Stuart Briggs

In erm, 1978 or 79? I remember walking home with Nigel T. We had been to the then Windhill Cricket clubs resident erm bar-staff? It was the Edmundson’s, their home which was supplied by the club. We’d had a great laugh. Long story cut to the main bit. As me and Nigel (Nigel and I in ‘proper’ terms!}. as me and Nigel got to 281, my mother was standing at the top of the steps.

OK she was probably worried as it was about 11:30pm. She almost pushed me down the steps, that I didn’t like, got to the kitchen, started taking my shoes off, then I hear this mad shouting – dad I thought, ffs. It goes somewhat blank, but I remember at the door, the wall, and seeing my sister with her then boyfriend – now husband, they had gone to the steps to see what was going on – I remember looking at them.

Sat on my bed looking into the mirror, I was trying to work out what had happened the night before. My ‘dad’ came in to try say something.

Too late fucker, you fucked with my mind and body that previous night.

‘Stop it Keith you’ll kill him’ it knocks around my head more than ever what his wife said.

So, about 20 years later, my ex wife witnessed something similar, I should have stopped it. At that point she decided that seeing my parents/family was a low priority, but I couldn’t understand why – as what she witnessed was normal, wasn’t it…

I feel quite uneasy writing this.

Few week ago I posted a quote, which was something like ‘I’m not afraid of death, but I’m scared of living’ hmmm, illness and death are not a competition. I have some ‘things’ bothering me, yes as I get older I remember more – stuff. In the mid 70’s my right hand got pulled into rollers at Dockmill Wool Scouring. Thankfully ‘dad’ was there to hit the stop button, if not, I would have gone into the machine. Why the fuck he took me there ffs.

The next one is being knocked off my bicycle in 1999 at the main Guiseley roundabout. I was on my way to work at AETC LTD in Yeadon, I had a job application in my bag, so – as a cyclist’ do. I shouted – screamed, the driver (woman from Otley) pulled over and we exchanged details. Folks at the bus stop witnessed it, but I didn’t take their details.

So, I rode on the backroads, handed in my job application, went to do my usual job and then the shock? caught up. It was a late shift 14:00 – 22:00.

I phoned my ex wife to please come and pick me up (it was a year before I passed my driving test), she couldn’t or couldn’t be arsed, but our sons were only of five and three, so that I have never held against her. Being of a cyclist’ I did ride home, battered bike, fucked body but I rode home, nice sympathy – not, anyways.

It went to court and I won – got a family holiday to Formentera. These days it would be a massive payout. Right, when knocked off my bicycle I remembered a vehicle going straight for my head, it stopped, that was harder than being knocked off.

For various reasons I know why these are bothering me, I have many other troubling events.

Illness and death is not a competition – it happens.

Oh, I got that job I applied for at AETC. Production Supervisor, but my position seemed mainly to do with improvements, which led on to a job I loved in Burnley. Then again, life fucks up.

Mind, some great folks were there.

Still is.

Hope that clears up something?

1983.

Jeez…

Now please leave me alone.

So, after spending a couple of relaxing days I return home to be accused of various writing on notices!

‘In the beginning’ a washer broke down with a full load inside. When the new washer arrived a payment of £5 each was gifted to the two delivery men to take the washer out into the bike shed, empty it, and then the clothes could be saved. At a cost of £5 the washer had been arranged for collection by the council, but they could only collect it on the 15th March 2016, so, the washer was left in the bike shed so the regular scrap metal drivers could pick it up.

Within a couple of days someone had moved the washer inside the waste shed, this is out of view for collection, so, after that a letter was sent to all 36 ‘flats’ someone kindly put the washer outside, it was finally removed a week before the council could collect it. That should have been the last of it, hmmm… Read on.

Prison ‘officers’ eh!