View From a Shop Doorway

July 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Well woss fink ? . . . Affrika needs yer money. . deym aw starvin. . . . das cos dey feevin gits in guverment over dere stashes aw da money in swiss banks. . meeself I reccon dey wus bet’er off wen we ad da Empire an da King rooled um aw . . .

Dey up Glastonbre Festivul got washed out agen. . daft sods. . youd a fawt deyd uv lernt by now ! . . ar anty Lils bloke aways ses. . . if da cows is lying down . . it’s gonna bleedin rain ! . . . . lyin down ! . . . lyin down ! . . . LYIN DOWN ! . . . . DEY COULDN’T EEVIN GET UM TA CUM OUT UV DA BLEEDIN COW SHED ! . . LET ALONE GO AN AV A LIE DOWN ! . .

Me bruvver went. . . ‘ee cum back wiv mud feever an ee wer wearin’ sum awd ladies pyjamas ! . . DON’T AST I ! . . . . Ee ‘ates me ya no ! . . Wen we wus kids ‘ee yoosed ta put gert spiders an’ grantfers in me wellies. . . . I see Poor old Tim ‘Enman went an got blowd away agen up Wimbledon . . . an dat new Scotch git nerly stuffed da Argy. . .

Wot wiv Global Warmin’. . . Identity Cards. . . Speed Camras. . . an da Cowncil Tax rises next yer. . I’n finkin uv emmegratin’ ! . . . By da time we as ta pay fer da Channel Tunnel. . den dat gert Jumbo Plane . . den da 2012 ‘limpics an nen twenty billion quid fer Identity Cards ! . . . Dees might as well give up now an go an live in Ouwter Mongolia. . . . Diss beggin’ lark aint no good no more niver. . . most uv dey goin by is werss off dan I now ! . . . in fact I giv diss ‘legal immigrunt kiddo a quid ta go an buy a street map so’s ee could find is way ta da social offices ! . . Ah I nos . . . . too kind ‘arted by aff das me !

Any’ow iss startin’ ta bleedin’ rain agen. . . I’n off !

View from a Shop Doorway

June 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Well cookoos changes dere tune in da middaw uv bleedin June. . . . Dey on telly changes it a week after da bleedin ‘lection. . . . no more boom an’ bust. . evryfings rosy. . but now da troof is out.. . ‘Prudence’ Brown aint so prudent affter aw !. . . . Dey french gits uv tawd Yorup ta shuv it. . . so now dey ownt let us vote ! . I reccon dey ought ta string da buggers up like dey did in da French Revalooshun. . Corse deys started agen already ant dey. . . makin excuses an’ sayin’ dey wot voted ‘no’ didn’t understand an’ it wer only dey wot voted ‘yes’ oo nos wot good fer da rest uv us. . . .You couldn’t make it up ! . If dey carries on treetin’ us aw like weem aw stupid. . deres gonna be reel trubble you wait an see. . Ar anty Lils bloke reccons peeples just abowt ad enuff uv dat brussels lot. . iss like da IRA. . DEYS BIN RUMBLED. .

Me bruvver’s bin tryin’ ta get a job settin up camps fer travlers. . I tawd un before. . dey aint bleedin’ travellers. . deym ‘STAY STILLS’. . deym like plants in flowerpots. . . DEY NEEDS SUMMUT UNDER UM. . er dey makes a bloody mess fer sum bugger else ta clear up. . . Ee ‘ates me ya no. . . wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta make I hold ‘is Gob Stopper while he went ta da toilet. . . DON’T AST I ! . . I never fownd out WHY niver ! . . still I ‘ad un in da end dint I . . . I’d let da neybers dog lick it. . .

Tory party’s gettin a new leader dey reccon. . can’t see da point meeself. . . Ar muvver ull never vote for um oo ever dey ‘as. . . she jest wants some uvver stupiud pratt ta keep er in ciggies an pay er rent. . das why I’n out yer in aw wevvers innit ! . . Ar anty lils bloke reccons deyll vote fer a monkey until dey runs out uv credit cards. . ee ses da Tories ownt get back in ’till it’s time ta clear up aw da bleedin mess agen. . .

Any ‘ow I’n finkin uv takin’ a cut in me money un getin’ a job! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Ah well, das enuff uv aw dat. . . I fawt abowt it agen dint I. . . See ya. .

View from a Shop Doorway

May 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Well sod it. . . I ain’t votin’ now ! . . . I wer gonna vote fer da Ravin’ Looney Partee. . BUT GUESS WOT ? . . . Dere gonna bring in a

99 pee Coin ! . . Uv you ever ‘erd anyfing so bloody daft ?

. . . Wot bloody good’s dat ta I ! . . No bugger ul av no change will dey ! . . By da way . . . Don’t ferget ! . . . . A vote fer da LIB-DEMS ull let da laber partee in by da back door. . . er is it da Tories ?. . . I dunno ! . . deym aw da same ta I . . Cept da TORIES own’t let dey French Gits rool us. . . Ar anty Lil awways voted fer MAGGIE ! . . Till dey Yorup gits nifed ‘er.

Any ow, . I’ll cum back after May da fiff I fink and see if Tony conned evry bugger agen.

Well dass it Tony uv ad ‘is corns cut. We just as ta ‘ope Gordy don’t make da cuntry go bankrupt.

Yer woss a ‘Lib-Dem’ then?. . Iss a Ego wiv a Superiority Complex.

View from a Shop Doorway

April 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Stroof It’s blinkin April ! . . Ar muvvers been washin aw da finger marks off ‘er lace curtins. . Aw da politishuns er lyin like dere’s no tamorra. . An Gordin is ‘opin da voters ant realised eev bin steelin from um fer yers. . Jerry adams is abowt ta get a shamrock stuck in is lyin teeth cos George Dubya uv tawd un “eever disband yer privut army er I’n gonna turn you inta a unuck.” . . Wot ee meens is, if da moufy git dont stop tawkin double speek an lyin like ees Tony Blare. . . ees gonna turn they women loose on un wiv a carvin nife. . . Dat ul be a good days work.

Sure enuff deym findin dat dey wot smokes pot is aw goin off dere bleedin eds. Corse aw dey labor luvvies is blamin it aw on David Blunkett cos dey don’t wont un back. . . Gordy uv convinced aff da world dat we can aw get rich by borrerin money an bilding owses an rentin’ um aw out. . . Wot ee ant tawd um is dat in da end dere ownt be no bugger left ta pay um any rent.

Da tories uv ad ta sack sum git fer moufin off. You’d fink dey ad a deff wish sum of um. Still by da time da pensioners uv voted, an aw dey wots pissed off abowt dey Irish travlers wot don’t pay no tax, an nen buys a bleedin field an’ sets up ‘ome, . . Tony might be wishin ‘is bleedin nose ant grown sa long. . . Did you know dere’s only four million uv dey in aw Ireland. I don’t no why dey don’t bleedin stay dere. . . Nowhere ta go feevin I spose.

Dey keeps tellin aw we global warmin is comin, an so we can’t drive ar bleedin’ cars. . Nen da first sunny weekend deym aw off flyin round da world ! One rool fer aw dey an anuvver fer us. Do as I say not as I do.

Yer I erd dat coffi annan bloke av been avin trubble wiv is spratt. . . As soon as deres any freebies goin thyem aw at it noses in da troff. . . I still wonts ta no ware aw da money went wot we sent out fer dey soonami victims. . . evry time you switches on da tele deres still undreds uv da poor sods livin under a plank a wood. Criky, dey should awl av a bleedin mobile ‘ome by now !

Big bruvver is stickin is bleedin cameras evry where you looks. . Dey ownt be appy til weem aw tagged like sheep. . . You’ll av ta put yer ‘and up wen you wonts ta go ta da toilet soon I spec, . . jest like wen we wus ut scaw !

Jamie Oliver is tellin’ Tony wot da kids uv aways nown, . . scawl dinners is crap. . . oo scrapped damestic siance any ‘ow ! . . Well we tawd um . . . Grange ‘ill wer da start uv it. . . an now we got a nation uv degeneruts growin’ up. . oo da ell’s gonna look after aw we wen weem awd. . Gawd only knows.

Any ‘ow I’ll get back yer later wen Tony have annownced da ‘lection.

Well is aw appenin now. . . but av you noticed no buggers tawkin abowt Yorup ! . Nor nuffin abowt da Clarks workers oos lost der jobs . . nor dey 6000 Rover workers.

View from a Shop Doorway

March 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Ow do. . Well deys aw started slaggin eech uvver off agen . . but Tony reccons ee avn’t decided on May da 5th. yet. . trubble is sum one fergot ta tell un ! . . . Cos Alister Av ! . . No mor tally ‘o ‘untin niver . . aw dey vishous crimnals ad ta be stopped . . an Tony dun it . . no messin !. . . . muggers, drug adics, car feeves, berglers, rapists, an aw da werlds scroungers wot cums yer . . . . deym aw laffin’ ! . . . . but not dey cuntry people wot fed us aw during da war. . . eev stuffed aw dey buggers ! . . . but av ee ? . weel aw av ta wait un see I reccon !

Ken Livinstun ave bin insulting aw da jews. Ees anuvver prat wot finks ees Gods gift. . . I don’t no wot aw dese lefty fanatics uv bin takin, but if sumwun don’t urry up un break a few legs, an stick um back in dere boxes, da silent majority ul av ta stick wun on un permnunt. . . Ever since Tony started walkin on water, . . . well you nose wot I meems, . . . weev ad da IRA finkin dey wos aw licenced ta do wotever dey blinkin likes. . . . includin robbin banks an steelin ar muney ta boost dere penshun funds. . . Dat bearded Git Gerry’atric keeps pretendin wees aw ert is feelings cos we don’t trust un. . . Well we don’t do we ? . . I oudn’t trust un wiv is grannys peshun book !

Da limpics 2012. . . Das da next big crony pay day. . oops, nope, I’n rong dere. . It’s a day we must aw look forward to an watch in amazment as we aw pays fer dey lundun gits ta aw av wunderful fussilitees(stadiums an swimin bavs an aw dat) wen we can’t eeven av da baff spa dun proper !

Ol Charlee boy an Cumilla er gonna tie da knot ut last. . . .only now theym goin down da registry office, cos if dey as it ut Windser, deyll av ta let aw da scrotes frum gawd nos ware do it dere an aw. Queen wernt to appy abowt it. . an oo can blame er! . Ut leest she ownt av ta worry abowt Charlee gettin ‘free squares’ a day no more. . You no ! . . proper food an dat ! . ut leest Cumilla ull now ‘ow ta make a bacon but’y not like da udder wun.

Yer! dass aw rite wot ol Michaw ‘Oward goona do if ee wins. . . Give aw da penshuners ‘alf price cowntsal tax ! . . Iss lucky I don’t pay nun. . . Ar mum do I fink. . well I spose she do any’ow. . . maybe she don’t ! . . Now me bruvvers left ome she aint got ‘is money eevin. . . Ee ates me ya no! . . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta nick money out ar mums purse ta buy stink bombs ta take ta scaw. . . da teechers ud aways blame I ! . . den deyed tell ar mum an I’d ged it wen I got ‘ome! . . An ee still wonts ta get on da cowncil ! . . da git.

Da Popes poorly. . I aint religus, but dey dat is er upset. . . strikes me if dey made religon illegaw deyed stop aff da bleedin trubble in da werld. . . deres aways sum git oo finks is god is bet’er dun sum uvver gits god. . Iss like Arsunall an Manunited wiv guns. . .deym aw a load a nut’ers !

Rugby’s up da creek an aw. . Wees bin stuffed by aw of um lately. . I shoont fancy diss lot’s chances against da Daggenham Gerls Quire(see you dint fink I cud spell it). . mine you a cupple a times we wus playing da ref an aw I reccon ! . . . Well iss bleedin cawd agen out yer smornin. . . if diss is da best global warmin can do I’n finkin abowt emigratin. I fink I’ll ast da bosses wife if she wants her front doin’. . might evin get a cuppa tee annaw.

“Errol ! . . have you finished out there, or are you just wasting time gossiping ? . If you want a cup of tea you had better hurry up. . I won’t keep telling you !”. . oops . . I bet’er go an get a brush.

View from a Shop Doorway

February 2005

Copyright 2005 by Charles Henry

Funny wedder ain’t it. . .Cawd, den windy, den wet. . . Dey poor sods up norff got drowned out din um. Corse it’s climit change ain’t it. . . I tawd ar anty lils bloke, ‘is van wer smokin like it wer a steem train, an if ee din’t ged it fixed it ould cawse problims ! . . . ‘ee don’t care. . . ‘ee reccons ee don’t fly nowhere, so ees owed a bit a pullushun. . . mine you, . ‘ee reccons it ownt mat’er a diddly sqwot wot we meesly 60 million doos. . . wen billions uv dey up china ull soon be livin’ it up like deres no tamorra. . . . Wos fink uv dat gert Yorup plane anyow ? . If dat bugger cums down over Lundon, . er anywers else fer dat mat’er. . . it’ll make a bloody mess I tell ee. . . . Same awd fing doe ain’t it. . Dey silly sods up Yorup jest wonts ta get wun over on dey yanks. . Meeself I reccon it’ll be like Concordski er da Baff Spa. . . Deyll go on spedin’ millions uv ar dosh. . aw jest ta prove deym bigger pratts dan we ferst fawt !

Gorge Dubya got castrated fer anuvver fore yers dint ee. . . Yer dat wer a bit drastic wernt it ?. . . I dint fink ee wer a Romun Cafflick ? . . . . blinkin eck! . . . see wot deyll aw do fer power ! . . Fer five minits dey aw stops slaggin un off but it’ll soon start agen. . . . Illery an Bill went along fer a few free beers deym planning ta av a second go, . . but meeself I fancies dat nice Congaleeta Rice (Dr. Condoleezza Rice). . . ders no flies on Georgy Boy deese no ! . . . shame abowt ‘is operation mine you. . .

Yer dist see dat scoch git wots in charge uv aw dey libdems ? . . . ‘is misse’s expecting a litlun. . . You’d fink it wer ‘ee avin’ it. . not ‘er ! . . . Tawk abowt michelin man ! . . Still ee finks wer aw gonna make ee pryminister. . sum ope. . . ‘Ees gettin mor like Humpty Dumpty. . . Id ravver av Bat Man. . .Wot we reely needs is da Terminater. . . Sumwun like ol Ray Mallin, ol zero tolerince is self. . . dese scrotes ‘as ta no deym gonna get sorted. . Dey as ta be more scared uv da law dan we is a dey. .

Wos fink uv aw dat ‘olacost stuff an’aw dat den ? . . dust no I never new ‘aff a dat. . . no bugger tawd I nuffink abowt aw dey merdrin gits wiv itler an aw dat wen I wer ut scaw ! . .an aw dey gas chambers an aw dat ! . . an aw dese bleedin’ librals still gets dere nikkers in twist over dat git Sadam ! . . . . aw dey wonts is a pleece state over yer wiv camras evry wer ! . . tawk abowt big bruvvers wachin you. . . das like wot it must uv bin like wiv Itler an aw ‘is bleedin SS gits. . . do uz yoom tawd er yoom ded meat me sunner! . . Me bruvver wer like dat wiv I wen we wus kids. . . ee ates me ya no ! . . I cawt un meazerin da milkmans toolbox on ‘is milkflowt wunce, ta see if ee could fit I in it. . . . I tel wot ! you don’t no nuffink !

Well any’ow I’n finkin a takin up golf er criket ! . . . yeh I am ! . . . I needs ta meet a bet’er class a peeple, er I’ll still be sat yer wen I’n awd. I wunder if dey allows dogs ? . Yer dus reccon we can stuff dey ozzi scrotes now an get back aw da bleedin sinders, er da ashes, er wot ever dey caws um ?

“Errol if you’ve got nothing to do, come and help me clear all this rubbish.” God, she’s off agen. I’d bedder go.

View from a Shop Doorway

January 2005

Copyright by Charles Henry

Criky ! . . Crismus soon went din it ! . . ‘Appy nu yer ! . Goes dam quick don’t it ! . I dint get nuffink werf avin any ow. Me bruvver giv I a pair a lilac socks ar anty Lil giv un lass yer ! . . da tite git. . . An I reccon eed wored um ! . Still I ad un diss yer dint I. I giv ee a Pirut DVD uv ‘Luv Aw arownd’, I got down da market. . . Dredful it wer ! . . Sownd wernt no good an it ad flashes an big bloches wer aw da good bits wus. . Ee still ‘ates me ya no . .Wen we wus kids ee tawd aw da gerls I wer infecshus wiv warts cos I kep frogs ! . An I only ad a few bleedin tadpaws dint I ! . . dass aw !

Dat ‘feed da werld‘ song wer No. 1 fer Crismus. Twernt no good, da first un wer bet’er. Diss lot aw sownded like a load a asbins I fawt. BBC’s goin frum bad ta werse. Now deys evin lost da Cricket ta SKY. Wot we aw gonna wach now ? . A load a repeets uv David Jasins ‘Darlin buds uv May’ an never endin’ ‘match a da bleedin day’. No fank you, I’d ravver watch a icicle melt.

Ol Blunkett went. I tawd ee so, an da ‘owse markit’s startin’ ta wobble. . . Bosses wife reccons dey ad a lousey Crismus trade annaw. Werser dan wen dey ad dat las reseshun. She still tells I ya no ! I fink she wonted sum udvice frum a cunsoomer. I tawd er, ar anty Lils bloke reccons intrest rates er cumin down again now, an ee awt ta no. Ees a consoomer. Ee consoomes ‘leest eight pints evry Saterday nite !

Dat tidal wave wer a bad job wernit. Makes ee glad deec lives sumwer like England don’t it. Trubble is tovver alf da werlds population ul wan an cum an liv yer now. . . I dunno abowt no tidal wave ! . .but we shull blinkin sink if we as ta av no mor yer ! . . My bruvver reccons it’ll appen over yer if wun uv dey big lumps a rock er metorites crashes inta da ‘lantic oeshun . . . . Joo reccon ees mad ? . . I reccon ees a bleedin loonatic !

Guvermunts beginnin ta panic abowt da huntin ban now. Da lection aint far off. Dey wonts ta make crimnals uv af da popalashun ! . . Deym aw mentaw ! . .Un av you notissed, dey aw keeps dere mouves shut abowt Yorup! Deym not sayin nuffink abowd it, nun of um, cos dey nos weel aw tel um ta shuv it wer da monkey shuvs ‘is nuts. Wot wiv dat an aw dese travlers givin two fingers ta da planners, an den bildin’ undreds a camps every ware. . . . Peeple ownt pay dere taxes. . un oo cun blame um ? . . . I ‘ouldn’t eever !

Mr ‘owards gonna scrap capitaw ganes tax ee reccons, but I’n mor wurrid abowt ow much ar anty Lil ull leev I wen she kicks it. . . . Er if da sods ull take it aw like dey do wen yoom livin’. (so dey tells I). . I wer ‘opin ta get ‘er gardin shed !

I wer finkin uv moovin on diss yer, trubble is, nun uv me frends ull no wer I’n too! . . I wus opin ta get da job as da doorman if dey opens it up us a ‘otel er a club. I yoosed ta elp me bruvver wen we wus da bowncers down da church ‘all on bingo nites. Sum a dey awder gits cant ‘alf cut up ruff sum nites ! No wurry, . . I kin look after meeself. . . Me an Clint Eestwood uv got alot in common ya no.

“Errol, you’ve been here over an hour. I told you before, either do something useful or clear off!”. . Ay ay, yep shees off agen, I’d bedder go!

View from a Shop Doorway

December 2004

Copyright by Charles Henry

Ello evrybody, I spose dees fawt I’d died. . . No no nuffink so drastic. I lost me job dint I. Trade wernt much cop wot wiv dese new warden gits wot gets more wen dey makes dere quota. . . . Boss is gonna turn it inta a knockin shop er a greek cafe I fink. I still cums round yer fer a hour er two mose days. She don’t mind, I fink she’s still in luv wiv I, an’ so she uses me presance yer as a insentive fer er old man. You no, it makes un jellus!

Crismuss is nerly yer agen. It don’t ardly seem long since las yer. Can’t beleeve it ! Nuffink don’t reely change do it. . . ‘Olly, missaltoe, . . . tryin’ ta remember oo dees fergot ta send a card to las yer. Gettin’ da beer in is da bes bit. . . An I did fink abowt doin a bit uv carol singin’ agen, . . cept last time I tried it, I wer ‘af way frew ‘Wile sheperds wach dere flocks by nite, an’ some rotten git opened a upstairs window, chucked a bucket a wat’er over I, an tawd I ta bugger off ! Dat wernt very nice wer it!, . . speshly ut Crismus!

Yer its bin a queer time up Westminster lately an it. Da war’s bin goin badly fer Tony, da daft buggers dint make no plans fer after did dey. Mine you dere’s no ‘elpin sum peeple is dere. Dey dint find no WMD’s but dat don’t meen ee dint send um owt ta Iran do it. Any ow it’s to late now. I still can’t see ‘ow dey’d a dun it on der own, no ‘ow. Ar Anty Lil’s bloke reccons in a few yers time wen it aw settaws down, peeple a reelise twer da only way dey wus ever gonna get rid uv dat basket Sadam.

Yer wos fink abowt dey ID cards den ?. . .I aint ‘avin no bugger findin out my bruvvers a ‘alfwit or day’ll fink I’n wun annaw ! I can’t ‘elp it if ar muvvers first bloke buggered off afor dey ad I. . . Jest us well reely or I’d a bin us daft us ee ! . . . . Ee ‘ates me ya no. Wen we wus kids an we ad crackers. Ee used ta grab a bigger ‘andful wen we pulled ars. . nen wot ever dropped out on da floor eed av ferst pick, er eed tell ar muvver mine dint av nuffink! . . I must a lost ‘undreds ! . . . Wistles, dices, I even lost a plastic bike one yer! . . . . Wiv deese ID’S you ownt no oo da ell is checkin up on you. Could be da KGB wantin a forin body fer brain sergery er summat! . . . ‘Ows a blinking ID card gonna stop sum bugger robin’ a bank er blowin’ up parlament ? Wot dey gonna do ? . . fone da pleece an say “I’n gonna rob a bank tamorra,. . . joo wanna cum an see me Identaty Card? ” Anyow I reccon ol’ Blunkett ull be down da road any day. Ee even recconed Michael ‘Oward wer a bet’er ‘ome secretree dan ol Jacky Boy, da man a straw. Bit stupid biting da and wot feeds ee, speshly wen you can’t see wots on yer plate. . . Ee turned out ta be a bit uv a dark ‘orse dint ee! . . ah well see, sum uv us a jest god it ant we!

Well I’n off down da farmers market I fink, dey’ll probly give I a few ‘seconds’ an nen tell I ta get on up da road. Dey don’t like no travlers ‘anging rownd to long, not dey. I’n ‘opin I cun find summut cheep fer me bruvver fer Crismus, a pigs trot’er er summut. Das da only trubble, I shull av ta see ee on Crismus day I spec.

“Errol, either do something useful or clear off!”. . Yep I’d bet’er go.

View from a Shop Doorway

February 2003

Copyright by Charles Henry

It’s a bit late I nos, but ‘appy Nu Yer awl on you out dere in Bristaws West End. . . An’ you wot don’t live yer, Fink yer selves lucky da bleedin council don’t ‘ate you like dey do we! . . Wevvers bin a bit funny aint it, . . first it wer damm cawd, den it wer wet and windy, den mild, . . and den bleedin cawd agen! . . global warmin I spose. . . Yer , it’s lucky I left scawl yers ago aint it, . . . or I’d a bin reely fick like me bruvver . . . Bristaw leads da world yet agen. It yoosed ta be slavery, now it’s ‘Bunkin’ Off ‘. . . Yep! . .Da kids is bunkin’ off Scool an’ da Council Workers is bunkin’ off on Sick Leave.

George Dubya’s got Tony right wer ee wants un, runnin’ round sayin’, “Yes Massa, ‘ould you like I ta lick tother un now”. . . I feels sorry for un reely, . . . Da Tories er givin ‘im ‘ell over Asylum Seekers an ‘is own lot er givin im ‘ell over da Firemen an’ sendin’ are boys ta War. . . . Ar Anty Lils bloke reccons dey’ll av ta sort Saddam out now so’s ees out da bleedin way if Norf Korea starts playin’ up later on.

No more Boom an Bust Gordon sed. . . but unless I’n Elvis Presleys love child, da stockmarkets bin givin’ a very good impression uv a Bungy Jumper oo mesured is rope wrong. . . Da way it’s goin’ aw are pensions is up da bleedin’ creek an weel aw be workin till weem pushin up daisys. . . Corse cept aw dey bleedin bunkin off Council workers.

Wot abowt dat poor littaw Victoria wot got done in by er Anty un Uncle. Aw dey social workers wot should uv saved er pleads dey wus aw over worked, . . So wot do dey do ? . . dey promotes um an’ gives um aw a bleedin pay rise. .You coun’t make it up !

Me bruvvers got a job wiv da ‘ighways awfority. . NO, NO, Ee wern’t in charge uv da gritting Lorries wen dey weren’t ready after being given a weeks notice dat snow an ice wer on da way! . . . Dey needed sum wun ta count cars usein’ da bus lanes. . . Ee turned up fer da interview wearin’ ‘is teashirt wiv tyre tracks up da back. . .Wen ee tawd um ‘ow a bloke drivin’ a Jeep wiv Bull Bars mistook un for a speed bump.(corse they don’t slow down fer speed bumps do um) dey tawd un ta start on Monday. . Ee ‘ates me ya know. . . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta use me toof brush ta clean ‘is Action Man. . Ee wanted a Barbie Doll reely. . . I even ad ta stop im puttin Jeffrey in a kilt ! (Ee aways cawd ‘im Jeffrey) . . An’ ee still wants ta be a Scowt Master ! . . Last time I saw ‘im ee wer still trying ta learn da ‘Moonwalk’. . .Ee finks Whacko Jacko is misunderstood . . .Ee finks everywun should have a friend ta go ta bed with, . . speshly at night !

Yer, tawkin abowt moonwalks . Dat wer a bad job wan’it, aw dey Astranauts. . . poor sods. . . Still dey reccons dere ull be loads more quein’ up ta go next time. . Seems like wot evers out dere, sumwun ull make sure we finds it. . Wot’s it dey caws it ?. .da last Fronteer. . . Dey should send Two Jags an Ken Livinston. . . Dey could bring us back a few Tardis. .Dat would sure solve da travel problems, . . . specially if dey never cum back !

Dey Frenchies invited Mcawber er Mugabe wot ever dey caws un, over fer tea and biscuits. . . Our wonderful ‘Yoropean Neighbours’, cosying up ta dat racist git. . . . Oo needs enemies wen wees got friends like aw dey. . .We an da Yanks saves um frum da German Jackboots, an’ first chance dey get dey stuffs us. . . . Any ‘ow it don’t matter no more. Gordon reccons we don’t need industry, we can aw live just by flyin round da world going on ‘oliday an livin on ar credit cards. Everyfing ull be aw right as long as we aw keeps spendin.

Yep! I’ll see ya aw in da bankrupcy court. I’n off on ‘oliday.

“Errol ! . . . Get in here” ! . . .Well praps later.

View from a Shop Doorway

Nov/Dec 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Well you can tell it’s nerly Crismus, Da guvernment uv offered da pensioners £1.75 a week rise. . . Yep dey’ll aw be abbaw ta celebrate by stickin pins in Effigies of Two Jags, Four ‘Owses Prescott as dey clubs together ta buy a Pigs Trotter fer Crismus Dinner. . . . Funny aint it ! . . . . Lib Dems recconed a penny on incum tax wer gonna change evryfink. . Only fing Labour taxes uv changed is the Guvernments Lifestyle. . . Come back Maggie. . Aw is fergivin !

Firemen fawt we wus stupid an aw ! . . 40% rise fer a part time job wot Big Girls can do ! . . Ar Anty Lils bloke applied, but dey tawd un if ee werked nites eed av ta learn ow ta cook breakfast. . . Ee said wot ! . . Cookin’, . . . No Way. . . Let aw dey Big Girls do it ! . .Corse ar anty Lil ‘s wurrid she ownt be able ta get nun uv um ta fix da shed door now. . . . She’d give um a few quid an dey’d come round an’ fix any a dey fings ‘er bloke oudn’t do. . . Well I spose she wer only givin um money !

Guvernments gonna make Buggery wiv 16yer awds Legal and Huntin wiv Dogs Illegal. . .Dat means it’l be safer bein’ a pervert on Clapham Common dan a Fox Hunter on Mendip!, . . an’ on Saturday Nights aw blokes is gonna ave ta ave written consent before dey chances dere luck. . . .Written Consent ! . . . . ‘Alf the buggers can’t even ‘old a pencil let alone write ! . . Can you imagine it! . . She ses, “Do you reely luv me”, an by da time you finds yer pencil da bus uv come !

Me bruvver went ta Silverstone back in da summer ta watch Schumaccer. . . Ee jest stayed by the Pit Lane wiv his new Speed Gun. . . Aw dey up dere fought ee wer practicing ta be a Liberal Demacrat Cowncil Snooper ! . I sed. . Ee don’t need ta practice. . Eev been snoopin’ ever since ar Ediff ast un if ee wonted ‘is penny back ! . . Ee ‘ates me more dan dey bleedin Germans ya know. . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta cownt how many times I pulled da flush. . . . Eed tell ar mum I’d bin wastin’ water ! . . Now you nos. . . It’s peeple like ee wot don’t never pull da flush proply. . . . da git. . . an ee still wants ta get on da council !

Miss world is bein slagged off by dey ‘Lets Pretend We Women Don’t Need aw we Smelly Men Brigade’. . . . Adam un Eve ud uv ad ta av Immaculut Concepshun if dey lot ud bin arownd. . . . Ol’ Eevee ‘ouldn’t uv needed a Fig Leaf, . . she’d a needed a Bleedin Shed Door. . . . It’s time aw we men tawed um once an fer aw, . . if we wonts ta bleedin oggle, . . . weel bleedin oggle !. . . . Corse aw dey wots got a figger like a 1975 Austin Allegro gets TNT don’t um, an’ it puts um right off livin’ down’t it.

Any ow enuff garbage, . . Wot abowt aw dey poor bleedin soldiers wots avin ta fight fires cos dey bleedin’ firemens too bleedin idaw. . . . Fancy bein’stuck out in Bosnia er Afganistan er wherever, an’ hopin ta get ‘ome an’ see yer wife and kids fer Crismas, an den dat lefty prat caws aw dey out on strike. . . . It aint never right !. . . Prime Minister uv tawed um aw ee ownt pay um no more unless dey do’s proper hours, . . an’ are Anty Lil’s bloke reccons dis time ee meens it. . . . Eee reccons Maggie ould uv sorted it, no messin’, an if Blair don’t ees finished.

Tawkin abowt TNT and Shed Doors, I wonder if the bosses wife uv finished peelin’ me grapes.

“Errol Get in Here”. . . . Yep, she ‘av.

View from a Shop Doorway

October 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Well did da Erf move fer you ? . . . dey in Manchesters just ‘ad 17. . .’Owse a Commons must uv ‘ad a couple wiv ol Edwina, an’ da BBC uv rely bin rockin an’ rollin wot wiv dat ‘andsome git an’ Ulrika. . . . I’n lucky if I gets da bosses wife ta give I a ginger biscuit wiv me cuppa tea ! . . . Tony’s runnin out uv peeple ta sack cos theym aw resignin’ before Paxman gets a chance ta blame it on da Tories on Newsnite. . . An’ now da ghost uv Arfer Skargill uv reappeared in da form uv a ‘Green Goddess’.

Deys caught dat git in America wot wer shootin evrybody but they still don’t know wevver ta give Saddam a seein’ to. . Now dat Bali’s been blowd up aw da luvvies er avin’ a wobbly. . Dey in Russia wus avin trubble wiv dey Chechins an’ aw, . . but Mr Putin soon saw ta they . . Seems George Dubya wus right an da war is reely startin, cept evry time ee tries ta sort it out wiv da UN they bleedin Frenchys stirs it up.

Me Bruvvers bin cawt stealing, da theevin git. . .Well twernt reely steelin’, but ee took a elluv time takin’ back is library books. . . . Wot ever ee wanted a book on Nature Study er Naturism wot ever it’s cawd I’ll never no. . Ee ‘ates me ya know. . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta make I carry ‘is books an satchel ‘ome frum scool so’s ee could ang arownd wiv ar Ediff an ‘er friend Jubbly. . . . Dey aw cawd er Lubbly Jubbly cos she wer big fer er age an she ‘ad ballet lessons. . . An’ ee still wants ta get on the cowncil, even now !

Looks like Gordys gonna ‘ave ta put taxes up again, . . wot wiv da chief constable earning £130 grand an da firemen wantin £30 grand. . . Aw dey bleedin greedy Old Age Pensioners an dey greedy shop workers ull av ta take a pay cut. An dey bleedin greedy students ull av ta get bigger overdraughts an aw ! . . An wot abowt dey poor Supply Teechers now. . . ‘Ow er they gonna manage on jest £250 a day ! . . . Still by the time ol’ Charles Wotsit the new Education Secretary av finished installin all the cleaners as classroom helpers, we ownt need any a they any ow! . . Thas wer a good move I reccon !

Ar Anty Lils bloke uv put his dogs kennel on the market fer 10 Grand. . . Eev put it out the back lane by the playin’ field so it’s got plenty uv land wiv it. . . Ee reccons if it ud ad a ‘hon sweet’ instead uv jest the garden tap eed a got loads more ! . . Ees finkin’ uv floggin his Green’owse next, cept he waitin to see if da garden shed ull count as Granny Annex.

Princess Wonderful’s butler wer devastated wen ee fownd out da dress eed bin wearin’ belonged ta da cook’s granny, not da wun ee worshipped. . . Ee fawt it wer unusual to av aw dose bones in ‘er corsets, an ee never could quite understand why she needed size 18 vests an pockets in da knickers, an ee only put er Platinum ring in ‘is cutlery drawer sos ee could see if silver dip would bring the colour back.

Tony Blackburn uv found ‘is rightful place at last. . . . Ee wus da winner uv da television show ta find out if dere reely are any people more stupid dan dey wots on Big Bruvver. . . .Yep yor right ! . . Big Bruvver wus jest the tip uv da Iceburg an now dere’s a big search on to see if dere ar any intelligent people left anywhere at aw!. . . . It av now become crystal clear ow New Labor managed to win a second term. . . Dere is a rumour dat a man has been seen in Whitehall an around da Houses of Parliament, whispering in da ear of anyone who looks remotely intelligent. (Well dey think he’s whispering but dey can hardly hear) an asking dem if deyll vote for un wen ee finds ‘is party. . . Unfortunately ee’s finding most of da intelligent wuns is over 50 an only ‘ad 6 ‘O’ Levels. Aw da uvvers left school wen dey wus 15 an took early retirement wen dey became millionaires under Fatcher.

Any ow since deys found out dat most of da ‘A’ level examiners is Disleptic. . Next year dey’m turnin Cotham Grammer School into a University and getin’ Radio Bristaw to award degrees to aw dey wot reads da Guardian and phones John Turner’s morning show.

” Errol ! . . Errol ! . . Get in here and finish the dishes now !”

View from a Shop Doorway

September 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Wots fink gonna ‘appen now den ? . Aw da luvvies wanna let Saddam just faff around. . Ar Anty Lil reccons as soon as George Dubya gets close ta finding da bombs an dat wot ees reely makin, eel just start playing up again ! . . . . Give da basket a inch an eel take ten miles. . .Tony uv bin fiddlin the figures agen like ee wer Jeffrey Archer’s accountant, (alegidly). . . First it wer street crime, den burglary, den ow many coppers we got, . . . an now da git is tryin ta make out sum uv dey wots reely clever an goes ta posh schools, is aw fick ! . . . jest so ee don’t av ta admit ees bin makin out weem aw getting clevererer. . . if you nose wot I meens.

Dey marchers up Lundon uv give un a wake up I reccon. . . Say wot you like, . . dat wer a elluv a lot a peeple wot turned out. . . Dey wus aw peacable anaw, . . fer now dat is, but if ol Blair keeps on stickin it to um, sum a dey ull tern nasty I reccon. . .Wot I wonts ta know is ow dey makes out deym not being cruel ta rats wen dey slowly poisons um, but deym bein’ cruel ta foxes wen da dogs get um. . . I wunder wot aw dey ded chickens un lambs fawt abowt it ?. . . I bet dey fawt it wer a right ol laugh, ey, don’t you ? . . ol foxy loxy chewin on dere wind pipes.

My bruvver yoosed ta ride a ‘orse. . . Yeh ee did! . . Wen we wer kids ee yoosed ta ride ar Ediffs Rockin’ ‘orse! . . . Yeh ee did ! . . reely! . . . . da big girls blouse ! . . . It wer ar Ediffs pride and joy, . but ee yoosed ta push er off just sos ee could pretend ee wer da Lone Ranger. . Ee ‘ates me ya no!. . Ee yoosed ta make I be Tonto. . . I’d av ta keep running around da room hidin’ behind chairs wiv me pea shooter shouting “Hi Ho Silver Aweee ey! “. . . . . Ee wanted ta be Runnin’ Bare an’ aw sum days, but ar Anty Lil soon put a stop ta dat.. . . . da perv. . . An’ ee wonts ta get on da cowncil !

‘Ows yer pension den ? . . . stockmarkets still in free fall . . . Pleece ull aw get deres, . . Tony an ‘is lot ull aw get deres, an a wage rise, . . an I spec aw da rest uv dey white’aw lot up Lundun ull get deres. . an’ dey aw got da bleeden cheek ta complain cos da farmers moans about getting’ less fer milk dan da supermarkets charges fer bleeden wat’er. . . . I’ve decided best fing fer I ta do is ta eever find sum rich widow woman an marry ‘er, . . er find a childless couple an get meself adopted !. . . . I can’t make up me mind wevver ta try fer a couple uv teechers say, oo wants a normal ‘elfy wun ta put frew college, er see if I can get wun like da bosses wife who wants I ta do a bit uv evening work. . . Me bruvver reccons I’n far too old now an’ if I aint careful aw I’ll get is a couple oo wants a free trial an a money back guarantee if I’n not ‘owse trained. . . Ee reccons I’ll have more chance if I has me navel pierced an lerns ta cook !

Diss Indian summer uv bin a bit uv a treat aint it. . . . Dey still caws it global warmin’ but we’ll av t see I reccon. . . It’ll soon start rainin’ and blowin’ a gale, . . an if we get wun uv dey cawd winters like wot are Anty Lils bloke tawks abowt dey’ll soon change dere bleedin tune. . . I ‘erd da ‘ole in da ozone layer wer getting’ smaller again, an even sum uv dey icecaps wer freezin’ up wer dey aint froze before. . . . Seems like it aint changin’ it’s just movin’ arownd abit. . . . Ah well noone cares wot I finks no more anyow. . . . I fink I’ll ask bosses wife if she wonts some help wiv er casserole or da back yard doin’next.

You Never Know . . I as ta fink abowt me Pension now don’t I.

View from a Shop Doorway

August 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Dey ses it’s aw over. . Well it is now ! . . Da love affair wiv Tony Blair an da Unions I meens. . . . Nu laber’s in debt werse dun ar Anty Lil’s uncle Fred, . . Ees da git wot got caught nickin’ fings frew ‘is neybours loft. . . Since da stockmarket uv crashed deys begun ta reelize Gordon’s been nickin’ money out ar pension funds. So a nice retirement, playin’ Bingo on da Costa del Sol is right out da question now. . . Next fing we’ll av ta pay um evin more money jest so’s dey can get reelected. . Da first fing dey done wus fix up dere own pensions ! . . . . corse I fergot !. . . das da fird way ain’t it !

George Dubya wonts ta give Saddam Hussein a good goin’ over an get shot of un once and fer aw but aw da luvvies finks we should leave un be. . . Tonys afraid eel upset ‘is bosses in Yorup if ee ‘elps un. . . Ar Anty Lils bloke reccons if deyed gone on an sorted da git out last time we unt av aw diss bleedin’ trubble now.

Pleece uv shown umselves ta be a bigger load a wasters than aw da CSA’S missin’ favvers put ta gevver. . . . Dey little girls goes missin’, an a taxi driver reports a git in a Green Car swervin’ all over da road wiv kids init, an it takes um a bleedin week before dey starts lookin’ for un. . . . You only ‘as ta ‘onk yer bleedin ‘orn at a cyclist in Bristaw er wave yer pensawl at a traffic warden an they gets Elf an Safetee, Race Relations, a Tow Truck, an da Armed Response Team out wiv a Chieftun Tank out after ee ! . . Are anty Lil’s bloke reccons wen dey knows fer sure wot gits uv done for um, dey should string da bleeders up. . . . Corse dey ownt ! . . . . Aw dey bleedin’ ‘art Libraws ull start screamin’ ‘uman rights. . . . Ill give um ‘human bleedin’ rights. . . Give I da bleedin’ rope ! . . I’ll do it !

Now we got Global Wettin’, it’s like Global Warmin’ wiv clouds, . . . cept dey can’t quite make up dere minds why it’s awrite fer Planes ta burn millions a gallons a fuel an not pay tax, but it aint awrite fer are Anty Lil’s bloke ta bring is Armstrong Sidley Saphire (Oh aw rite then! . . ‘is Reliant Robin) in ta Bristaw. . . . da crouts uv ‘ad da worst rain since 1845 they reccon. . . . I wonder were dey found a git old enough ta remember that !? . . My bruvver reccons weel aw av ta ride are bikes an all av showers before we starts work, . . da perv. . . Ee ‘ates me ya know. . . . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta pinch are Ediffs’ baff towel so she’d av ta go an’ borrow ‘is wen we aw went swimmin’! . . Ee still finks she laffed at un cos ee ‘ad littaw feet.

I’n finkin’ uv doing Elvis impersanashuns ta boost me wages. . . Bosses wife reccons I looks like dat pop Idaw, Bone. . . I’ve never ‘erd of un meeself ! . . I sed to ‘er I fawt I got me looks from da rent man on me muvvers side. . . Ee wer a big Welsh git wot werked fer da council allotments committee till dey grabbed un fer rent collecting . . . Ee wore a cowboy ‘at , a yellow shirt, an winklepickers, . . . an ee ad long sideboards. . . She yoosed ta call un Daffodil . . . . I never did find out why !

Students ull be back raisin’ ‘ell again soon. . . . Still wiv a bit uv luck if da owse prices keeps risin’ dey ownt be able to afford ta live yer no more. . . . Corse wen deys starts towin’ away all derer bleedin’ cars up Kingsdown deyll have have a riot on their hands I spec. . . . Dey ownt do it down St Pauls ull they. . . . No corse dey ownt. . . .Some bugger ull shoot um das why. . . An who’d blame um.

Errol ! . . Errol ! . . If you don’t hurry up and get back in here with that brush, I’ll tell everyone why they nearly called you Crocus !

View from a Shop Doorway

July 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Stroof ! . . Footballs over fank god. . . swetted fer a bit, fawt Germany wer gonna win! . . me bruvvers started wearin’ a big girls blouse wiv a big red cross, front an’ back. . . Ee caws it is cyclin’ shirt but it aint . . . It’s a big girls blouse wiv a big red cross on it, . . . like wot ee is! . . . Aw dey luvvies finks if we starts wavin’ England’s flag weel aw give up on the Union Jack. . . Ee ates me ya know, Wen we wus kids an in da Scouts, eed shove me woggle right up tight round me neck! an nen eed practise tying knots on me neckerchief. . . . An ee wants ta get on da cowncil ! . . . Dey’ll love ee if ee do ! . . . Ee finks bikes ought ta be allowed ta go on da pavements da pratt. . . Ee wonts ta solve bed blockin’ by killin’ off aw da old biddies while deym out shoppin er walkin’ derer dogs!

Yer wern’t it Tony wot sed we aw ad ta go on da internet an get some uv dat Dot Com ! . ah well we don’t yer un sayin’ sorry he wer wrong. . . Ar anty Lils Bloke reccons aw dey wot bought sum uv ad a right stuffin’. . . Ee reccons Railtrack shares wer a bleedin’ steal compared ta aw they IT’s an’ Dot Coms. . . Ee aint alf glad ee gets ‘is invulid pension fer is bad back, . . ee reccon if it gets be’ter eel av ta see if dey’ll give un legal aid cos ee smoked woodbines in da sixties an fought dey wus good fer is sex life.

Two jag’s aint very ‘appy, . . . ‘is union uv stopped is freebys. . .Dey wonted un ta vote fer nationalising everyfink. . . but ee can’t do that now ! . . ees a reconditioned socialtist wiv loads a dosh and free er four ‘owses now! . . . Two Jags, . . No scruples, . . an a index linked pension! . . . ” Stuff aw you lot, . . I’n aw right Jack “.

M32’s gonna ‘ave bus lanes so’s da pleece ull be able ta stick it on more car drivers. . I spec deym so bored up dere Por’tis’ead Leisure Cen’ter dey as ta pop out fer a bit uv ferapy on the speed cameras. . . Corse it’s too dangerous fer da poor littaw luvs arrestin’ real villins now aint it, . . Elf an Safety ouldn’t like um gettin too stressed. . . Dat poor git wot shot da burgler as ta stay in prison cos dey can’t protect un, an da uvver fievin git wot done un is gonna get fifty fousand quid damages ! . . . you couldn’t make aw diss up! . . . meenwhile ‘spliffs’ rule up da pop festival as long as you pays yer protection money an’ no bugger catches you climbin’ over da bleedin fence. . . Eel be the next lefty git fer a Gong I spec. . . dat’ll be right, . . Lord Pot uv Glastonbury. . . Diss ‘furd way’ is reely wunderful don’t you fink ? . . . Legalise Cannibiss. . . give aw da kids free condoms, an’ nen let da queers adopt aw da mishaps. . . . .

Da Laber party keepin up da good work wiv sum good old fashioned bed ‘oppin’ keepin us aw amused. . . I don’t fink dey likes Big Bruvver on ‘channel swore’ getting aw the ‘edlines, . . an’ Red ‘Wots-is-name’ wants ta be allowed back in Labour party, . . . but I’n not sure Tony wonts un, . . . Eel make da rest of um look evin more dishonest dan dey aw do now !. . . . Ees reely convincing wen says “I wernt drunk, an’ I dint push dat git down no stairs, an’ I only hit un by mistake wen me girlfriend ducked”.

Diss Global warmin’s getting a bit out uv hand. . . If it carries on like diss weel aw av ta start burnin’ coal again or those daft buggers oo started plantin’ vinyards ull be takin’ us ta the Yoropean Court. . . . An’ if you wus plannin’ on a bit uv early retirement thees be’ter check the small print in yer contract cos da pension funds er all lookin a bit sick, . . . less a course yoom a copper or a MP. . . . In fact it might be a very good time becum a illegal immigrunt.

Errol !. . Errol ! . . Get in ‘ere now and close that door !

View from a Shop Doorway

May 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Ow do’ee fancy bein’ regionalised den ?. . . no no, not dat! . . I sed regionalised ! , I wernt tawkin abowt me bruvvers operation. . . . Ar anty Lils bloke reccons Tonys goin awl out ta get is place in ‘istory as ‘da git wot got us aw gelded’. . No no no, not wearin’ womens cloves ! . . It’s like avin a operation ta have yer brain replaced wiv a bit uv chewin gum, so wen some forin git says “jump”, you jumps, nods yer ‘ed an starts singin’,

“Auf vidazean pet. . . We aw luvs you,
We’ll keep werkin’ till we aw drops.
An’ even if you, . . don’t really ‘ave a clue,
We’ll still change aw ar Pounds inta Yoros.”. . .

Dey wus goin ta av um aw singin’ ‘We’ll Keep da Red Flag Flyin’ but Brussels tawd un it ud av ta be Multi Colored now, not Red . . corse Tony fought dat sounded stupid, an’ ee can’t stand deckchairs eversince one collapsed on un down Weston un nerly neutralised un den, . . . So ee changed it ! . . . .corse ‘eev aw ready ad it dun now !

Yer did ee know dey wot aint right wing extremists is in da minority now. . . Aw dey in ‘Olland is right wing extremist, . . cos aw dey voted fer the party uv dat queer git wot got murdered, Pim Fortyn. . . Aw dey in Ireland as voted fer Fina Foil, an’ now deym aw right wing extremists. . . Tony reccons aw da Tories is right wing extremists, . cept fer Ken Clarke. . . Lord David Owen, ees a right wing extremist, cos ee wants ta keep da Pound an’aw . . David Blunkett’s a right wing extremist cos ee sed weem getting swampted wiv ‘sylum seekers, . . an da Pleece er aw rightwing extremists cos dey don’t want ta legalise pot er av pretend pleecmen. . . Any bugger oo don’t wont da Yoro is a right wing extremist. . . Dat only leaves Mandy Meddlesum , da Dagenham Girls Choir an Mo Mowlum, but evin she finks Nu Labour is aw crooks so I suppose she must nerly be wun an’ aw now !

Me bruvvers tryin’ ta get a job ut wun of dese new country ‘oliday camps fer illegal immigrunts. Ee reccons da food ull be much better dan Butlins an eel be able ta practice ‘is French. . . stupid gitt. . . I tawd un ! . . Deym comin’ frum France an da french uv aw ready tawd um ow ta demand aw dere human rights in English. . . Ee ‘ates me ya know, wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta take aw da choclats out me Eester Egg. . I never knoo ‘ow ee dun it mine you, da slippery git. . . an ee wants ta get on da Cowncil ! . . . I tawd ar Anty Lil I were gonna ave a DNA test done on un ta make sure ee aint a misprint er some sort uv frow back. . .You never nos, . . we might be able ta get un depor’ted !

Railways is still in a bleedin mess. . Still can’t expect much more. . . Deym aw lyin gits. . . No bugger tells us da troof no more. . . Weel never know wevver some irriat vandal took da bleedin nuts off like dey Hunt Sabaters doos ta ‘orse box wheels , er wevver some pratt like me bruvver went on ‘oliday an’ dint tell no one ee ad’nt finished wot ee wer doing. . . meself I reccon dey’ll av ta start buildin’ more roads before we aw grinds to a bleedin ‘alt. . Dey spends ‘alf dere time tryin ta get us aw ta go on ‘oliday an da uvver ‘alf buggerin’ up da way we goes dere. . . Weel av ta get a Tardis each da way deym goin.

Yer !. . . I aint sexist, . . but now we got rid uv dat bearded git off da cowncil wees got aw dees bleedin women runnin’ rampant. . .Wots goin on I wonts ta know ? . . its no wunder aw dees kids is runnin riot. . . Instead of stayin’ ‘ome teechin da littaw bleeders ow ta be’ave, deym aw down da cowncil ‘owse, er up da pub ! . . Still wiv aw deese odd ‘couples being allowed ta adopt kids wevver deym marrid er not, dey’ll be bolishin proper marridge an aw soon, an nen you’ll just av ta order a Clone off da Internet. . . .

Yer would you Adam an Eve it, . . I jest ‘erd Mandy Meddlesum wants Tony ta give un Liars Buyers job !. . .

I can’t stop laughin’. . . I goin in afor she sacks I.

View from a Shop Doorway

April 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Yer diss is bet’er. . . Spring uv sprung, an’ I got me awd job back. . . Same as before, ‘cept I don’t get no sexual ‘arrisment no mor. . . Boss must uv got over ‘is bad back. . Still can’t ‘spect evryfing you wants can you. . It’s Yorup ain’ it. . . Dey lot spoils evryfing !

Queen muvver dying wer a bit sad wern it. . Ar anty Lil reccons dey’ll try an use it like a landmark ta bolish aw on um. . . Can’t see it meeself. . . Why do um get so upset abowt dey blue bloods. Deym bin brought up ta make sure no bugger takes us over an terns us inta an ‘oliday camp fer rich Germans an Frogs. . . an aw da time weem payin dey footballin’ gits millions ta prance around kickin footballs. . An wot abowt dey gits wot makes millions out uv you buggers pension funds on da stockmarket. . . . Ar Anty Lils bloke reccons if you ad a pyramid scam goin’ on like dat down yor way, dey’d lock ee up an frow away da key. . . ‘member dat git up da road wot ad dat telephone scam goin’ ? . dey soon sorted ee out din’ um!

My bruvvers taken up ‘ang glidin’ . . . well eev bought a kite any’ow. . I reccon if ee takes it down Weston an ties it to ‘is ‘andlebars, wiv a bit a luck eel get stuck in da mud if da tides out ! . . Ee ‘ates me ya know!. . .wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta make I be ‘is ‘orse wen we played cowboys. . . no! no! . . ee dint get on me back ! . . Eed get the dogs lead an’ ‘itch I up to ‘is trolley an’ we’d be Wells Fargo.. . some days the bugger ould make I run rite round are estate free or four times collecting stuff. . . . Wot the ‘ell “Rag ‘an Bone” ‘ad ta do wiv Dale Robertson I’ll never know ! . . an’ ee wonts ta get on the cowncil !

‘Owse prices is still goin’ up dey reccon. . . .but is dey ? . . Dey reccon you lot er spendin’ millions on yer credit cards an’ aw the shops is boomin’ , . . but no buggers round yer is dancin fer joy. . . Boss reccons dey wots got it er keepin it in dere pockets an’ dey wot ant is spendin’ plastic like it’s goin out a fashion ! . . . . . .an now Gordy uv been an stitched up you lot wiv a gert tax ‘ike. . . . Corse ee reccons it’s ta save da ‘elf service but it ownt make no diffrence, . . . Dey lot couldn’t organise a breakout frum a open jail!. Givin dey money is like givin a shoplifter a overdraft. . . . ee ownt stop theevin !. . . eel jest be able ta go theevin ut a bet’er class a shop.

Wots reccon abowt changin da name uv da Colston Awl then . . . dey pratts down the cowncil finks ole Mr.Colston wer doin’ a few dodgy deals arrangin’ a bit uv iffy immigration wiv a few inlaws uv da local African chiefs. . . . . Ah well in them days I spec they probly fought it wer like National Service. . . . You no, a couple a yers down da coal mines in exchange fer a free trip ta Yorup. . . Summat like that, . . any ow it wer a long time ago now wern it ! . . . .We wus probly ‘angin apple steelers wiv da ‘orse theeves in they days. . . We never ‘ad no women telling us ow to live decent an ‘onerable lives in dey days eever did us. We wus still makin’ um aw do as dey wus bleedin tawd, . . . not like now! .. . . Deym aw lippier dan Clint Eastwood’s Arrangatang(monkey).

Dey lefties in Yorup uv managed ta stir up trubble fer George Dubya. . . Dey jest couldn’t stand it wen aw dey yanks was supportin’ un in is fight against terror so deys stirred up aw dis Anti-Semmelism. . . Cept if dey aint very careful dat Le Penn geezer ull be getting aw da votes in France. Dat’ll reely stir fings up. . . Bowt time too I reccon. . . Aw deese luvvies uv buggered up evryfing. . . Even sum poor old lady aint safe going down the road ta get ‘er fish supper. I reccon dey should bring back bleedin ‘anging. . . Summats got ta change.

“Errol. . . Errol. . . Get in here” . . . . . . God she’s off again. I’d bet’er go. !

View from a Shop Doorway

March 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Ow do all. . . I’ll be glad wen da bleedin wevver gets bet’er. . Summat aint right you know. Dey keeps on tellin us evryfings wunderful, ‘cept evry day we yers sum poor bugger’s losing dere jobs cos some firm sumwhere is closin’ down. Seems like dey finks if dey tells us everyfing in da gardens rosy aw you pratts ull believe it. . . . Maybe deym right ?. . Corse Tony don’t know wots goin’ on cos ee ain’t never yer. . . Aw da coppers went ta Lundon ta let da guvernment no dey wont ‘appy abowt losin’ dere overtime an us avin pretend-pleecmen instead of real uns, still I spose das da way iss goin’ and most of um ull be on sick leave an early retirement anyway.

Teechers er da next lot goin’ on strike. . . Funny aint it. . dey spends yers and yers goin ta college, preaching free love, ban da bomb, equaw rights fer lesbians, no smackin’ yer kids, aw smokin’ pot, an aw fings libraw wot messes up evryone, an nen wen evryfing goes pearshaped deym aw moanin’! . . Trubble is dey finks bein’ on ‘oliday ‘alf da time an still bein’ payed is normaw. . . . Dey aint noticed dat dey wots earns da money an pays da taxes as ta werk aw hours, aw yer, till dey drops.

Wot abowt Africa ? . . . . seems like Mr.Gawby er wot ever ees cawed av managed ta stitch up da lections. . Corse anyone who says anyfink abowt un ull be cawed a racist. . . Ar anty Lil reccons if a few more like Mr. Mandella don’t come out and say ees a crook and ‘elp chuck un out peeple ull fink theym aw crooks an no bugger ull trust any of um. . . . Dat’ll set fings back yers !

Did you watch POP Idaw ? . . no, nor I. . . My bruvver reccons ee turned out ta be a woofter. . I said to un, so what !. . we as ta listen to un singin’, not sleep wid un. . . Ee ‘ates me ya know. . Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta lock I out da baffroom. . . Ar muvver yoosed ta make I share a baff wiv un ta save ‘ot wa’ter. . . Corse wile she wer dere ee wer aw sweetness an light, but wen she popped downstairs eed blow bubbles an’ do fings to I wiv da back scrubber we cant even tawk about ! . . Corse I dint know wot everyfing wer for den ! . . I reccon eve still got a rubber duck ee plays wiv now ! . . an ee wonts ta get on the cowncil !

Looks like dey mad buggers down da cowncil owse er gonna make aw you lot flog yer cars an ride bikes. deym gonna look a bit stupid wen dere aint no shops left cept dey sellin curry an a few lap dancing clubs. . .Dey seems ta fink da world ull keep goin if weem aw workin fer social sevices an da NHS. Better still dey finks dey can aw take early retirement an some uvver bugger ull still keep puttin a cheque in dere bank account an pay dere penshuns.

Any ow we aint erd nuffink frum Mr.Byers. . Ar anty Lils bloke reccons deym gonna give ‘is job ta Mandy Meddlesum in da next reshuffle. . . . Mandys avin more cumbacks dan da the Beverley Sisters cept wiv dey you gets free(Three). . . Mine you I spec Mandy ull bring is friend. Da papers ull av loads a fun avin ee back, mine you dey might send un straight ta Yorup sos ee can get yoosed ta fiddlin’ Yoros wiv Neely Boy an ‘is misses .

Yer uv you erd dajudges wonts da pleece ta stop arrestin peeple cos da prisons is aw full up. . . Well dey ownt av ta wurry much longer cos deym gonna make crime legil an give out free drugs wiv da condoms in da Schools. . . . At dis rate aw da villains ull be up da church asking fer fergiveness before dey signs on fer dere social security. . . an da sun ull be shining. . an da nightingales ull be singin’ in Berkley Square. . . An I’ll get a job working fer Microsoft. . . An ar Anty Lils bloke ull make a honest woman uv ar anty Lil. . . . . no, no, no. . . Das is a bit too far fetched !

I’n goin’ afore it starts Rainin’ Men , as da song goes, . . God Forbid.

View from a Shop Doorway

January 2002

Copyright by Charles Henry

Stroof ! ..diss bleedin’ New Yer is gallopin’ on agen. . . Railways is on strike, Roads is aw dug up, ‘Ospitaws is aw overcrowded, Violent Crime is ut record levels an’ Tonys off on anuvver uv ‘is bleedin ‘olidays. . . . Ee seems to av fergotten ee wer voted in ta look after ar anty Lil an’ er dodgy ‘ipp, not da Tootin’ Broadway Cultural Alliance of World Wide Whiskery Winos, Dope ‘Eds an Whicker Basket Makers. . . . Funny aint it, Teflon Tony ownt tell us abowt wevver ‘is spratt uv ‘ad MMR er not but ee don’t mind tellin da world abowt sum poor old codger wot pees ‘isself, if ee finks it’ll get un out uv da shit over ‘ospital treatments.

Mr Birt ‘wer drafted in ta sort out Stephen Byers cock ups. . . Funny ‘ow dese new Crony Lords cums in ‘andy wen dere’s a mess ta sort out. . .Twernt so long ago dey wus making out Ee wer makin’ a mess uv the BBC an’ now suddenly ees a bleedin expert on transport.

Well I tell ee wot! . . . a record number uv you buggers bawt a bleedin’ new car last yer! . . an yoom payin’ record ‘igh taxes fer da privlige. . . .Wot I wanna no is wen er dey gonna finnish building aw dey bypasses we wus promised an wen er dey gonna sack dey prats wot keeps orderin’ new traffic lights ?

Aw da luvvies is worrying abowt dey murderin’ gits wot blows up planes now dey’s caught sum uv dey wots bin fightin’ in Afghanistan. Ar muvver reccons dere’s millions a peeple wot ud luv free squares (three square meals) an’ a shower evry day. Deym aw pissed off cos da Yanks sorted out Afghanistan in double quick time. Dey aw ‘oped deyed be out dere fer yers an yers not gettin’ nowhere.

IDS av bin a bit uv a turn up. Eev give da guvernment a bit uv a scare. . . .Wen ee gets angry ee sticks it ta Tony no messin’ an Tony don’t like it do ee. . . Ees just like my bruvver. . .Wen ee yoosed ta get a dose uv aggro ‘isself eed go bleetin’ ta are muvver. . . Ee ates me ya know, . . wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta make I ‘old ‘is fishin rod for un wen we went fishin’ up the park. . . Ee yoosed read ‘is comic an I ad ta shout wen ee ‘ad a bite. . .One day ee fell asleep so I tied is line ta dis kiddos bike, an’ den I buggered off.! . . Next fing I erd un tryin ta untangle ‘is line from da playground roundabout.. Ar muvver went un giv un my spare reel den!. . . It twer werf it mind you , jest ta see un try an get da ‘ook out uv da park keepers trowsers wile ee wer cursin ‘un. . . an da git still wonts ta get on da cowncil !

Yer ! . . . wot joo reccon gonna ‘appen ta Two Jags ?. . . Sum seem ta fink deym gonna pension un off. . . Makes you laugh dun it ?. . . Ees anuvver git wot wer gonna save da workers frum exploitation an now ees like a pig ut da trough. . . . Den dere’s Neil an Glennice on da Brussells Gravy Train livin like millionaires an aw da rest uv da bleedin cabinet struttin rownd like cats wots got the cream. . . . an aw da time evryfings startin ta go pear shaped. . . . Ar anty Lils bloke reccons da biggest laugh is dey rail workers ! . . . Ol’ Stephen Byers pulls da bleedin plug an makes aw dere pensions and savings werfless den ee wunders why da buggers is on stike ! . . I means. . , I ‘ould be. . . . ‘ouldn’t you ?. . . Wot ‘appened ta aw dat ‘weem aw gonna be part uv it, an av shares init’, an aw that ! . . . I speck it’s gone same way as that baby wot got lost. . . . An you can be sure. . No bugger ull say sorry. . . No bugger ull own up an take the blame. . an no bugger ull get the sack. . . ..New Labour, new bleedin excuse. . . . Bring back Arfer Skargill I says. . . . . at least wiv ee you new labour wus workin fer us werkers, not like dis lot. Smilin’ at you wile dey puts up yer taxes an spends it aw on illegal immigrunts.

Any ‘ow I’n off ‘ome ta see if me ‘ospitaw appointment uv bin cancelled again, wot wiv diarrhea an aw that. . . . See ya.

View from a Shop Doorway

November 2001

copyright by Charles Henry

Yer . . . I’n confused.( it don’t take much) . . I don’t no wevver ta be ‘appy da IRA av poured cement down sum geezers outside privvy. . . . . be pleesed weem gonna give Bin Laden wot for. . . . Er sick as a pig cos it’ll be free yers befor ar anty Lils bloke can av a ‘ip replacement. . . Still wot ever dey says it’s a bleedin good day ta flog yer ‘owse before property prices collapses.

Government uv cloned sum more sheep. . . Twer aw rite till sum bugger tried ta castrate wun wiv a rubber ring like dey doos. . . .Deym still tryin ta get it’s ‘orns out uv da geesers backside. . . . an now deym makin’ out it dint start mooin’ till sum Tory git give it sum old animal feed wiv minced cow init !

Bristaws gonna go ahead an av Road Tolls. . . .Deym gonna charge everyone five quid to cum yer . . . sod dat I says, . . it aint good !. . . we might as well aw just cleer off now an go an live somewheres else.

Tony Martin av bin tawd ee aint a murderer. . . . Well, . . aw we new dat din us. . . .Wot I wonts ta know is wot good its doin’ lockin’ un up. . . Dey lets IRA murderers out uv Irish jails an den locks up dat poor sod fer defendin’ is ‘ome frum thieving gits in da middaw uv da bleedin night. . It strikes me me eev bin locked up cos ees a Tory farmer, . . not fer wot eev done!

Weem aw gonna be allowed ta grow pot now dey reccon. . . seems like deys decided dere aint enough coppers to stop us doin it any’ow. . . . I reccon weem aw gonna be allowed ta go shop liftin an aw soon then, cos dere aint no coppers on da streets ta stop dat eever. . . Still dey tells kids shopliftin aint really thievin any ow, so it ownt make much diffrence.

My bruvvers bin down da centre wiv is mates, dey wants ta stop da bombin’. Ee finks if you tawks ta bin Laden nicely eel say ees sorry. . . . Deym two uv a kind. . Ee ates me ya know! . . .Wen we wus kids ee yoosed ta put marmite in me orlicks an salt on me shredded wheat. Corse ar muvver never knew. . . She fawt ee wer luvly!. . . She still do!.
Weem gonna be allowed ta keep clippin’ kids yeroles an aw, . . not dat youd notice any bugger ‘ad bovered fer yers. . . Deym aw beatin’ up awd ladies now ta get money ta pay fer dere spliffs. . an teechers is aw stressed cos da buggers ownt do as dey’s tawd, an ownt lern nuffink no more. . .corse if you said ‘bend over, I’n gonna give you one’, dey’d fink you wus queer dese days!

Owse a Lords gonna be full a Tony’s Cronies now. Dere Lordships yoosed ta give government a kick up the ass wen dey needed it. . . Diss new lot ull jest be doin Blairs biddin’. An now wiv aw diss Labour sleaze catchin’ up wiv um. . .You can’t trust nun uv em! . . Dat lecturer git wot runs transport av bin caught lyin’ again. . . . I mean wot buggers gonna invest ‘is savin’s in anyfing if da bugger keeps pullin’ da plug. . . .We aw knows dey needs subsidies fer trains!. . . das why dey closed it aw down in da first place! . Ee lied ta dat BMW git, an now ee lied ta da regulator. Eel av ta go . . An dat Scottish git wer sublettin’ ‘is government offices makin’ a bit on the side wiv out tellin no one. Ee ‘ad ta go an aw!

Looks like IDS, . . you know, Smiffy, is getting’ da ‘ang uv ‘is new job leadin’ da Tories. Eev got a ‘ard job followin ‘Ague, cept Tonys tryin’ ta sneak Yorop on people again, Smiffy ownt put up wiv dat. . . . Ees a no nonsense bloke an won’t av no truck wiv Tony’s bullshit. . . Ees a plain speakin army man, an if Tony keeps up wiv ‘is double tawkin’ weazle words, Eel tell un!

‘Ague wer right I reccon. . . Tony ull probly wait fer summat ta appen like Sept 11th. An say ta Gordon ,” I reccon it’s a good day ta stick one on the ‘lecterate today. .We’ll bolish da pound tanite an tell um in da mornin’ .”. . You no, . . . . like pinchin bums wen deres a power cut!. .

‘ant you never done that then ? . . . I’n off afor I gets arrested.

View from a Shop Doorway

October 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

Dere’s a ‘ill wind’ ar anty Lil reccons. . . Ood a fought da whole world ud a bin standin’ shawder ta shawder wiv George Dubya, . . . ‘cept da Liberals dat is. . . Middaw East av cawd a truce an eevin da IRA’s gonna av ta change, cos da whole world is pissed off wiv terorists wot kills peeple. . . . . . Iain Duncan Smiff av cawd a truce wiv Tony fer the duration, an da Liberal Democrats er finking uv callin’ umselves da Awd Labour Tootin’Alliance Party. . . Dey reccon if Osama bin Laden ud bin given a passport an a seat in da ‘owse a Lords, ‘eed uv helped us get more Afghan nurses ta prop up the ‘Elf service by now. . . . An nen deyed uv only ad ta put tax up a ha’penny!

Mine’ you, . . . aw dey on dat ship in Australia wus Afgans want dey. . . . Looks like weem aw gonna av ta sort out dey murderin’ gits so aw dey asylum seekers can go back ‘ome a get a proper job. . . I mean, dey can’t aw live yer can um!

Tonys in ‘is ‘element. . . Ee sqints ‘is eyes an makes ‘is bottom lip tremble. . ‘ee lets evry one know ‘ee nos ‘ow ta say big words propley. . . but ol’ George Dubya nos eev got ta stick one on Bin Laden before ‘ee an ‘is mad mullahs nukes da lot uv us.

My bruvvers got ‘is bleedin gas mask out fer ridin’ ‘is bike, the pratt. . . . Ee finks eel av ta go on air raid duty. . I sed to un if any one sees you wearin’ dat dey’ll take yer picture an’ phone up da zoo. . Ee ‘ates me ya know. . . Wen we wus kids we yoosed ta av ta wear ar poppies ta Sunday scool . . . . corse ‘eed take is off once we wus out da ‘owse . . so da uvver kids ud beat the crap out uv mine! . . . Corse eed get ‘is out aw perfick once we got ‘ome, an’ ar mum ud clip I round da yerole. . . . An ee wants ta get on da cowncil !

Yer pensions er lookin’ a bit iffy an aw!. . . . Stock Market don’t look too elfy do it. . . Ar anty Lils bloke reccons it ull mean we’ll aw av ta work till weem reely awd. . . Corse dey wot runs it er aw rite aint dey. . . Dey makes money wot ever ‘appens. . .Deym like bookies. . ‘Eds dey wins an tails aw you lot loses. . meeself I shall av ta sell da big issue down the docks er summat. . . mine you I still aint given up on da idea a goin’ ta university. . . . .Dey students er a soft touch. . . sum uv um aint too bright you know. . .deym only dere cos no bugger ull give um a proper job an dere mums don’t want um ‘ome..

I ‘ope aw dis “let’s be pals and not rock the boat” don’t go on fer too long er we wont av a cuntry left worf sixpence. . . . Deym still tawkin rubbish about C.J.D. . . . . Deym still not happy now deys killed ‘alf are cows wiv foot an’ mouf. . . . . now dey wonts ta kill aw are bleedin sheep an aw !. . . . . Ood be a bleedin farmer ? . . . Are anty Lils bloke reccons if we av anuvver war we’ll aw starve. . an if we ‘ave a anuver recession it’ll be like livin in da fird world, cept if yoom a pleecman, a social worker, a mp er a ‘sylum seeker.

Wot about ID cards then. . . . Looks like weemn aw gonna av a computer chip stuck up are belly buttons, like wot dogs av intead uv goin in ta quarinteen. . . .You’ll go ‘beep’ when you goes frew customs, an if you don’t pay yer TV licence you’ll find as soon as you stop yer car anywhere in Bristaw, a traffic warden wiv new police powers ull stick you in leg irons an ‘av yer car towed away an put in da crusher. . . . Corse if yoom in da labour party it’ll play ‘ keep the red flag flying’ and debit yer bank account 10% of yer wages, an nen send you some new luminous bicycle clips.

“Errol!” . . crikes, she’s off. . . I’n off ‘ome before she finds out I aint legal.

View from a Shop Doorway

August 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

‘Ow do. . . well wot a summer!. . . . Foot an’ Mouf , Jeffrey Archer jailed fer pergery, da ‘Amiltons accused uv rape wen dey wernt evin dere . . . . . . evry wer you goes you got lyin gits lying about dere sex lives. . . . Wot did Clinton say, . . “I did not have sex wiv dat woman”, . . . My bruvvers anuvver. . . You as ta count yer fingers if you shakes ‘ands wiv ee. . . Lord Geoffreys stories wus so tall ee ad ta buy a skyscraper office block ta putt aw is money in. . . I wer just finkin fings couldnt get no worse, an now Is just ‘erd Ol Argy-Bargy erself , ar squeaky clean, trubble makin, manic warden basher, Jean Tidy up Clifton Village, is leevin us an going ta torment sum uvver buggers cowncillers. . . . . . .Wot are we gonna do now?. . . . Weel as ta advertize fer a replacement er da cowncil ull fink its Crismus.

Da Tory leadership bataw av been turnin’ a bit nasty. . . . Ar Anty Lil reccons if Ken Clarke wins she’ll be cancellin er membership. . . She reccons ever since dey ditched Maggie da Tories av bin messed up by they Euro Luvvies . . She reccons weem an Island so it don’t make no sense givin up are fishin an ar farmin, an nen opin we can live on sellin curried rice ta yoropean tourists an immigrants. . . Deys already started tryin ta put the boot inta Duncan-Smiff an I reccon eel av ta try an get a few workers on is side. I reccon eel av ta come up wiv a scheme fer more owses fer teechers an nurses in places like Lundun.

Dere ain’t much goin’ on dis time a yer. . . . Sum says it’s da silly season. . Owse prices in Bristaw is sky igh. . . . First time buyers don’t know wevver ta buy now er not. . . Sum peeple fink prices ull keep on goin up but are anty Lils bloke reccons wen prices is goin up they finks dey ownt stop just like wen theym goin down dey finks dey ownt stop. . . . Tony Blair finks ees King Kunoot. . . Ee finks if ee says we ain’t gonna av no more bust, it ownt appen. . . . Trubble is foot an mouf dint take no notice of un did it, so why do ee fink anyfing else ull take notice of un.

Ospitaws is as bad as ever. . Dat poor bloke died after bein on a trolley awday. . . ‘Elf service is safe in Tony’s ‘ands ee reccons. . Ah!. . safe as a EdgeOg on da M1. . . If you wants a pointment wiv yer docter dese days you as ta give un two mumffs notice, . . an nen wen you gets dere eel be on oliday an sum uvver geezer ull be dere oo don’t evin know if yoom left anded.. . . . Wot! . . I aint takin my trousers down fer no strangers!

My bruvver ad a close shave. . . Ee ates me ya know. . . . Wen we wus kids ee thought I were gonna get special treatment, cos are Docter gave are muvver a bottle of red pills fer er constipation. . . Corse ee fought dey wus sweets fer I sos ee goes and scoffs a load of um. . . Dat showed ee. . Ee dint cum out the toilet fer free days! . . Tawk abowt skid marks on the tail uv is shirt. . . Ee must a broken da world record.

If yoom a massekist yous bin watchin dey bleedin Ozzies stuff us in da cricket. . . Seems like deym aw weened on willow. . . . If you show um a red levver ball and dey got a bat in dere hand, dey finks it uv cum frum outer space and wack it back where it cum from. . . Only chance we got is if they Waugh bruvvers start takin bribes. . . Still I spose if you lives in a country wer aw da womens cawed Sheela, and deres nuffin else ta do ‘cept shoot crockadiles, er drink 4X , yoom bound ta get good at summat wooden.
( I opes they don’t know wer I lives)

I’n opin da bosses wife ull start trying ta ring I up at ‘ome tonight. . . . no, no, . no !. . not fer sex ! . . . Stress I means. . You know! . . sort of corperut naggin. . .das da latest scam, . . . you know, . . work shy uv the world unite, . . more maternal leeve, more bank olidays, . .

Oo needs O levels now any ‘ow ? I’n off !

View from a Shop Doorway

July 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

‘Ood be a leader uv a politcal party. . . . .You as ta be a massikist I reccon. . . . Da only wuns wots luvs you is yer muvver an yer publisher. . . . Aw da rest is stickin it to you, . . an even yer muvver ull be moanin’ if you gives yer wife more attention dan ‘er.

Wots gonna ‘appen now I wunders. . . Tonys got back in fer da duration an Gordy ull be spittin’ blood an pound coins. . . An now Mr. Portillo av gone frew da change a life ta try an be aw fings ta aw men. Women, yoovs , an’ illegal immigrunts uv any sexual persuasion. . . In fact any bugger as long as dey knows ‘ow ta put a cross on a ballot paper. . . . Ken Clarke av come out huffin an puffin’, (ees a bit over weight), like a spurned woman wots found out er replacement av bin dumped an aw. . . . . . . . . . . Trubble is ee still aint lernt ‘ow ta cook er wiggle if you sees wot I means.

Local elections wus rigged. . . Sum peeple went ta vote only to be tawd deyed already voted by post, an as usual da local press supported dey wots buggered up Britaw fer da last ferty yers. Now we’ll aw av ta wait till god knows wen before we gets any sense. Workin’ peeple ain’t reely got no bugger lookin out for um now. Tony only looks after aw is big bisness cronys now, an till old labour voters gives un a kick in da goolies eel jest keep ‘is eye on bein’ President.

Me bruvver av started ‘aving lessons in crisis management. . . Ee reccons dey’ll giv un a job in da ‘elf service. . . Ee ‘ates me ya no, wen we wus kids eed get are muvver ta let un take I wid un wen ee went bird nestin, . . . . Eed make I climb up ar anty Lils loft an get sparrows eggs. . . Ee wernt ‘appy wiv jest one. . . Eed make I put two in me mouf so’s I could climb back down. . . Nen eed shake da bleedin’ ladder. . . Nen I’d showt out “Ged off will you. . . ugh! “, speshly if dey wus addled . . . . An ee wonts ta get on da cowncil , da git.

Slobadob av ad is cumuppence an aw . . . Da yanks sed dey unt give da serbs nuffink unless dey turned da bugger over ta da werld court, da’ague er wot ever dey caws it. . . It looks like Mr Bush’s mate Colin Powell av got da measure uv ‘is job aw rite. . . . Wiv a bit a luck eel be avin ago at sum a dey uvver gits like Sadam an Castro an dat git in Rodeesha, Moogabee.

Norvern Irelands goin’ inta melt down. . . Da IRA ant given up no guns, an aint likely to. . . . I meen aw dat lot frum H block is out sunnin’ um selves on da Costa Brava, an dere leaders is aw on da guvernment gravy train, so wots da point!. . . . Down souf deys avin a boom wiv 6 Billion each yer uv are money frum Yorup. . . .Dey takes us all fer pratts, an dey ouldn’t be far wrong I reccon.

I’n depressed, even da bosses wife don’t wont sex no more, . . . not wiv I any’ow. . . . I used ta fink we ‘ad a special relationship but I fink it’s only wiv er sweepin’ brush now. . . I’n still only doin’ part time but either da boss uv ad a new lease a life, er da milkmans leevin er gold top now. . . I wer gonna see if I could get councilin’ so I rang da cowncil. . . Dey sent I form ta fill in.. .It said age if over 21 ? , I wrote, “not sure”, den it sed sex so I wrote, “Yes”. Den it says Nationality ? . . I fought sod dat, next fing they’ll wont ta know if I pulls da flush wiv me left ‘and an I’ll av ta pay cowncil tax, so I binned it.

Any ow if diss wevver keeps up dere’ll be a wa’ter shortage, so’s I’n goin round ar anty Lils ta water er garden, an wiv any luck she’ll give I feed a strawberries an are Ediff ull be sunbavin’.

I’ll av to remember not ta took too ‘appy. . . . See Ya.

View from a Shop Doorway

May 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

Can you beleeve it, . . weem gonna ave da ‘lection at last. . . I couldn’t a took no more mumffs uv ‘shall we shant we’. Tony uv been doin ‘is ‘Trust me I’m a Docter’ act. . . We aw nos ee an aw is cronies is lyin’ gits, but ee finks weem aw stoopid ! . . . An I spose if ee gets in agen, ‘alf uv you buggers must be !

Da troof is ‘alf da country uv bin buggered by foot an’ mouf, an da uver ‘alf don’t give a monkey, cos theym aw on da gravy train wiv are taxes. . .Yer! . . uv you tried drivin’ on any country lanes lately ?. . . . If you aint careful you loses yer wheels down some bleedin’ great pothole. You’d fink Tony ‘adn’t ‘erd a tarmac ! Ee seems ta fink as long as ee gives kids cumputers ta play pornography on da ‘superhighway’ it don’t ma’ter about da public ‘ighway.

I caught me bruvver tryin’ ta cadge a lift ta work wiv a bloke frum da tow truck firm. . . Corse they as free parkin’ don’t um. . . . Ee an ‘is lot tries ta get us ridin’ bikes an nen first time it rains, ees off cadging lifts!. . . Ee ‘ates me ya no. . Wen we wus kids ee yoost ta get are muvver ta let un stay ‘ome on ‘is berfday so’s ee could play wiv me train set. . . I’d get ‘ome an find eed turned me guards van inta a shelter fer ‘omeless gypos an aw me wheels ud be missin’! . . . . . . . An ee wants ta get on da council!

Da guvernment an da pleece reccons we aint got no crime, only da percepshun uv bleedin crime. . . . Funny aint it. . . . . We as ta barracade are ‘owses, stick bergler alarms on are cars, chain up are bikes ta lamp posts, an av aw they Big Bruvver Cameras in aw da shops an on streets. . . . . We catches da buggers an da judge sends um down, Nen six mumffs later Jack Straw lets da buggers owt agen. . . You couldn’t make aw diss up!

Tony’s tryin ta keepYorup off the election agenda. Ees ‘opin peeple ownt notice, an nen eel sneek it frew wen we aint lookin. . . . Ees still o’pen they’ll ask un ta be presidunt an weel aw av ta bow an scrape to un. . . . Trubble is more an more peeple across Yorup is wakin up ta aw da bleedin’ nonsense. . . . . . . Italy uv jest voted fer a man uv da peeple oo ownt av none uv dere messin wiv are liberty. . . Da Liberals uv lost da plot an aw. . . . .They finks weem aw stoopid an aw. . . . They wants more Tax, more Yorup, an more Big Bruvver, an wots more ol’ Kennedy aint even ‘ad a job sellin da Big Issue before ee cum a MP. . . Meself I reccon if they aw cleared off ‘ome da country uld get on an run itself.

Wot about ol ‘Two Jags’ givin dat farmer one, fer chuckin’ a egg at un. . . If da farmer ‘ad giv un a punch back, eed a been locked up fer life, like they wants ta do ta ole Ronny Biggs agen. Funny aint it. . . . If a copper fumps a bleedin lout. . . Dey locks up da copper. . . . If a teecher clips a kids yerole. Dey locks up da teecher. . . .If you fumps a burgler steelin yer valubles. Dey gives da burler legal aid and locks up you. But ole ‘Two Jags’ , ee does a ‘Enry Cooper an they makes a bleedin ‘ero of un. . . . . One law fer all they an’ sod da rest uv us.

Mine you Tony ownt go tawkin ta no strange women in da street no more. Ee don’t like finding out ow da rest uv us as ta live do ee. . . . Any ow, June da seventh an weel aw know wever we av ta leev da cuntry before Tony turns us over ta da Germuns er wevver it were aw a bad dream and da government have been fixin da ‘pinion polls ta get us ta vote fer um agen. . . . Yer ! . . . Tell I . . . . If da countries in such a wonderful state after four yers a Tonys Baloney . . . . . Why er we aw so pissed off ?

I’n off ‘ome ta ast are muvver.

View from a Shop Doorway

April 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

I’n a stutistic. . . I got me job back. . .well two ‘ours in da morin’ any ‘ow. . . . Minmum wage an’ no sex! . . .das wot dey calls Full Employment. . . . I’s employed an’ da guvernments full a sh. . .sh. . sh. . . oh I ant bet’ter say dat. . . Da ‘lections loomin’, an’ accordin’ ta Alister, Tonys gonna ‘ave anuvver landslide. . . . Gawd ‘elp Bristaw das wot I ses. . .Weem awready payin’ fer lesbian lessons down da cowncil ‘owse. . . If dey gets in agen dey’ll be ditchin’ clause 28 an’ be avin campin’ lessons on college green. . . . Boy scowts luvs goin’ campin’ don’t um.

Yer dust no anyone ‘oos got stocks an shares?. . Are anty Lils bloke reccons if yer penshun aint indexed yoom gonna be werkin till yoom 84. . . . Ee reccons yorups gonna take aw yer savin’s an giv ta da central bank cos nun a dey uv saved nufffink. . . . . Ee reccons theym aw ‘opin’ weem aw too stupid ta notice theym aw livin’ like lords while weem killin off are farmin’ an fishin’ an’ livin on pitzas an’ cheep wine.

Foot and Mouf ‘av got out uv ‘and. . . Aw da bullshit frum da guverment dint stop it spreadin’.
Instead uv getting’ stuck in an’ getting’ rid a aw da dead bodies dey pratts abowt lookin’ fer dere wellies. . .Weem tawd da cuntrysides open. Deym killin’ elfy animaws wots two miles frum a outbreak but wot I wonts ta no is wot bleedin road er cuntry pub is two miles frum sum poor buggers farm. . . .Nun wot I nos of.

My bruvvers ridin round wiv a sign on ‘is butchers bike sayin’. . . ‘SMOKE POT NOT TABACCO’. . ‘SAVE DA FARMERS’. . . Ee reccons if Tony lets da farmers grow Cannibus deyll save da cuntry side, . . be ‘appy fer ever more an aw vote laber. . . . I sed to un, . . I spose dere pigs ull fly um selves ta market an’ aw, an’ save on deesaw. . . . Ee ‘ates me ya know. Wen we wus kids ee used ta put is chewin gum in me pencil sharpener an use me pensils fer drum sticks. An nen wen I lernt ta rite da led in me pencil kept breakin’.

Teechers is goin on strike, dey reccen if Tony don’t urry up and sort out da bleadin’ mess. Education, Education, Education, wus wot ee sed. . . . Wot we got is ‘Dick’Ed’ rules an ‘Dick’Eds’ Dad ull give you wot for if you trys ta sort out ‘is degenerate ingrutt. . . . Till sum pratt sorts out da parents weem breedin’ ‘ordes a ‘ooliguns an deym growin up an breedin’ ‘undreds more! . . . Ar anty Lil reccons til we gets corperutt punishment back dey ont lern nuffink.

An guess wot! . . . ‘alf dey up London uv got TB now. . . Ar Anty Lil caws it consumshun, . . wot ever dat is. . . She reccons peeple were dyin’ uv it back before da war. She reccons da illegal immigrunts is givinit ta da locals. Corse ‘member I sed they dint av no TB jabs fer da kids an dey wus givin da studunts jabs fer meningitus fer a smoke screen. . . . Ah well I wernt far wrong wer I. . . 400 ‘undred dies a TB every yer but only a few dies a mad cow.
Da Round’Eds is out in force agen tryin ta bump off da Queen. Sum sneaky sods frum da newspapers cons ol’ Sophie Wotsit inta spillin da beans. . . I mean we aw nos Tony’s misses ‘ates angimals. . . First fing she did were chuck da bleadin’ cat out uv No.10. . . It shount be no surprise Sophie finks theym aw lefty drongos. . . . I meen Tony don’t reely fink da royal famly is socialists do ‘ee ? . . . I meen next fing eel be wantin’ um ta fly da red flag over Buck ‘Owse.
Any ow if you dint fill in yer sensuss proply you’ll aw be up ‘orfield fer Chrimus, so you might as well stick yer loose change in me ‘at wen you comes by an’ save payin da tax.

It’s bleedin’ rainin’ agen. . . I’n off ‘ome.

View from a Shop Doorway

February 2001

Copyright by Charles Henry

It’s bin a bit cawd owt yer lately. Crismus wer a ‘elluv a long time ago now wernit. ‘Twernt much fun any ow. I went ta are anty Lils some days. Twer awrite cept ‘er bloke wanted I ta ‘elp ee pinch Crismus trees, an I ount do it. . . . I dint wanna spend Crismus inside did I. . . Ee don’t need da money any ow . . .Wot wiv ‘is bad back, an ‘is bad leg, an ‘is compensation fer trippin’ up down da centre. . . . I Tell ee wot tho, dat MP awt ta get a few fowsand fer brakin’ er bleedin arm. . . . shame wan’it.. . . It could’nt a ‘appened ta a nicer person. . . Meself Ive ‘ad ta resort ta playin me flute. Well I says playin it but reely da trick is ta drive um aw mad playin’ wrong notes. . . I reccon dey finks I’n simple so dey sticks summat in me ‘at jest ta shut I up.

Seems like we’ll be ‘avin a genral ‘lection in April er May. Gordy ull be dishin out a few goodies in da budget. ‘EeL be ‘opin da stockmarket don’t sink no ferver . Ees ‘appy ta take credit fer good news but ee don’t like takin da blame fer any bad news. Any ow eel blame Eddy George if it aw starts goin pearshaped.

Mr. ‘Ague uv ‘ad da last laff wiv donations. . . Da Laber party ‘ad loads uv rich gits givin they millions an millions fer dere fightin’ fund an nen dey wus makin’ out da tories ud struggle ta get none. . . Nen diss uvver rich git gives old ‘Ague five million and says ee might give sum more if dey needs it. . . . Corse Blair can’t say nuffink cos ee started it dint ee. Wot a laff.

Mandy av bin economicaw wiv da troof agen. . . Sum forin geezer av got a British passport affter ee wer gonna giv five million quid ta da Millenium Dome. . Corse ee makes out dere wernt no ‘anky panky an dey wer jest nice peeple oo wants ta liv yer an any ow dey only got a paltry million quid in da end. Das peanuts fer aw dey. . . Corse ee tells porkys an drops Tony’s buggerygar rite init so guess wot, Thas rite, . . . You are da weekist link Mandy, . . . . .Fly off!. . . . . cept ee keeps ‘is big Jag, ee keeps is coppers to protect un, an ‘is penshun. . . . . Mine you deres still sum more ta come out yet, . . . you wait an see!

Bentawls av gone ant dey. . . My bruvver reccons dey wer too posh fer Bristaw, but I tawd un, . . . It wer pratts like ee oo finks weem aw gonna ride round on bikes wot dunnit for um. . . . Ee ‘ates me ya no, . . .wen we wus kids we used ta ride on da escalaters down Lewis’s. . . . Ee used ta run up da down ones, upsettin aw da customers, corse I’d be stuck dere goin down wiv aw on um wernt I, . . I,d be gettin’ aw da aggro. . .den deyed tell da manager, an I’d be chucked out on me yerole. . . an now ee wonts ta be da bleedin Mayer! Da lyin git! Sum ‘ope! . . John Lewis ad da rite ideal yers ago. . . . Ged out uv it while yoom ahead. . Lets ‘ope Dingles can do bet’er down Broadmead dan up Clifton. . . . At least dey’ll av a nice new store.

Yer, . . I don’t fink thees bet’ter hang about too long if thees goin in ta av yer tonsils out. . . . Next fing dey’ll be taken yer leg off ta give ta sum ta sum geezer wot lost ‘is in da war. . . Deys been pinchin allsorts a bits an pieces off uv dead bodies an aw. . . Mine don’t spose it ‘erts once yoom dead do it. . . . I mean sum uvver bugger mite be glad uv me liver. . . .Da cider ant done un much good, nor are aunty Lil’s curry but I spec deres a few miles left in un.

Did you vote fer more cowncil tax?. . no . .nor did are muvver . . . sums got more money dan sense mine you! . . . . Meeself I reccon dey should swap a couple a ‘undred civil servants fer teechers. . .Eever dat er pay um less! . . . Civil servints I means not teechers.

Well looks like da cuntryside march down Lundon ull be off now cos uv foot-in-mouf. . . I reccon Tony got they animal rights gits doing that. Cept if weem spose ta beleev da polls weel av ta put up wid un fer anuvver five yers any ow. . . . I jest ‘ope da polsters av bin tawkin ta eechuvver an not reel peeple. Mine you da Liberals reccon Somerset peeple wants ta pay loads more cowncil tax an we knows dat aint true..sos dere ‘ope fer us aw yet.

……It’s too cawd out yer now. I’n off ‘ome.