It was the ubiquitous norm back in my day, as were no fridge, freezer, washing machine, central heating, colour television, car, foreign holidays, landline telephone (gasp) and (wait for it), mobile phone (panic attack!).


I know what you’re thinking here – post war Britain!


Yes, but not 1950, this was 1970 and I was 8 years old. The (twin-tub) washing machine and spin dryer, colour television and telephones would have to wait until the 1980’s. As for the foreign holidays and central heating; they would have to wait until I was 35 and 44 years old respectively. The car? Nah, never happened but that was the norm in our family, and still is for me.


A hard life? Not for me thankfully, although my late parents might disagree. It was a bloody good childhood by all accounts. If you needed to be geared up for austerity in later life, this was just the start you needed. Of course this was a time before smack and spice became the scourge of our schools, prisons and streets, so life was good



To follow are chapters on birth, school (including a chinchilla), work, prison, drugs, music, relationships, Dubai, London, Spain, Princess Diana (yes, I was there when the assassination took place) and much, much more.


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