72a James Lane

4 years. Found by Tom. Lived in by 7. Terrible shower  Great sofa. Emptied and cleaned for the last time today. Fin.

My Bedside Table

The book in the picture was excellent. It just under 1000 pages and if you do read it take notes as you go. It is full of abbreviations, code names and acronyms. It also follows a topic (eg the Cambridge Five) from start to finish and then jumps back in time to follow the next topic. The notes idea only occurred to me 40 pages from the end with a realisation that was sudden and maddening.

Would I have taken this photo if I was reading a terrible book?....maybe not. The fact is though I am unlikely to be reading a embarrassing book for a simple reason. I live in London. Living in London means tube travel. Tube travel means everyone seeing what you are reading.  Is it vanity? or maybe insecurity? who knows....probably both. I love seeing what other people are reading and I have bought many books based on seeing them being read.  .

 Not that I haven't read embarrassing books whilst I have been here.I have read all the 24 Sharpe novels...in order (Sharpe's Tiger though to Sharpe's Devil).. including a Christmas special ( called,surprisingly, Sharpe's Christmas). I bought them all for around 10p each on Amazon and quite a few are propping up my wardrobes.

A friend of mine has a rule regarding particular editions of books. He refuses to read books that have been made into films and then have an edition with  a cover that features the films actors or branding.

Only one of the Sharpe books had had a sleeve with Sean Bean on it...Sharpe's Eagle. The only way friend will find out will result him being killed by a falling wardrobe. He would not be happy.

The First Time I Went to London

Before moving to London at 25 I had visited the capital maybe only twice that I can remember, and both when I was quite young. The first time though was very memorable for 2 reasons.

Firstly it was a trip to Wembley to watch Nottingham Forest in the 1989 Littlewoods Cup  Final. I remember it being very exciting to go on a trip to watch the football with my 2 uncle Daves (1 blood,1 Married in) and their mate Stan. From what Dave says Stan was a darter and pub singer of some note. Apparently he does a fantastic Johnny Cash. I saw him last year and though he must be in his 60's and still has a teddyboy quiff. I can't imagine anyone epitomising  to the East Midlands more. We were stood right at the front at one end of the stand. The pitch was at a slightly higher level than the stand and it with the fence that was the way of things then, the view was not the best,. Forest won the game 3-1.

Secondly it was the first time i saw a condom. It was inflated and bouncing around the terraces with cheers. Being young, I didn't know exactly what it was at the time. What I did know was that Dave's amused 'funny looking balloon that Johnny' comment was a gentle education.

The M1 on the way back was grid locked. The weather was red hot and all the cars seemed to be full of Forest fans on their way home. Every one had their windows open and were chatting about the game and singing. A group from a coach were walking among the cars handing out biscuits to other Forest ssupporters in their cars. I got a custard cream.