I first remember Formula 1 listening to the radio as James Hunt raced in Japan to try and secure the world championship from Nikki Lauda. Lauda who had suffered horrific injuries at the Hungaroring just a few months earlier refused to race due to the terrible weather conditions. Principled man Lauda. (James Hunt having fun)Continue reading “How We Cheered For More”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
To Reach Too High
Whether or not accountancy firms do this now I don’t know, but when I was a trainee accountant between 1987 and 1990 salary was very much linked to exam results. The final exam was Professional Exam 2 (PE2). Just four papers in three days – passing gave a 50% pay rise from £12,000 to £18,000. Continue reading “To Reach Too High”
Don’t Say It’s a Crime
After our A levels ended and I was feeling a bit better (https://fivemilesout.home.blog/2020/06/18/cause-man-must-be-his-own-saviour/ ) we had a staff and student bridge tournament at school. The Bridge Club had been set up by Mr Locke and Mr Bonnar and it was not a surprise that they won, though Mr Currell and Mr Carter were only 8Continue reading “Don’t Say It’s a Crime”
Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?
A lot of crap is talked about how The Sopranos revolutionised television – mainly from TV channels that show it. It is great television, but it did not change things. The major changes for American television came from a far less likely place. Steven Bochco is different to the other TV auteurs that I likeContinue reading “Who’s the cat that won’t cop out when there’s danger all about?”
Completely in Command
In September 1982 Tears for Fears released Mad World, it wasn’t the first single from their debut album but was the first successful one in the UK. Graham and I loved Tears for Fears. Mad World has been used in films and covered several times. Their first album, The Hurting, is an album around theContinue reading “Completely in Command”
Hearts Torn In Every Way
There is something special about football tragedy. The deaths at Ibrox in 1971, the deaths of the Busby Babes in the 50s, but I have no direct memory of them. It is appalling that other teams use these tragedies to taunt those teams (even if one of them is Manchester United, the team I hateContinue reading “Hearts Torn In Every Way”
Matter of fact it’s all dark
Pink Floyd are three, if not four different groups. Like many young people of my age I first heard them with their number one single Another Brick in the Wall. It topped the charts at Christmas – a welcome change from the novelty, schmaltzy Christmas records that surround it – There’s No One Quite LikeContinue reading “Matter of fact it’s all dark”
No Verdict Was Returned
I had three childhood heroes – The Doctor, Spock and Perry Rhodan. This is The Star Trek one. My first memory of Star Trek is Operation: Annihilate! when I was about 6. A jellyfish falls on Spock’s back and blinds him. I was horrified; at that age I did not realise that we still hadContinue reading “No Verdict Was Returned”
Young Blokes Sitting on the Benches
Scout summer camp. Little did I know that the 1978 camp was the best one I would ever go on and it was downhill from there. Being the youngest in my year at school had never really proved to be a problem to me (though statistics do show that, on average, it reduces life chances)Continue reading “Young Blokes Sitting on the Benches”
I See Your Sun is Shining
It is a joke you often here about wedding receptions when white people get married – the DJ always plays Come on Eileen. Before that the trach was Hi Ho Silver Lining by Jeff Beck. It is another uplifting track with a chorus that is easy to sing along to. Beck was the third guitaristContinue reading “I See Your Sun is Shining”
Five Miles Out 