The pub has changed, especially in the cities. Some might say everything changes, but the pub can be a good indicator to see how our relationship with each other in society has altered. In the last few years there has been complete change in the place of the pub, in its meaning and its function. It has nothing to do with superficial changes brought about by fashion, such as furniture design, shapes of glasses, types of drinks and the clothes people wear. A seventeen year old girl or boy on their way to see David Bowie in 1972, wearing crushed velvet flares, could have stopped off in a pub for a pint of lager and lime and were standing in a place of history where they were taking their place among others, some of whom would have fought in the First World War, many in the Second World War. They would converse, maybe not sharing the same immediate interests, but all the same, there would be conversations involving beliefs and sharing one's values and gaining insights into the lives of other people. Yet, the pub had brought them together, and had been doing so for a few hundred years, and those seventeen year olds could well have taken their own children in that same pub for a drink many years later. This inter-mixing of generations and different types had a democracy all of its own, a place away from the confines of ordered society. It was a place where people met their future partners, although sometimes a place of violence and criminal trading, but also a place for celebration, merriment and to remember a departed friend. It was a space to be alone, to take the newspaper or a book and sit by oneself; it was a place of solace. Landlords and landladies had their own distinctive character and this situation had existed for a few hundred years, but that has now changed.

The corporation has entered the high street and also inside the lives of people. The pub is now mostly food orientated, theme based and designed to bring in consumers, get them to spend and get them out the door to get other consumers in. A common sight now is to see a person entering a pub, taking out their ear pieces, check about themselves, see a group of people they had arranged to meet, join them, have a burger and beer that is out of the price range of many, and flick a card or phone at a device that will suck money from that person's bank account. The props and prices are aimed at a qualified class, the man with the evening paper standing alone at the bar has vanished, after a few hundred years, he has gone and with it the mixing and acceptance and learning about other people. The Corporate Self is the name of the pub near me, it's selective and it isn't democratic as it symbolises a society with marked divisions.

 Because of the way publishers are nowadays I'm thinking of self publishing - -  I have written a novel called A Comic Breakdown - what do people think of self publishing?  Here's the synopsis:

James Carolan used to be a stand up comedian but suffered a nervous breakdown after years of estrangement from society. His obsessive thoughts about the state and its control over members of society grew to an extent that his confused reasoning led him to believe that all areas of life were directed by the state, and that the state was using him, in his role as a stand up comedian, to propagate propaganda. Being at odds with others in the field of entertainment he hoped to gain greater insights into the mechanism of state control by working in an area of society that has been affected by conflict in an absolute way.

The character becomes increasingly socially alienated as he recedes further from everyday thoughts and pursuits. He journeys inwardly for safety and introspection, but the concerns that haunt him manifest deep distrust and suspicion of everything and anybody around him to a degree where his paranoia renders him detached and dysfunctional in the society he once had such an observant and sharp critical eye upon. How much of James Carolan’s experience is imaginary is impossible to tell. He believes that it is in the realm of the imagination that the state is intent to manipulate for purposes of maintaining control and they will use all measures at their disposal to do so.

Fulham in a European cup final - when they got to Wembley in 1975 I said to myself, 'anything is possible,' and it changed my approach to all things - but now...
I'm going - I have a ticket and will be travelling on the coach from Craven Cottage on Tuesday 11th May - I just wish my poor old dad was here - he would have said , as he always did when Fulham won (which wasn't very often for years), 'did you hear the score Pete? Fulham have goner mad.' - and he was right.

And talking of 'mad,' the election stuff is filling the tele screen - but what is this that has suddenly overshadowed it all? - politics - people really getting involved in politics - in Athens that is - real passion by people who are saying what we know, 'we are run by thieves' - and the tepid mid-manager Berkshire Hunts bleat, drone and bullshit thier way to a status that gives them massive perks, a lot of money and the chance to steal without having to go to court if caught in the act - mind, I will be voting, for what its worth - the first time for years - there's passion for you.

Book launch for my novel Malayn Swing

Wednesday 24th June 2009 at 6.30 pm
Edgar Wallace Public House, 40 Essex Street
London, WC2R 3JE
(Nearest tube - Temple)

Fooligan's out

Just a few words to say that my book An Unlikely Fooligan is out - if one is interested in finding out more he or she can read a sample from the book on this website - I was addding up my wealth and projected earnings, and if it continues as it has done, and I consolidate all my assets, I would say that in about ten years I would be able to buy a pushbike pump.

Johny Brown - just about the coolest guy in town!

The final blog of the year – not that I regularly write on the website, but here we go. Everybody, or nearly everybody who writes knows how hard it is to get published and find an agent, so I’ve been lucky in having a book published, God’s Lonely men, and another coming out very soon, An Unlikely Fooligan – and hopefully in a few months a work of fiction, Malayan Swing. I was also fortunate enough to be asked by Johny Brown to be a guest on his show, Resonance Radio FM 104; it went out on Friday the 19th of December between 11.30 to 1.30 am.
It was a good evening, Johny organised it so that some of my work was read out by an actress, Tilly and an actor Ben, and the engineer, John, asked me questions about my work and ideas that I have – Inga and Johny, as did everyone else, made me feel at home and relaxed – it was an enjoyable time, no doubt I spoke some nonsense, but it struck me that I hardly ever look at the work I’ve written with anyone, and hearing it read out was interesting for me – so, it was a top night with some good people – check him out, Johny Brown, a chap who remembers his punk background, has good ideas and means well – if there was more of them about 2009 would be a better time for us all boys and girls – Happy Christmas and have a good New Year.

So long Tough Alberto

I don’t add much to the website, which I should do, but here’s an update anyway.
My book God’s lonely Men came out last December and although not being featured in the mainstream media coverage, except for an interview with Dotun Adebayo on Radio Five Live, I have been lucky in having the support that I have. I’ve received quite a few e-mails from people telling me how much they enjoyed the book, people who mostly saw The Lurkers back when Fred, Barney and Deano were in the neighbourhood. I’d like to say thanks very much for your interest and support. I’m going to the punk festival in August with copies of my book and will be on a stall with Arturo.
I have another book coming out with the same publisher called An Unlikely Fooligan. It’s an observation of Japan made during my trips to Japan in 2002 and 2003. I have another book, a novel called Malayan Swing being published by London Books in a few months. I wrote the book in 1993 and 1994, I’ve tightened it up but the story has remained the same.
It’s been a year of massive contrasts for me, what with having my book recently published and my other books soon to be published, and my father dying in March. My dad was a sensitive man, and like me he was a bit of a storyteller. He was short in height and came from a large family in an area where poverty was the norm and one had to fight for what one wanted, and then still in his teens being sent to war. I have learned that whilst my father didn’t ingrain in me the skills and ways to be crafty and compete, or have material possessions and money, he instilled far more, and that was his humility; this was done by showing understanding to people who are weak and different and his kindness towards animals.
When I was a child he would tell me tales of a character called Tough Alberto, who would wreak revenge on those who were bullies. Tough Alberto was six feet tall and always dressed in black, he would appear on the scene when an act of brutish and cowardly behaviour was taking place and the bully would be put to right with superior fighting skills.
My dad’s name was Albert, his favourite actor was Douglas Fairbanks and he loved films, especially westerns with Gary Cooper and Burt Lancaster in them – they were always dressed in black; I didn’t piece it together until only a few years ago.
So I take care of my mum now – it’s what Tough Alberto would have liked to do.