Camping in the 60s It’s 1961. My dad decides it’s time we see Scotland. We pack our camping stuff. He has 10 days paid leave and our 1953 Vauxhall Velox will carry everything for a family of four for a fortnight. It was a crazy car and he was so proud of it. 2.2 litreContinue reading “Life in a Vauxhall Velox”
Author Archives: Clive La Pensée
Christian Values?
I’d like to tell you about the Reverend Gilbert, or Gobby Gilbert as we children referred to him, due to his predilection for spraying the front dozen rows with saliva during assemblies. Have a look at those jowls in the cricket team picture. He didn’t always soak the first years – only when he becameContinue reading “Christian Values?”
How a novel begins.
The last stop – how a novel happens. Berlin Diary – Summer 2012. How it started. I walked into the sunshine from the old East German airport, still called Schönefeld. (Beautiful Field). It shouldn’t still exist. It had long ceased to be fit for purpose and is now being renovated. Back then it was trulyContinue reading “How a novel begins.”
Mystery Moments in Old Age
The key slid in the lock with its usual slight resistance – or did it? Wasn’t there a different feel to his apartment door? How would he be able to decide that? He knew he imagined things and then often had to admit they were unverifiable. That was to be expected at his age, butContinue reading “Mystery Moments in Old Age”
The 60s. Dance Hall Teenage Angst
Dance Hall – A coming of age story. The mirror sphere rotated. It was all my dreams, scattered across walls and ceilings, even the floor, where pretty maids trod on them. Only now, do I realise, their agonies equalled mine. My mate, Bill Prentice said, ‘If you can’t pull off the walls of the CroydonContinue reading “The 60s. Dance Hall Teenage Angst”
60s Teenage Angst 2 – The Red House
The Red House A red house, in Gander Green Lane, was not lost not lost on smart school kids, as a clash of colour identity. ‘I wonder why it’s called Gander Green Lane,’ Paul asked. ‘It sounds like an old name, from the times when one shoed geese to get them to market,’ I offered.Continue reading “60s Teenage Angst 2 – The Red House”
60s Teenage Angst 3 – Workplace
Little Town Blues – or why I became a science teacher. Little Town, Essex. Real name – Stanford-le-Hope. Better named back then, Stanford-no-Hope. A just reminder that the ‘good old days,’ were actually, crap! The pictures of it look great, now! Put Stanford-le-Hope Fertilizers into your search engine and check out images. Not so pretty!Continue reading “60s Teenage Angst 3 – Workplace”
My Grandma was a most amazing girl – part 1
My grandmother, Aunt Joan and father. (1932) 16 Apr 2016 by 6 Comments © Clive La Pensée There is a much-loved German children’s song. It starts, ‘Meine Oma fährt im Hühnerstall Motorrad’. Translated freely one gets ‘My Grandma rides her Honda in the henhouse, and the chorus is, ‘My Grandma is a most amazing girl.’Continue reading “My Grandma was a most amazing girl – part 1”
My Grandma was a most amazing girl – part 2
Aunty Joan – #metoo – nothing new! That summer’s day, I saw my great uncle Ray for the last time. I knew I would never see him again, so it was a chance to get a few questions answered. The one I chose to open with received such a baffling and horrific answer, that IContinue reading “My Grandma was a most amazing girl – part 2”
Wetlands – Or how not to translate Feuchtgebiete
The Mersey, trying to hide its innermost thoughts by reflecting everything. Unlike Roche and Newman, who bare their souls, or me who hasn’t quite the courage yet to really write what he feels, but is getting there. As a bloke, I’m always a bit afraid of straight out chick lit, but then again, I findContinue reading “Wetlands – Or how not to translate Feuchtgebiete”
Clive La Pensée 