Alan Ball
Strange I should feel more about Alan Ball departure than most others. He was one of THE stars when i was a boy in sleepy
Aberystwyth. Many of the footballers of his time have also passed on, which is sad, as it reminds me how old I am and how long ago it was. But Alan Ball...
1970 and we were visiting my mother's family in Liverpool. I had never seen a professional football match and my dad elected to take me to
Everton. Even then, i thought it was strange, although they never said, i always got the impression the family were reds. And me supporting Nottingham Forest at the time and all...
I was 8 and I'm afraid I remember little of the journey, we got a bus to
Goodison. It was big and busy and blue. Newcastle were in town the names brought to life from my football cards -
Nattrass and
McFaul for the
Geordies.
Everton had Harvey,
Royle,
Morrissey, Kendall and Ball. Brian
Labone had just retired. I was disappointed, I'd always liked his name.
We threaded our way through the blue stanchions. I'd never seen so much metal in a building outside of a
meccano set. I got a programme from a girl I immediately took a fancy to, it cost me 7p.
The game started and I watched in awe, surprised at how the grown men shouted angrily as their heroes were denied time and again. I became interested in the programme, it smelt all inky and fresh. I'd never seen a mag so glossy. I was fascinated by it all and my Dad kept on telling me I'd miss the game.
Suddenly I looked up on impulse. A blue shirt was in the middle of the penalty area, he banged the ball midway in the goal, to the left. Past a despairing
Iam McFaul,
spreadeagled in midair. Before the world erupted in noise and my view was shattered by hundreds of adult backs and arms punched up in joy, I noted the tell-tale close cropped red hair, the slight form. Alan Ball had won the game for
Everton.
It's a snippet of a memory from a milestone day for me. I went to
Goodison again 2 years later, but the legend had gone South and it wasn't the same.
Thanks for the memory.
Life on Mars SEQUEL
In passing, I note they have decided on a 1980s sequel, featuring yet again the politically incorrect DCI Hunt, played so well by philip Glenister. The sequel will be called 'Ashes to ashes', once again utilising the songs of Mr. Bowie as a title.
i believe the writers have missed a golden opportunity here or maybe here's one for the future. How about a middle earth spin-off called 'laughing Gnome'?
where DCI Gandalf says 'fly you fools, fly. Wait a moment, it's beer o'clock gentlemen. Time to repair to Rivendell for a pint of elven finest. They may be a bunch of namby-pamby Man Utd supporting pooftahs, but I know a good ale when I see one. Are you with us, Dorothy?'
If it's worth using elsewhere, please someone remember to send me some royalties...
In limbo
Life on Mars
I have just come away from the television after watching the last episode , with that wonderful numbing feeling aboutit all. The things that fell into place, the can of worms it opened up, the visual play on his links to the future, there in the past. Very memorable. Most of all, a respect for the guy coming up with the plot in the first place.
I shouldn't give away anything, in case some have yet to watch. I'm not a big fan of police dramas. the last thing I watched was the Starsky and Hutch reprise, with Ben Stiller disguised as a medallion man, going round saying 'do it' in a Stallone voice... That was really good drama. Damn, why didn't i think of it? Spent too long down that bloody lead mine...
Revision
I've been enjoying my time with the Leicester Writers Club. It's interesting to hear other people's point of view and I have learnt a lot. It has caused me to look at my Book1 and to do some serious revision before trying again.
Less of a documentary, more of a story. More dialogue so characters show the plot by words as well as actions, that sort of thing.
It's hard finding the time, (what with a baby on my lap as we speak!). The computer is in demand also, so it's a case of taking your turn - and stop playing damn computer games, as they waste valuable time!!!
I began Book4 on my recent train journey. I like long journeys, I get about 1500 words out of them. I tried it in 3rd person, as an experiment and I'm not totally convinced. Nice to use vocab like wot I speak(!), but I felt it lost some flavour. It's the first story devoted to Owain's son, Dafydd and I look forward to his impending love triangle!
Progress
A recent weekend in Aberystwyth allowed me to revisit my childhood. I could potter along the beach, getting stones in my shoes. I could visit town and browse, not buy, like any good Cardi. I could visit many of the scenes from my writing and see how it is now.
It was a beautiful weekend, the sun shone, the sky cloudless. A vicious wind put a chill on the proceedings, but that's what the coast does for you.
I passed a block of new flats, on a hill, all blue and white, looking ready to be sold for a nice profit. My heart sank, for these were on the site of the North Road hospital, until 1969 it was Aberystwyth's hospital.It was old and outdated. Huge heating pipes populated the corridors and the lift looked reminiscent of Lord Peter Wimsey, but it was the place of my birth. The place where my Nain died and all, when it was an old people's home. Dad was manager from about 1958 there, it's been in the family for generations, you could say..
It's pleasant winding entrance was up a steep hill and was beautifully mainured. Now all destroyed in an outpouring of builder's rubble. Progress, eh?
My mother was born in a pub - or above one, in Liverpool. The Prince George in Warbreck Moor. My Dad was born in a house, next to Lucas in Caernarfon. At least you can still see these places. We even have a painting of the pub on the living room wall here.
For me, though, I only have memories. I can't revisit to see it all and somehow, I feel a piece of me has gone with it. There's a gap in my life, every time I drive past. Progress...
