Random drawing by one of my twin grandsons.
It's New Year Awards time folks!
Give me Benjamin anytime. The recent glut of medals for worthy people made me think about the late dearly departed Benjamin Zephaniah who turned down any such awards, and he was someone who would thoroughly deserve one. He could not stomach the thought of an award that mentions the long departed British Empire, and again, who can blame him.
Interesting that footballers, pop stars and the local street cleaner who's only ever used one brush in 25 years, get the MBEs, the Aldi/Co-Op brand of gong whilst the Sainsbury's middle class awards like OBEs and above up to the edge of damehood go to relatively successful business men and unknown local charity fundraisers up to a certain cash limit. The top of the tree awards , Waitrose/Fortnum and Mason brands like damehoods, knighthoods and other hoods we the common people have never noticed, Knight Order of the Hanging Baskets of Windsor for instance, go to judges one has never heard of, businessmen who have made absolute shedloads of money, and the occasional entertainer who seems to be hanging on for ever.
Speaking of one such recent award. My late father, a police officer in Wigan at the time, was called to the Wigan Casino ( later to be the home of Northern Soul ) one winter's night to quell a bit of 'argy bargy', after this celebrity singer was interrupted by the arrival of the steaming hot pies direct from the bakery, a feature of the night out ( and possibly a greater attraction than the big attraction ) by the loud blowing of an Acme Thunderer referees whistle and the announcement that: ' THE PIES HAVE COME!' In the middle of her 'Hey Big Spender' routine. She was not amused and amidst some fruity language departed the stage. This resulted in some unhappiness from the gathered pie chomping audience as they'd paid dearly to see the star. It looked like a small riot might ensue.
My father and the other officers task. Stop it happening. A dressing room visit to the star ensued where more fruity language apparently followed, but after some serious negotiations the unhappy star was persuaded to finish her show.
She got her standing ovation, the odd fruity comment from the audience, and departed the stage vowing never to return to this place again. She deserved a medal.
They thought better of offering her a pie for her journey home.
...and another by the other one!
A very Happy and Peaceful New Year to anyone who's taken the trouble to read my ramblings of the last year.
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