David is an author of fantasy novels and a writer and producer of rock music. The site provides information of his creative works and has a regular blog of news of his latest work and insights into his life and past.
My older brother was born four years before me and I can’t imagine what a shock to his system I must have been. December 1954 was obviously a good year … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Growing Up in the Harehills Area of Leeds with Brothers – Cricket Local Rules, Tomato Sauce-Gate and the Bedroom Door Handle Incident.
In hindsight, I believe that I probably got my desire to be creative from my mother. Apart from being a wonderful mum, complex, but inspiring, she was a source of … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Creative Writing – From Stainbeck Preparatory, Harehills County Primary and Roundhay School, to a Lifetime of Creativity.
One of the major differences between the United Kingdom and here in Perth, Western Australia, is that houses in Leeds and most of Britain are expected to last, whereas here … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Changing Face of Kitchens, Meals and Shopping in Leeds from the 1950s.
I have mentioned, my family, on my mother’s side were linked to the Workmens’ Institute in Chapel Allerton. This was basically a snooker and whist club, and I imagine it … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Games We Played in the 1970s: Snooker, Billiards, Bar Billiards and Darts. Pubs and Venues in Leeds, and The Crucible Theatre.
I am aware that there are no touchier subjects than religion, but I have to frame the context of my tale this week. I am not a religious man these … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Coincidences – Luck or Ill-Luck – Leeds, Sheffield and Wakefield.
I started to go on buses from the age of four with my brother who was four years older than me. We used to go from Arlington Road junction with … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Last Bus Home. Using Public Transport to Get Around Leeds in the 1960s and 1970s.
As I mentioned before my father was a man on a mission to bring whichever house we lived in into the modern world during the 1960s. He did this first … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Continuing the Process of Modernising our House in Gipton Wood Crescent in the 1950s and 1960s.
I spent a great deal of time in Wharfedale in the 1960s and as the nearest beautiful part of Yorkshire, it became very familiar to me. The Cow and Calf, … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Wandering in Wharfedale and then Back Again! How Lucky to Have a Backyard Like That!
I was trying to think back to the late 1960s and early 1970s and what I used to do with my time. The truth is that it was probably the … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Loafing Around in the 1960s and 70s. The Art that I Have Lost Over Time.
I was thinking about this subject for a while, as here in Australia the status of women is a hot topic, but the way that boys deal with boys is … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – A Bit of Biffo! Playground fights, Cock of the School and Some Scary, Boy Things that Happened at Roundhay School and Lidgett Lane Youth Club!
Now this sounds more dramatic than it really is, but I learnt as a teacher that children don’t know anything apart from what they pick up through experience or are … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Real food, Picked by Your Own Hands. Harvesting the Wild World and the Mushroom Embarrassment! Some Memories of Leeds.
I have told the tale of learning to drive when I was 17 years old and I suppose we were the lucky ones as we only had a few lessons … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Passing the Test was only part of the saga of driving in Leeds from 1971 onwards. Getting further afield to the Fox and Hounds, Bramhope and a few hiccups along the way.
