Kathryn Magson

I thought it might just amuse some of us to share a few of the funny tales we all had to tell from back in the day. (apologies in advance if there's a similar thread but I couldn't find one!) I bet plenty of us have funny stories to share - here's one of mine from the 1960s Twisted Wheel........... One night I got talking - as you did - to some guys from Southend who'd heard big stories as to how good The Twisted Wheel was, so they'd decided to make the journey north to give it a go. Their tale made me laugh out loud at the time! This was their first time at The Wheel & at first they weren't too sure what to make of it - being from "Down South" where people tended to "keep their distance" they weren't used to people talking to strangers as though they were best mates! When one of their group was in the men's toilets, a guy he'd never met before started to chat to him.......endlessly....... so he went back to tell all his southerner mates & they all began to wonder if they'd come to a gay club by mistake.....They had a bit of a conflab about it & decided "so what if it's a gay club???" People seemed ok & the music was really good so they decided to stay anyway. Then later on, one of them was waiting at the coffee bar to buy himself a drink, when a girl started to chat to him....again endlessly lol.......& he thought "Great - I've pulled!" but then she got her drink....suddenly said "Bye" & promptly disappeared........By the time they got chatting to me they'd begun to realize that "Us Northerners" were a funny lot & would talk to anyone & everyone - especially with a bit of "chemical assistance" inside us! 👀🤣 They visited The Wheel a few more times - travelled North in a convoy of a Mini, somebody's works van & a Mark 4 Jag ....about 20 or so of them I think, but couldn't fit everyone in so they had to take turns. I think one was called Danny, but that's about as much as I can remember about them. Happy days!

I've just started watching Undercover on BBCiplayer - episode 1 & I'm already hooked! It has an excellent cast - lots of twists & turns so no spoilers - it's well worth watching - big thumbs-up from me! 24 hours later.............. Now I'm into episode 4 of Undercover & I have to say this is one of the best dramas I've seen for a long time.....somebody else watch it please!🤣

Early night tonight for me lol

Just answered a knock at my door to a really nice surprise!☺️" I had a bit of a late night last night - I was just off to bed around midnight when I heard a loud bang outside my window & saw a guy collapsed in the car park. Called an ambulance for him, but it took over an hour to get here, so I kept an eye on him till it arrived & stayed with the paramedics to pass on all the info that I knew. It was well after 2 by the time I got to bed & even then I couldn't sleep! His wife just sent me flowers & a thank you card! So nice of her - I said it was a lovely thing to do but there was really no need - I was just glad to help. I made a joke of it & told her I couldn't just leave him there cos he was making the place look untidy!! He's spent the night in hossy but he's home now - all's well that ends well.....☺️" I'm knackered now! 2 late nights in a row - I can't cope! lol😂

I remember being very close to Ike & Tina when they were on stage at The Wheel (it was a very small stage & I was in what would now be called the moshing pit lol). I was surprised to see that Tina had a carefully-mended hole in her tights. Funny how odd little things stick in your mind even after all these years! Also - we didn't know back then just how badly she was treated by Ike, so maybe she wasn't allowed much money to spend on herself? She certainly made up for it later though didn't she? Well done Tina! xx

I don't think any of us here in the UK knew when we went to see our favourite bands perform live on stage back in the 60s just how badly they were treated in the States - to us they were our heroes! I remember chatting to a few (Jimmy Cliff, Oscar Tony Jr, J.J. Jackson, Jimmy Ruffin are a few that come to mind) before they went on stage at The Wheel - they didn't have the same "big" attitude that some of the UK stars had - it was just like chatting to one of your mates. I felt so lucky & honoured to meet them, but none ever mentioned their life " back home". It was much later when I saw news reports that I began to realise just how bad life was for them in the USA.

Thanks & well done to all who manage to give blood - none of us know when we might need it do we? Wish I could still donate, but after a gastric bleed made me very anaemic I was on iron tablets for quite a long time. My iron levels were being monitored & I was told by my GP no more donating for me......sad that I had to stop, but also felt as though I'd done my bit anyway....

Thanks for the interesting read!👍

I gave blood for years & years - until a few years ago when I was told I had to stop cos I was very anaemic. This was after 74 donations, so just 1 away from my diamond badge! Not allowed to donate any more - would if I could but I think I've done my bit anyway......Good on you for donating - every single drop is very much appreciated.❣️

Sounds good to me Mike👍

The Bombing of Pan Am 103 is well worth watching. Hard to watch, but it's really well-acted & sympathetically-done. Thanks & hats off to all concerned for handling this sad story in such a sensitive & tactful way.👍

I started watching Shardlake on ITV - I normally like Sean Bean so was expecting it to be really good, but so far it's disappointing & I wouldn't recommend it.....anybody else watching it?

RIP Sly - thank you for the music xx

I just googled the name Jeb Pyre & it brought up quite a bit of info on all the characters in the series. Apparently - although the name Jeb Pyre was fictional - the character was based on real-life detective Terry Fox. He was responsible for investigating the chain of events & his life & religious beliefs were very similar to those of Jeb Pyre. After his retirement from the police force, he worked at Brigham Young University. Lots more info about the series on a website called "TheCinemaholic"

Thanks - I've already looked - makes me feel glad I've never got into religion!

I'm watching Under the Banner of Heaven - released in 2022 but now available on ITVX - a harrowing, disturbing drama based on a true account of events in 1984 USA. It involves - violence - murder - sexual abuse - incest - all supposedly in the name of "religion"......... A gripping, but very disturbing story.

Just finished binge watching Code of Silence - Rose Ayling-Ellis played an absolutely brilliant part! She really brought deafness into focus - well worth watching to see the problems that deaf people face every day & how they can overcome them. I worked mostly with hearing children for over 20 years, but occasionally we had a deaf child - & also hearing children with deaf parents. I was always interested in signing - I picked up a bit as I went along but never learnt it formally. Thumbs up to ITV for a decent drama!👍