following oxford united

Although l am a Manchester United supporter, my family moved in between Oxford and Reading (to RAF Benson) while l was still at school, so l made a decision to follow one of the nearby teams while l was there as a second team, being unable to attend the Manchester United games.
As a friend at school (Hello Jonathan Knapp!) followed Oxford United, we teamed up and went to most of the games together from around 1974 - 1975 time.
I used to cycle to his house in Chalgrove, watch Football Focus (or whatever it was at the time) and then his father would drive us to and from Oxford, as he ran a TV shop there.
Many happy days were spent on the terraces at The Manor Ground, even including seeing Oxford being stuffed by Manchester City (Cup game) and beating Manchester United (when they were in the Second Division).  Oxford actually had a pretty decent home record when l was going, it was just that their away form let them down, so promotion was never a realistic option.
My attendance came to an end when l moved Oop North, as l divided my time between watching Darlington (the new local team) and travelling to Manchester to see United.
Funnily enough, one of the first games at Old Trafford that l went to on arriving Oop North (in 1976), was a FA Cup game against Oxford United (on my own by train).  I must admit, l kind of had divided loyalties that day, as l wanted Oxford to do well, but ultimately, they were still only a second team for me.  Manchester United won 2-1 (with two penalties), so l went home happy, especially after calling in to see relatives in Liverpool and going out for the night there.

toodle pip.

dodgy drinks at home

This is a picture of some pineapple juice that l left overnight a few days ago, as l had fallen asleep.  I was going to knock it back in the morning, but when l saw how it had all gathered at the bottom, it put me off doing so.
On a related note, l found some cans of lager in the spare fridge a couple of days ago that had been left and forgotten about.  They were only 5 years past their sell by date, so of course l opened one and tasted it, but it was hard for me to tell if it was OK or not, as the first drink of any lager usually tastes crap to me.  It did  fizz open, looked to be alright, and had been kept cold all that time, but as l had days off work ahead of me, l didn't want to risk getting ill, so l ended up pouring the rest of the can away (there are more left) .
Where the hell has my devil may care attitude gone?  Keith Richards would be ashamed of me.

toodle pip

following the quo

When l was young of mind and long of tooth, l often used to travel around the country to see Status Quo (and even made the papers!).  This traveling was by motorbike, train, car, hired coach or just plane old hitch hiking, and many a grand old time was had.  People may not believe it now, but Quo used to be a proper hard rocking band, but blessed with the ability to augment their heads down, no nonsense riffing with some catchy tunes. I hitched to see them in 1984 on their 'End of the Road' Tour, and also hitched to see them at their (laughably now) 'Last ever concert' at Milton Keynes Bowl.  I thought at the time it was probably a good idea to call it a day, as they had been gradually getting worse (in my eyes/ears) since 'Blue For You'.  A splendid night out could still be more or less guaranteed, but the albums had evolved into a poppier sound, which was so far away from the joy that shall forever be known as 'Piledriver', that it was hard to collate the fact they were the same band.

Nearly 30 years later - they are still going (but l am not)

toodle pip

dominique bordenave shoe artwork

I liked these Dominique Bordenave shoe artwork pieces so much, l stashed away photographs of them years ago, which have just been recovered (the long winded garage saga from below).
They are both original and funny, and his site can be found here.

toodle pip

salvaged press packs

These are about the only salvageable press packs from a box of mine that got waterlogged in the garage. Much as l am pissed off about the damage, most other boxes of stuff are pretty much unmarked, and a real treasure trove (to me at least).
These remind me of what a piss poor and amateurish operation press releases were in those days. Badly photocopied reviews with a minimal back story was the norm, and no-one thought it was unusual.  Now you would be laughed out of town producing something like these in this fantastically futuristic and computerised space age.

toodle pip

clearing out the garage (part 45)

Burning some of the old boxes. it doesn't look that bad, but this was a big, hot fire.

Some of the removed items waiting to be cleaned before entering the house

Boxes of cassette tapes

More boxes of cassette tapes

Yet more boxes of cassette tapes

The state of some of the boxes

One fully packed bin

Louise's old bike

Plenty of stuff still in the garage still to be sorted, including a pool table and giant TV

Some cleaned and unpacked stuff to be sorted

These are some of the photographs from yesterday while clearing out some of the boxes from the garage. There's plenty more stuff still to be sorted, and if it wasn't for the bloody spiders in the garage, it would be spotless by now.

toodle pip

old everton and liverpool football programmes against manchester united

I've stated before that l am from Liverpool, but was taken to Manchester United football matches by my Uncle Ray when l was a kid (God bless him!) as soon as l displayed a passing interest in what used to be the beautiful game.
Some of the programmes l have just retrieved from the garage are from those happy times. All Everton or Liverpool home games against United.
Luckily l had the good sense to store the old programmes in the garage on shelves, not on the floor (and of course l also had them wrapped up to protect them).
Sometimes it pays to be anal (Phnnnaaarr!)
toodle pip

u2 photographs

At one point in my life l produced and sold magazines around the UK and Ireland, plus l was a bootleger, taping concerts and selling cassette copies of them by mail order and at record fairs. During my travels l met a lot of  'stars', but mainly just interesting people from all around the world, some of whom l corresponded with for a while, but sadly lost contact with, as l am crap at staying in touch with people.
Digging through the garage stuff (see below - an ongoing battle), l found these snaps of U2's Bono and The Edge knocking about from Glasgow 1987. The wall is outside Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin.
Below is a beermat signed to me (as one of 'The Glimmer Twins') from drinking with The Edge and his brother in the outskirts of Dublin (in about 1989).
Happy days.

toodle pip

trying to draw

An early attempt at drawing found amongst the garage crap.  I gave up very soon afterwards.

toodle pip

cleaning out the garage and doodle bug comic

Myself and the FPO spent some time yesterday sorting out some of the crap that was in the garage, resulting in me bringing in a load of boxes to see what was in them, to check if they were water damaged, as the door has been broken for ages.
There was some damage to old press reports for bands, but other than that, it was like being in an ideal junk sale, as l had forgotten about lots of the boxes contents, and of course they were originally stored away because they were items l wanted to keep in the first place.
I now have crap all over the house which l have been slowly working through, and you can expect plenty of scans and photographs of the crap in the near future, starting with these editions of 'Doodle Bug', a comic that l got involved with in 1987, and helped to start off and sell, mainly around the Catterick Garrison, Richmond and Newcastle area, with the main man and main artist himself, Royston Robertson.
I think l can safely say that it would not have been put together if l had not met and advised him (at Colburn stores), but once underway, he was the main ideas man and artist, and did most of the work. Looking at them now (and even at the time) there was a lot of room for improvement, but there was some great ideas and it was fun thing to do.
Only eight editions (I think) were put out, but the others must still be in the garage (trust me, there's still plenty more crap out there).
I am glad to say that Royston has since managed to make a career as a cartoonist, and books of his can be purchased from his site, which can be found here.  If asked nicely, he might even sign them for you.

toodle pip

humans of new york and american tales

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