The rain bounced off the car, then came the hailstones and yes; I realised how much I hadn’t missed Bradford. I was just a kid of barely 18 when I boarded a one way flight from Leeds/Bradford Airport to Jersey, that was 44 years ago. Apart from a brief day visit I’ve never been back; until Thursday.
Now I’ve deceived you, you’re thinking, ‘Ooh it’s great, just look at that architecture!’ Assurance is possibly required here? I decided to miss out the betting shops, the charity shops, the fast food shops and of course the One Pound and Less Shop. The Princess had never been in a One Pound and Less Shop! This is because we live in Beverley which is Posh, subsequently, we only have a Pound Shop. I showed the Princess the pub where I vomited on the Juke Box at 16 years-old and was thrown out. The infamous Red Light District on Lumb Lane. The place where I fought Billy Ashall and the school I went to aged 11-13. It was at this school that I was bullied; then I learnt to fight, pre-Billy Ashall of course. Ahh, Drummond Road Boys School.
My book opens with a scene in that playground, I’ll say n’more, so as t’not spoil it f’thee. OMG see, even my accent has reverted, anyways I think the Princess enjoyed herself, although that may be a little presumptuous. We then headed out for Chellow Dene which is a local beauty spot. As a child I loved this place more than school, possibly a little too much more than school, if you know what I mean.
Deep in the bottom of the photo on the right is Devil’s Cave, overgrown to a degree now. This is probably due to the fact that we as kids were always down there hunting the Devil or messing around on the top. Whereas today the kids are probably sat in front of an X-Box fighting monsters in caves. Oh well at least their mothers won’t be worried that they’ll fall the forty odd feet to their death, I guess. So. should you go back? In my case yes because this was research, my entire novel is set around Bradford in 1974, so it was good to get a feel of the place. The Princess gave invaluable support and after getting soaked for the umpteenth time asked me two questions.
” When you publish this book will there be a sequel?”
“Yes,” say I,
“Well do you think you could set it somewhere bloody warmer!?”
Have you ever gone back?
Ah Bradford, the place of my birth. The big house up the end of the road belonged to the Morrisons who had a stall on Bradford market at the time. I wonder if they have been back to Yew Tree Avenue? I haven’t.
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Haha, I worked for Bill (as we called him😉) at Westgate and Girlington. I noticed the Westgate shop has gone now. You must have left Bradford quite young then?
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Left aged six, Charlie. Have no accent.
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Great write up. Why is the city so empty?
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Thank you, I was just lucky to get a shot in between pedestrians 😀
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hahahahaha yes set it some where warmer.. Love it.. 😉
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Lovely shots (from a Yank). Love the cobblestone streets. We don’t have enough of those here.
Returning to past haunts can be rough or rewarding.
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Thank you and yes they can, generally I’m not a fan of going back
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Yes, yes, yes, Charlie; I’ve ‘gone back’ and ‘gone back’ and ‘gone back’. Does it help? I believe all the ‘going back’ has helped me to put things into perspective. Seems our perspective can be so coloured by the emotions of the time. Going back has ironed out a lot of those ‘wavy lines’….
But then, we are all different. One man trash is another man’s ……….. as they say!
When are we going to be able to read this novel of yours, Charlie? 🙂
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As you say whatever works for the individual. I think places are okay, not people though. I wouldn’t want to meet some of my past acquaintances lol. I go back to places in my head, quite often in dreams which is strange Aha, the book, well I’ve cut hours at work simply to finish editing it, I’m hoping for August but that’ll depend on how good a job I make of editing it 😂
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Eeeek… Charlie, I should have been clearer!
Like you, I wouldn’t want to meet some of my past …………. Rather, I meant.
I have been back to past homes; areas in which I’ve lived, places that had become a part of my life, etc. Besides looking so much smaller than I remember; the events that have taken place; the individuals who still haunted my thoughts, etc., were reconciled to a degree by facing them in that manner.
But, no no no – I have not journeyed back to past individuals. Though, there is one I wouldn’t mind meeting up with again.
Oh, such a sweet man was he… 😉 😉
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Haha, yes I know what you mean about distance, I always told an ex girlfriend that the lane I walked down from the farm was about 2 miles, when we visited it was more like quarter of a mile. Oh I think I would be happy to meet some old ladies 😂😂 but is your sweet man still the same age in your mind 😉
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but is your sweet man still the same age in your mind 😉
Oh Charlie, your sensible response just ruined my imaginings!!! 😉 😉
xoxoxo
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😂😂😘
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Nice!! 🌷
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I can be, it depends on the black dog 🥴
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😂😂😂
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Un saluto ❤
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Thank you Simona 😉
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Cool pictures! It’s always so interesting to return to somewhere out of the past. Especially from 44 years ago. Wow! Thank you for sharing!
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Thank you it’s always an unknown, venturing into the past 😀
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Love it! Thanks Charlie. Take care and thank you for following.
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And thank you for being there; as they say 😉
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I like the princess already 😂😂😂
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And when I read to her, she likes you 😀
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🤩
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