Vegas & The Aftermath - Diary

[tikay]

My real Mum, Grace. Everyone says she was angelic - well they would - but I believe she probably was. It's easy to think that way, & better. People unfailingly say "ahh" when they learn she died just after I was born, but it's not "aah" at all, because an infant does not understand that sort of thing. The real pain came later, with the arrival of the Step-Mother, but even that turned out, in a weird way, to be a good thing, as it toughened me up. "It was all for the best"".

[tikay]

Buncoing?

That I need to know!

Years ago on Paul Daniels he had a Bunco Booth - so I'm guessing the word has the same meaning ~ any time you have someone over, you bunco them.

Clipping is taking money for sexual favours and then not providing them - can't see that's gonna be you...

Thanks Simon. No, my "crimes" were never against individuals, or involving money, just "business" related stuff, being a bit close to the liine. Never dishonestly though, ever.

[AndrewT]

Tom?

No, you got me again. A "Tom" is......?

Prostitute.

[tikay]

Here's "the man". Greatest bloke ever. I don't miss him now, because we still speak, sort of. He had some bad weaknesses - like Father, like Son - but he was essentially a wonderful, warm-hearted, "giving" person, & was obsessive about decent manners & behaviour to others. He hated peeps being rude or off-hand. Amazing that I never inherited that gene.

It's something special to be proud of your Dad, eh?

[tikay]

This appears to have been taken in Coulsdon, Mum & Dad, at my Aunty Doris's home, which was, a year or so after I was born, to become my home for 4 years, & Aunty Doris was to become my "Mum", for ever, as it happened..

[tikay]

Allegedly, me. I would be about 7 here I guess.

[GreekStein]

Allegedly, me. I would be about 4 here I guess.

fyp

[RED-DOG]

My goodness Tone, you're the spit out of his mouth.

[tikay]

Here, 30 or 40 years on, is Aunty Doris. She was my Dad's Sister, one of 11 brothers & sisters, & they all died youngish - early 60's at best - but Aunt Doris soldiered on into her early 90's. We kept in close touch all the way, she was amazingly good to me, always. She had her own Son & Daughter - Brian & Janet (whio became de facto brother & Sister to Celia & I) - & she effectively adopted Celia & I.

We lived with her for 4 years - we left when Dad re-Married when I was 5 - & it was, far & away, the worst day of my life. Fancy leaving your "Mum" & being taken to a strange house, a long way away, & not understanding why. And so began the stuttering, learning difficultuies, bed-wetting, Special School, da de da.

[tikay]

My goodness Tone, you're the spit out of his mouth.

Really?

I SO wanted to be told that!

[tikay]

Enter the only person I've ever really hated with a vengeance, my Step-Mother, Elsie Lydia Angell. Deservedly, too. But my Sister, Celia, forgave, (she's an angel) & of course my relationship with Step-Mum Woman caused dreadful issues with Kenny, my Half-Brother, & her Son.

She really was THe most evil person I've ever met. She'd be put in Prison these days for how she treated Celia & I, & if she were, I'd be happy to see her rot in Hell. There was no need for cruelty on that scale.

[tikay]

Moving on......

Dad in 1953 at Swindon Railway works with either Priness Margaret or Princess Elizabeth, I forget which.

[tikay]

"Right away Mate", the traditional engine Fireman's words to the Driver, uttered by Dad to Princes whoeveritwas.

[tikay]

The plump lad at the front is my half-brother, Kenneth Kendall (!), a lovely boy. He now has adopted twin Daughters who are identical but complete opposites, one is  Uni-Swat, the other an apprentice-degen. Very odd.

He lives in Milton Keynes, & sends me a Birthday & Xmas pressie every year, but I have a sort of family mental block, & don't communicate with him at all, ever. I feel bad about that, but I can't help it, "famly" to me means "aarrgghh, go away, leave me alone". Christmas without family is heaven for me. Just me is fine.

The lad on the right was my mate until he as 11, but he passed the 11+, & I failed it, & that was that, we went seperate ways, & I felt the full force of being dumb, & inadequate, & stupid, & that hurt more than almost anything else in my entire life.

I think I'm the skinny lad on the left.

[tikay]

GREAT day this - the day I started work. That is taken on a Railway Estate in West Acton. The dog was Susie, who I covertly fed all my greens to.

Pretty cool dude, lined-raincoat (ex C & A) slung over shoulder.