Phone photos

Age Concern Arts and Crafts Fair

On Tuesday 27th September I paid a visit to Clarence House to an Arts and Craft Fair put on by members of activity groups from Age Concern that regularly meet there. Various exhibits were on display from oil paintings to creative writing.

A quilt containing over 15,000 patches has been put together by contributors all over the county. The finished quilt will be on display at the Leicester Museum on New Walk as well as locations across the City and Rutland. Anyone wishing to contribute are welcome to do so.

Members of a card making class were on hand to demonstrate the craft of card-making from start to finish. They meet every week on a Tuesday.

Around the hall a variety of paintings were displayed, subjects ranging from still life and celebrities including Willie Thorne and Billy Connolly. The highlight for me was the painting a monkey complete with facial expressions. There is an art group meeting also on Tuesdays.

Finally there was a display of work from the writers' group. The work on display included writings from both present and past. Compilations of work were on display, self published and self funded over the many years that the group has been running. They hold their meetings on Wednesdays 13.30-14.30    

I ended my visit with a meal in the Seasons restaurant where I had a very nice cheese and ham salad.

The Age Concern centre is at Clarence House on Humberstone Gate. The running of it is dependant on volunteers and a very good job they do too.

The Visiters

The Visitors

Oh so nice to see you at this hour
Going bed? No, a dressing gown is my evening attire
Let us take your coat ant hat
Hungry after your your journey? we have not yet fed the cat.

Make yourselves at home, what's ours is yours to share
Of course it's not too much. How much is the taxi fare?
We may be pensioners, not much money to spend
But what's a missed months rent to help a friend?

We won't be offended if you have to leave
I'm sure you have other friends that you must see
They will be delighted to see you at this hour
Even if dressed in their evening attire.

The Generals Speech 1914-1918

The Generals Speech 1914-1918

A young man watched open-mouthed
As he listened to the general's speech
Who spoke of pinnacles of bravery
That only a fearless man could reach.

The young man was given a uniform
And a rifle placed into his hand
He proudly stood on the ship's deck
As it sailed to a foreign land.

Lying in a trench covered in mud
He waited anxiously for the call
Thinking about going over the top
Where he would see the enemy fall.

At last the captain gave the order
Righto chaps do your best
The young man ran but 20 yards
Heedless of shells hitting his chest.

His memories spilled onto the ground
Where his comrades were not far behind
They trampled his short life underfoot
Lost in the earth never to be found.

The young man was laid beneath the grass
Where he used to run and play
On his old school's roll of honour board
Was added another young mans name.

A young man watched open-mouthed
As he listened to the general's speech.

My Article as published on Citizens Eye and Leicester Drinker (Oct/Nov)

Community Pubs and Their Role in Society


By Ken P Duddle:

For many years binge drinking has been blamed for the breakdown in society by both politicians and health experts. Cheap cider, cut-price six-packs as well as many City centre pubs and alcohol in general have been the targets.

But can pubs that serve the community be put in the same  category as supermarkets that undercut them on prices?  I believe not.  But they are suffering with the closure of pubs at an alarming rate because of government clampdowns and high tax duties. What benefits do community pubs have over supermarkets?

The local pub can be a place where you are able to meet and socialise, have a game of darts or dominoes, discuss interests such as buses or trains and maybe resolve local problems. Some pubs may specialize in micro brews and real ale, putting on festivals that attract customers from across the county and often further afield.  Drinkers travel far and wide in search of the perfect pint.

What we have now is a situation where supermarkets can buy and sell cheaply, not being liable for the same level of taxes that breweries face and as a result many people are drinking at home, affecting the livelihood of many a publican. In Leicester alone in the past 5-10 years we  have seen the closure of several pubs that were regularly used by residents living nearby.

In conclusion I feel that the local pub plays a vital part in ensuring that community spirit survives.

The Sniper

The Sniper

There were ten hours to go. Ten hours then the world would be changed.
The sniper raised his rifle and adjusted the telescopic sights on to the gathering crowd below the window of his lookout. A young mother was crossing the street, a toddler in tow. It so could have been himself many years before. He thought back to a time where he was playing contently with a train set. His father in a drunken state had come into the room and brought his size eleven shoes crashing onto the toy smashing it into small pieces. How he had wept as his father laughed then shouted 'Stop your whimpering little brat or I will take my slipper to you.'

There were nine hours to go. The gunman lay his rifle against the window and looked again out of the window. A woman dressed in black walked by, her face covered by a veil. Behind the veil he saw his mother's tears as she drew him close to her. She brushed his hair softly back as she gently said 'Your daddy has gone to a better place now he will not suffer any more.' But he did not shed a tear that day as he was just pleased that there would be no more beatings.

There were eight hours to go. The sniper looked across the street to an alleyway. He noticed two youths who had pinned a younger boy against a wall. He heard in his mind one say 'Give us your money dumbo.' He wanted to shout out 'No, don't give in, fight back.' But knew the younger boy would succumb eventually. Just as he had always done.

The gunman leaned against the wall of the small room on the 12th floor of an unoccupied office block. No-one knew he was here, no-one ever noticed him but soon he would no longer be a nobody. He drifted into a light sleep dreaming the same dreams, restless disturbing dreams. The fights in the playground, the name calling.

The sniper awoke with a start to noises below. Looking at his watch he saw that there was just one hour to go. Below the window the street was lined with onlookers, police and members of the armed forces. The sniper grimaced. 'Army, what a joke, they give you a gun, teach you to shoot then throw you out for doing your job.' He shook his head. 'Yes thrown out for shooting the enemy, for not asking their age. They always had it in for me anyway, now somebody’s going to pay. This Government sucks.'

The sniper picked up his rifle again. Five minutes to go, five minutes to world fame, no-one will be laughing at me when its over. Below he saw a young boy holding a red balloon. The balloon slipped out of the boys grasp and floated up to the gunman's window. The young boy tugged his mothers dress pointing. The sniper said out loud 'Stop pointing little squirt, you'll miss all the fun.' Lighting a cigarette he leaned out the window and burst the balloon as it floated by. Below a. long line of cars were now approaching. The crowd cheered as an open-roofed car came into view. The sniper adjusted the sights and moved his finger to the trigger. Suddenly he was aware of sounds behind him, a door being broken open and voices. He heard one shout 'Freeze, drop your weapon' The sniper smiled as he moved his finger closer to the trigger. Then he felt a pain in his chest and slumped to the floor. As he lay on the floor he heard some-one shout 'The Presidents been shot'
Another voice 'Where from?
'The warehouse across the street.'
The sniper smiled as he drifted into unconsciousness. 'I will be famous after all, as the assassin that never was.'

The End

Snobbery

The new residents at the Manor
Were in a pickle,with a dilemma
Their neighbours were rather posh
With explanations like 'Oh my' and 'Golly gosh'
Keeping up appearances in other homes
Is rather hard when your name is Jones.

Lost and Found

Lost and Found

To say that the handbag was eyecatching would be an understatement Its colour pink

was shockingly blinding pink. and was hard to miss where it lay on a seat in a quiet

corner of the bar of the pub I had stopped off before catching my train back home.

I carefully undid the clasp and started to browse the contents. A mirror and a compact

powder tin. A busy lady I thought always on the go, a little vain maybe. Nextt I found a

bright red lipstick which made me think, 's'he likes to look good, a business woman maybe?'

I then found an address book maybe this will give a clue to her identity,. mmmm Jeremy,

Cecil, Alfie, Tarquin. Aaa aah,  likely business associates in the world of fashion maybe?

could be a model. Next a pink mobile in a fur-lined case. Keeping up appearances I see

and her favourite colour is pink.

I started to return the contents unaware that someone was approaching. A voice brought

me out of my concentrated dreamworld.

'Excuse me ducky, have you seen a handbag around here love?'

I looked up to see a man in tight pink trousers and a sequinned royal blue blouse-like shirt.

His shoulder length blonde hair glistened as he faced me wearing a Cheshire cat smile.

and as he looked at me I was sure that he winked.  I slowly rose out of my seat giving him

the bag as I passed him in silence.and without looking back I made my way towards the exit.

Needless to say I will not be visiting that pub again.      

An Ale Tale

Gramps

an ale tale

By

Ken P Duddle

Gramps picked up three empty glasses with one hand and placed them on the bar. He returned to the table and sighed. Gramps was not as old as his nickname implied. He was in fact only 41. His nickname came about a couple of years before when his daughter presented him with a grandson and after a celebratory lock-in some of the regulars decided it would be a fitting name. So the name stuck.

Gramps stood by the table where the three remaining and best customers of The Crown sat. Mick the Tick, Robert and Dangler with his dog Boozer. Mick was known for trying every new beer that came on the market, in the shortest time possible. Dangler, blind for more years than he cared to remember, was accompanied by his faithful companion Boozer who some said was the more intelligent of the two. Robert preferred the company of his friends to that of his wife who since his retirement seemed to be more talkative.

Gramps leaned over to Robert, 'Robert, when you have finished talking about trains, can you help Mick leave I wanna lock up.' He nodded in Mick's direction who was bent forward head resting on one arm and an hand clasped around a partly drunk pint of light ale.

'Sure, Gramps.' He leant over to Mick and gently shook his shoulders. 'Mick wake up, Gramps wants us outa here.'

Mick woke up with a start. 'Wha! is it drinking up time already? He lifted the glass he was holding and drank it in one go. 'One for the road Gramps? he asked. Gramps shook his head. 'Sorry Mick, cannot do.'

The three friends rose from their seats and made their way towards the exit. Boozer leading, closely followed by Dangler and Robert who was helping Mick to walk straight.

Gramps picked up the remainng glasses and took them to the bar. He returned to the table and grunted as he wiped the table surface with a damp cloth. He never did much like the name Gramps but thought it was at least better than his previous nickname, Grumps. He sighed to himself as he thought.

'Well another day over and another exciting one to look forward to tomorrow.

© Copyright Reserved

City Vs Brighton

Good win and well deserved. Sounded as if they had 90% of the play but you would never guess it considering how much time was allocated to the game. Out of 20 shots vs 7 shots Brighton they showed 2 and 5. Not a fair representation of the game.

Walkers Stadium

Breweries E

Everards - Equinox 4.2%

Researched Ales E

Equinox - Everards 4.2%

Diary 11th Sept 2011

Sunday Quiet day went up to the Old Horse on London Road and had a Sunday Lunch - Roast beef with trimmings and a pint of Everards Equinox 4.2%. Not bad.

Hinckley Beer Festival

4th Hinckley CAMRA Beer

Festival

15 - 17 September 2011

Beer List website

L = LocAle, brewed

within 20 miles of our

area

Beowulf L Beorma 3.90%

Beowulf L Finn's Hall Porter 4.70%

Black Hole L No Escape 5.20%

Black Hole L Red Dwarf 4.50%

Burton Bridge L Bridge Bitter 4.20%

Burton Bridge L Colbourne's Dear Boy 4.50%

Burton Old

Cottage

L Oak Ale 4.00%

Burton Old

Cottage

L Halcyon Daze 5.30%

Church End L Stout Coffin 4.60%

Church End L Vicar's Ruin 4.40%

Dowbridge L Bonum Mild 3.50%

Dowbridge L Praetorian Porter 5.00%

Langton L Inclined Plane 4.20%

Langton L Hop On 4.40%

Merry Miner L Warwickshire’s Finest 3.80%

Merry Miner L Coal Face Porter 5.00%

Parish L Farm Gold 4.00%

Parish L High Cross 5.00%

Quartz L Blonde 3.80%

Quartz L Heart 4.60%

Shardlow L Hop Medley 5.30%

Shardlow L Reverend Eaton 4.50%

Tollgate L Bitter 4.30%

Tollgate L Red McAdy 5.00%

Tunnel

Battlefield

L Henry Tudor 5.00%

Tunnel L Tradewinds 4.60%

Warwickshire L Duck Soup 4.20%

Warwickshire L Lady Godiva 4.20%

Wood Farm L Best Bitter 4.20%

Wood Farm L Webb Ellis 3.80%

Purity Pure Gold 3.80%

Purity Pure UBU 4.50%

Everards L Original 5.20%

Everards L Sunchaser 4.00%

Sarah Hughes Dark Ruby Mild 6.00%

Sarah Hughes Sedgley Surprise 5.00%

Holdens Golden Glow 4.40%

Holdens Old Ale 7.20%

Old Swan Original (Light mild) 3.50%

Old Swan Bumblehole 5.20%

Bathams Best Bitter 4.30%

Enville Enville Ale 4.50%

Dark Star Old Chestnut 4.00%

Dark Star Sunburst 4.80%

Blue Monkey 99 Red Baboons 4.20%

Cottage Metropolitan Ale 4.70%

Black Iris Iron Gate Stout 5.50%

Black Iris Perriquine Pale 4.60%

Whitstable Winkle Picker 4.50%

Tap House L Gold 4.00%

Tap House L Kingdom 4.50%

Oxfordshire Ales Happy Hooker 3.70%

Oxfordshire Ales Harvest Moon 4.50%

Northern Blakemere Gold 4.30%

Northern Soul Rider 4.00%

Thornbridge Jaipur 5.90%

Wharfebank Camfell Flame 4.40%

Wensleydale Lidstones Rowley Mild 3.20%

Bridgehouse Barnstormer Pale 4.40%

Marstons Pedigree 4.50%

Wychwood Hobgoblin 4.50%

Cider List

Rich's -

Somerset

Legbender Cider Medium 6.00%

Wilkins -

Somerset

Farmhouse Cider Sweet 6.70%

Burrowhill-

Somerset

Farmhouse Cider Medium 6.50%

Parsons Choice-

Somerset

Farmhouse Cider Medium 6.50%

Norbury -

Worcs.

Farmhouse Cider Medium/Sweet 7.00%

Gwatkins -

Hereford

Yarlington

Mill

Cider Medium 7.50%

Gwatkins -

Hereford

Stoke Red Cider Sweet 7.50%

Gwatkins -

Hereford

Farmhouse Perry 7.00%

Ross-on-Wye -

Hereford

Farmhouse Cider Medium/Dry 6.00%

Thatchers-

Somerset

Cheddar

Valley

Cider Medium 6.00%

Westcroft-

Somerset

Janet's

Jungle Juice

Cider Medium 6.50%

Westcroft-

Somerset

Westcroft Cider Dry 6.50%

Millwhites -

Hertfordshire

Whisky Cask Cider Medium/Dry 7.50%

Broad Oak-

Somerset

Moonshine Cider Medium 7.50%

Broad Oak-

Somerset

Broad Oak Perry Medium 7.50%

Broad Oak-

Somerset

Old Bristolian Cider Medium 7.50%

Gwynt-y-Ddraig

-S.Wales

Farmhouse Pyder Medium 6.00%

Charnwood

Cider-Leics.

Charnwood

Cider

Cider Medium/Dry

Rockingham-

Northants

Perry Perry

Rockingham-

Northants

Kingston

Black

Cider Medium

BEERS

Anything beer related Ales I tasted beer festival etc.

Thoughts essays Diary

Any new work or ideas.

LCFC Matches

Personal reviews of games.

Barnsley V CITY

Like What I Wrote: LCFC Barnsley V CITY: Like What I Wrote: Barnsley V CITY : Didn't sound that good a game. Rubbish first half better second half. Supposed they must be satisfied w...

Creaky Bones

Just created this blog to see what it looks like.
My book Creaky Bones is available at two places.
etsy
and
EBAY
The ebay one is the last of about 7