I went to a pretty poor school when I lived in Washington Tyne and Wear. Washington Comp. A mixture of old buildings, 1960’s constructions and Pre Fabs. I wasn’t that interested in an education if I’m honest. I managed to leave in 1978 with two GCSE’s. Achieved a C in both Maths and English.
Over the next forty odd years I’ve developed an interest in words. I have Chambers Dictionary on my phone. If I come across a word I don’t understand I bookmark it…
I’d love to send an email that included all these bookmarked words!
At 21 I was about 9st 11lbs. Started doing Karate with Sensei Alan Gallagher – in the same class was a guy called Wayne. Literally built like the proverbial brick house…
Me…thinking I was Bruce Lee…
I wanted to understand his ‘secrets’ of his muscle and size…”weights” he said…so onto my mam’s catalogue I went and ordered some York weights….and I trained and trained and trained. Eventually I moved to Bolton from Washington and joined a ‘commercial’ gym….and trained and trained…
You can create your body and your mind. You are your only limit…
I can’t believe it…back in 1988 I moved to Bolton…was looking for a gym to train in. Found a gym called Physiques ran by Charlie Buchanan (Google him) – I loved it. Was my touchstone. It went through various ownerships…and closed down a year today…I miss it terribly. It was no modern gym. Old school. Just the way I like it…friendly, familiar, functional..,
When I was a child. I had many maternal and paternal uncles and aunts.
Over the years some of them died. The ‘Cooke’s’ which I’d like to concentrate on this blog have a particular interest . My dads family.
My Aunts Marg and Lil used to take more interest in myself and my twin sister more than my parents to be honest. They’d take us all over on Sundays. They were spinsters who lived in the same house they were born in . Cooper Street, Roker, Sunderland.
And there was a brother – Anthony – he never married. And lived in the same house. My uncle Tony.
Marg and Lil looked after him…
I remember playing squash with him at Crowtree Leisure Centre a lifetime ago…
Once I got into my teens (say 15-16) we never really got each other although I used to keep in touch.
When I got married in 2000, Marg, Lil and Tony were guests. I didn’t see much more of them until two things happened. My ‘peer’ cousin Colin died at 40, then his father died a few years later…
Tony died recently…I attended his funeral ‘virtually’ via a webcast – it reinforced to me how short and fickle life is…
Two minutes ago I was having chicken dinner in his house…
Back in about 1992 I worked for Kellogg’s in Manchester. I was ‘into’ photography but not in any professional capacity. A colleague wanted a print of Ashness Bridge I’d taken on a Canon EOS1000FN.
Another colleague saw it on my desk as I was about to ‘deliver it’…
And said “That’s fantastic! Would you photograph my wedding!”
A few gulps later I said yes, but, I haven’t a clue what I’m doing…
So…photographed the wedding and learned very very quickly…
You don’t need to be an artist (although it may help)
You need to understand the emotional hot spots…that’s the key…
So…even though I attended many seminars by the likes of Yervant and Nigel Harper I just did my thing…
I did the very best I could. Was never complacent and only had one complaint in twenty years. A bride said I made her look fat…well, it’s a camera not a wand. And if you’ve lived on pies for twenty years there’s only so much photoshop can do…
And here’s the dichotomy – every wedding is unique…and the same. The emotional hot spots are easy to predict – Bride getting out of car – groom seeing Bride for the first time – the exchanging of rings – the first kiss etc.
And I’ll probably never shoot a wedding ever again…I’m not that interested, I’m old and can do without the hassle…however never say never…
At school the only book I was ‘forced’ to read was ‘Kes’ after that never read much at all until…
I met a girl who was an avid reader…first gift she ever gave me…
Now…I’m from Washington, Tyne & Wear and in those days Holden Caulfield was as far removed from me as President Carter. No idea who he was. What he represented. I just didn’t ‘get it’. But I persevered with it…
Then I got into Ian McEwan..,
Here was something I could understand a little bit better. Just the plot and emotion without the Americanisation.
So…here began my reading journey..,
That’s my ‘library’ now. 😳I read all sorts now.
My daughter has started sending me books…we try to out read each other 😂😂😂
Amongst the books she had sent, she sent me this…it has a certain vernacular and rhythm much like ‘A Clockwork Orange’ – you have to keep at it…
Just watched ‘A Rebel In The Rye’ it was ok…a lot of the stuff I already knew…
Lots of people now posting their ‘Wild Camping’ adventures on Social Media as if it’s a new concept.
Well…the terminology might have changed.
In my day it was called camping..
Circa 1980 was at a loose end one Easter. A friend suggested we go camping in The Lake District.
Now…I lived a conservative life in Washington, Tyne & Wear. Furthest I’d been was Filey one summer holiday with my parents.
Anyway, bought the gear, no idea…Ultimate Peapod Tent, Berghaus rucksack, Trangia stove etc.
And we’re off…
Caught a bus from Washington to Newcastle.
Then a coach from Newcastle to Keswick Bus Station (now Booths)
Then the Mark 1 legs took over…
The initial formula of getting to The Lakes never changed…
I had many many adventures over the years.
I’d walk to a pre-planned camp site or more often, just walked until I was tired…put my tent up. Ate, drank, slept. Decamped then started walking again…
I walked all over The Lakes…and I mean all over…
If social media existed back in the 80’s and 90’s I’d be a <YouTube> <Instagram> sensation 😂
My mate Alex (deceased) on HelvellynWe’re on top of the world ma!
Legs are a bit weary now. Being late fifties ain’t no fun. Still aim to complete the Birketts though!
From 0-18 years old I was what my mam called a ‘skinnymalink’ terribly thin. I weighed about 9st 10lbs at age 18.
At about 18 I decided to study karate and after a couple of years was put into ‘combat’ with another student. He was MASSIVE (in my eyes). At the end of the session in the changing room and <ahem> admiring his physique I asked him what the his secret was…
Long story short..,I ordered a Weider Bench and a weights set from my mam’s catalogue
And got to work.
I’d train every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, relentlessly in my home gym..
Home gym
Eventually the home gym became limited (and at the time I was too insecure to join a public gym) however, I decided to start training at a gym in Concorde, Washington, Tyne & Wear.
I started to see a real difference.
I’d never been a big hit with the opposite sex on account of being short, skinny and ugly…
Then…ever so slowly..,things started to change.
As my chest, shoulders and legs started filling out, girls started showing an interest and…
Guys who may have been irreverent or disrespectful in the past (was great bumping into old school colleagues – you could visibly see their eyebrows raise) changed their attitude.
Then…for love and work (long story) I moved to Bolton, near Manchester.
I started training at a gym initially called ‘Physiques’ but after a few ownership changes became known as ‘J.R.’s Fitness Centre.
This was no jacuzzi / yoga / new age fitness centre. This was old school..,
After years and years of consistent training and clean eating (150g Protein every day, minimal junk) my stubborn physique began to change…
I used to go into the gym and immediately play Rocky music on a tape I had created…and eventually after about 2 years of that earned the nickname ‘Rocky’ which is ironic…I couldn’t fight my way out of a wet paper bag…
Anyway I trained and trained and trained for years and my luck with the ladies slowly changed…
The red head was my partner for a while
Anyway…I trained at that gym for years and years. My intensity slowed down after my forties.
The gym closed down early 2020. I’d trained there for over 30 years. Great memories. Great friends. It was a touchstone.
And here I am…
late fifties…reminiscing…wishing I could do it all again.
2019 get up – shower – get your breakfast – set off for work. Might get cut up, might see another pretty other human, might listen to Nick Robinson – point is – there was differentiation between one day and another.
2020-2021 – get up. Walk into home office. Available from 0800 hrs. until whenever. No breaks (lunch etc.) are respected. Log out. People on a different preferred working schedule still contacting you…might just be me..,
stormseven 