Post by Matt James on Apr 16, 2009 15:08:43 GMT
Alan Brown Christmas Day Birmingham 1959
At 0730 Christmas Day morning ,
I rode into days early light,
From the GPO Severn street Garage ,
To Penfold Street Telegraph Delivery,
On me GPO red Motorbike .
There were telegrams by the hundreds
In the telegram delivery that day.
The PHG had them sorted in office order,
to speed us on our way.
"There's yours young Brown " said Barry, Indicating a pile on the floor, "
I've booked you out." he grinned.
" Hurry back there 's plenty more."
I started out on delivery,
In Sparkbrook I made my first drop.
Followed by 3 Sparkhill 4 Hall Green 1 Tysley, T'was then I felt the first rain spot.
I still had twenty to deliver
So I put my foot hard down.
Waved a cheery greetings to a copper,
At the edge of Brummagem town,
I was soaking wet as I sped through Shirley,
So I stopped for a fag and some tea ,
On the road by Whitlock end Station,
On the bend you approach with great care,
nearly swiped off me bike
By a drunk in a speeding car.
Then puffing one of me dads woodbines,
And singing out loud in the rain.
I stopped parked under a bridge .
And squelched up Houndsfield lane .
Here stood a posh house ,
being washed by torrent of rain,
Inside I could hear them singing,
I hoped with me mind,
God rest ye merry Gentlemen
And good will to all mankind.
The man of the house
Came to see me,
and snatch at the wags in haste..
Without a thanks or anything.
The door was slammed in my face.
I trudged back to my Bike..;
And upset gave the kick start a kick.
The engine sighed and completely died . And I thought oh dear, and flippin heck
I knew what was wrong with the engine Water on the points y'see,
I only needed a screwdriver,
But of course I hadn't one with me
I trudged back to the House,
And banged again on the door,
He was even less pleased to see me
Than he'd been the time before.
I( asked for the use of a screwdriver
“Don’t use them," He said with a frown. So I asked if I could use his telephone,
to report to my office in town.
By this time the bloke was fuming,
An becoming exceedingly sore,
Cus rain was dripping off me
On fitted Lambtex carpeting in his hall. Then as soon as my call was concluded
I was bum rushed back out the front door, the biked and me sat under the bridge
And sat there two hours or more.
A postal van turned up,
splashing me in a pool of rain.
The driver took the wags
grinned merry Christmas.
And buggered off again.
Finally a breakdown vehicle appeared, Uplifted the bike and I.
We drove back to Severn Street steaming, Whilst the rain poured out of the sky.
I got home at 1830 hrs I was due back on Boxing day,
but I reasoned if it wunt goo today it aint gunna goo
t'morra .so I didn't go in.
If I remember rightly it cost me a P18b and two hours
pay.
Alan Brown
Birmingham
At 0730 Christmas Day morning ,
I rode into days early light,
From the GPO Severn street Garage ,
To Penfold Street Telegraph Delivery,
On me GPO red Motorbike .
There were telegrams by the hundreds
In the telegram delivery that day.
The PHG had them sorted in office order,
to speed us on our way.
"There's yours young Brown " said Barry, Indicating a pile on the floor, "
I've booked you out." he grinned.
" Hurry back there 's plenty more."
I started out on delivery,
In Sparkbrook I made my first drop.
Followed by 3 Sparkhill 4 Hall Green 1 Tysley, T'was then I felt the first rain spot.
I still had twenty to deliver
So I put my foot hard down.
Waved a cheery greetings to a copper,
At the edge of Brummagem town,
I was soaking wet as I sped through Shirley,
So I stopped for a fag and some tea ,
On the road by Whitlock end Station,
On the bend you approach with great care,
nearly swiped off me bike
By a drunk in a speeding car.
Then puffing one of me dads woodbines,
And singing out loud in the rain.
I stopped parked under a bridge .
And squelched up Houndsfield lane .
Here stood a posh house ,
being washed by torrent of rain,
Inside I could hear them singing,
I hoped with me mind,
God rest ye merry Gentlemen
And good will to all mankind.
The man of the house
Came to see me,
and snatch at the wags in haste..
Without a thanks or anything.
The door was slammed in my face.
I trudged back to my Bike..;
And upset gave the kick start a kick.
The engine sighed and completely died . And I thought oh dear, and flippin heck
I knew what was wrong with the engine Water on the points y'see,
I only needed a screwdriver,
But of course I hadn't one with me
I trudged back to the House,
And banged again on the door,
He was even less pleased to see me
Than he'd been the time before.
I( asked for the use of a screwdriver
“Don’t use them," He said with a frown. So I asked if I could use his telephone,
to report to my office in town.
By this time the bloke was fuming,
An becoming exceedingly sore,
Cus rain was dripping off me
On fitted Lambtex carpeting in his hall. Then as soon as my call was concluded
I was bum rushed back out the front door, the biked and me sat under the bridge
And sat there two hours or more.
A postal van turned up,
splashing me in a pool of rain.
The driver took the wags
grinned merry Christmas.
And buggered off again.
Finally a breakdown vehicle appeared, Uplifted the bike and I.
We drove back to Severn Street steaming, Whilst the rain poured out of the sky.
I got home at 1830 hrs I was due back on Boxing day,
but I reasoned if it wunt goo today it aint gunna goo
t'morra .so I didn't go in.
If I remember rightly it cost me a P18b and two hours
pay.
Alan Brown
Birmingham