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.
From the age of about thirteen I entered the most turbulent period of my life to the present date. Mid 1960s was a time of upheaval anyway. 1966 had just … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Puberty Blues – Hair, Voice, Muscle, Height and Spots. The Changes We Were Not Prepared for at High School, Nor At Home.
I have never been one to waste my money and that has had real benefits for my wife and me over the years. This was probably the Scottish side of … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Amusement Arcades, Competitions, Cards, Horses and the Football Pools. The Grand National and the Melbourne Cup!
One of the great joys of living in Yorkshire is how close you are to some of the most spectacular and varied countryside in the world. Leeds is little more … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Yorkshire Dales, Getting Out and About, Camping and the Duke of Edinburgh Award.
I have spoken in a previous tale about taking A Levels and I must admit that at the time, I had no idea what I wanted to be, or do … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Final Year at High School, Leaving Home, Going to College and Growing Older if Not Wiser.
After my initial ventures into rock climbing, courtesy of borrowed equipment from my older brother, at the Cow and Calf and Hetchell Crags, I began to venture further afield. One … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Further Heights in Rock Climbing Escapades. Almscliffe Crag and the Roundhay School Snowdonia Climbing Trip. Memories to Last a Lifetime!
There appeared to be two types of people at Roundhay School and they can be split into those who would cause their parents concern and those who wouldn’t. When adolescence … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ –The Serious End of High School, the Lower and Upper Sixth Forms, Going Co-Ed, a Shock for the Teachers and for Us. We were so Bad!
This has been the most globally traumatic year that I have ever experienced and I suppose it is a reminder of how fragile peace and tranquility is. For some reason … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – That Time of Year Again and Still Dreaming of a White Christmas. Are Your Memories of Family Madness, Like Mine?
At first sight this seems a rather tall order to cover such a subject in two thousand words, but maybe I can give you my personal views and I hope … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Drugs, Sex and Rock and Roll – Or at Least the Rock and Roll. The changing face of Youth Culture from the 1950s to 1970s and How it Affected a Local Leeds Boy.
My first knowledge of work comes from my mother’s accounts of her school days and moving into employment. My mother had an older sister, Joan, and she was a clever … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – The Changing World of Work. The Wray and Cameron Experience in 20th Century Leeds and Australia.
Last week’s blog about smog got me thinking about other changes since the 1950s in the way that people live and there are many things that we were allowed to … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – How Did We Survive? Radium, Mercury, Lead, Asbestos, Sawdust, DDT – Things We Had That Aren’t Allowed Nowadays.
As a young boy in Leeds I found fog rather exciting. In the 1950s coal was the main source of heating in houses and in Harehills and local areas the … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Fog and Smog the Curse of the Winter Months in Northern Cities and a Blight for Travellers. From the 1950s to 2000s and Still Causing Havoc.
We didn’t realise it at the time, but we were living through a revolution. The world was changing and changing quickly and children were oblivious to this change apart from … Continue reading ‘Cup of Tea Tales’ – Toys, Toys, Toys! The move from the Imagination. Clockwork to Battery Power – Simple to Complex, and from Cheap to Expensive – 1950s to 1960s.
