The girls I have loved and lost
The Sixties is a country far, far away. It is a land where once we lived and loved, danced and sang, dined and drank. I certainly remember a lot of dancing and drinking, girls and music. Different music for different girls. Hazel was the Troggs – Hi hi hi Hazel, although any Troggs number willContinue reading “The girls I have loved and lost”
If music be the food of love . . .
How often do you hear people say: “You either loved the Beatles or you loved the Rolling Stones. It had to be one or the other, you couldn’t like both.”? I’ve heard it over and over again for over 50 years and these days I hear it from people who weren’t born at the timeContinue reading “If music be the food of love . . .”
All at sea and having fun
Despite college and work and the theatre I did manage to get some social activities in. The Rhyl Yacht Club was a regular watering hole for Roger and myself. We had others of course, including the Clwyd opposite the club where we were both members of the darts team for a few years. But FridayContinue reading “All at sea and having fun”
Newspaper bosses kept it in the family
After my first trip to the print works Peter began to take me there on a regular basis and I got to know not just the printers and journalists but also the directors. What had begun in the 19th century, as a publishing company, Woodall, Minshall and Thomas, at Caxton Press in Oswestry, and laterContinue reading “Newspaper bosses kept it in the family”
Stereotype – it’s such a cliché
Printing presses were not foremost in my mind when I decided on my future as a reporter. I knew about the principles of printing having once had a John Bull printing outfit. Not, of course, that this childish toy was ever designed to introduce people to the real joys of printing. To learn more thanContinue reading “Stereotype – it’s such a cliché”
Robin's Nest 