Apparently, I was desperate for a little brother – I am not sure that was true, I only have my mother’s word for it. My parents repeatedly told me this as Mike and I ripped 50 shades of crap out of each other. My parents were both only children, which is why they wanted a sibling for me, so they had no experience that it was natural for children to bicker all the time.
I think it got worse for him when Alison and Frances were added to the family. Mike and Alison went from the being the youngest and oldest into joint middle child hell. Sure I resented them getting every privilege I got six months after I got it, despite them being over two years younger, but I do think middle kids get none of the benefits of being either the oldest or youngest.
Mike loves his football and has a lifelong devotion to Ipswich Town. (Famously Alan Shearer once said that there are no easy games in the Premier League, except Ipswich at home). I have given up home of him ever seeing that Rugby Union is a far superior game. Or Cricket. Or American Football. I guess his love for Ipswich is just a cross he will have to bear.
(Alison, Frances and Mike, Victoria Crescent, Royston in the 70s).
Mike found music well before me. I’m sure that his taste in 70s music, which included Boney M, Showaddywaddy and Pussycat, are not something he necessarily wants shared (though Mississippi by Pussycat is a guilty secret for me too). However, he became a proper muso and is the only person I know with a bigger music collection than me. Luckily, our tastes do overlap in a lot of areas, which was particularly important as teenagers without enough money.
Mike has led an interesting life, some of which is in his book that I namechecked in an earlier post. He has managed two impressive things recently One is that he had a major knee operation years ago, yet is now running marathons and doing the London Ride 100. He may have mentioned that a few times to the family. His friends. On Facebook. Down the pub. In the Street. At work. To random strangers.
(Ride London 2019)
The second is that he has found happiness with his amazing wife, Karen. I don’t know what he did to deserve her, but I am really glad that they are happy together. She organised a surprise 50th birthday for him – his reaction was totally hilarious.
My Dad, Karen and I met up to cheer him at the finish in Ride London. We had lunch in a rather nice Italian near Charing Cross, L’Ulivo on Villiers Street (well worth a visit if you are in town). We were tracking him on the Ride London app and got quite worried that we would not get our dessert in before he got to the Mall. Luckily a cycle pile-up (not involving him) slowed him up and we got our tiramisu in with plenty of time to spare.
(Dad, Mike and Karen after Ride London)
This was released in 1968. The same year my brother Mike was born.
So, this is for best brother I could have. And the best sister in law😊 (though Karen was born much later than 1968).
Burt Bacharach is an amazing songwriter. Dionne Warwick has a beautiful voice. I am not sure when I first heard this song, but I loved it at once. Whitney Houston got the kudos in later years – but for me her Aunt was the better singer, as she knew you don’t have to soar and emote at maximum volume every second.
Do They Know the Way to San Jose
Five Miles Out 