Pre Going Gently

I think I have always enjoyed writing, even though I am not all that good at it.
I was reminded of the fact by a chance meeting on facebook the other day.
As a late teen, I was part of the citizen Band radio craze that swept the country. My austin 1300 had a whip aerial, furry seats and a superstar 120 which could pick up conversations as far as Holywell
In a matter of days I suddenly had a large group of friends, picked up from the 1980 CB geeks of North Wales.
Black Sheep, Sweetie Pie, Green Giant, Bogey Man, Silver Fox, Psycho and Cherry Blossom, everyone had their own name or " handle" and I had, what I thought was a cracker, for I called myself " Pockets" .
I loved the camaraderie of it all. Most nights we would all meet up. We went ice skating, enjoyed pub quizes, enjoyed " eyeballs" ( meet ups with fellow radio fans) and hung out at Black Sheep and Sweetie Pie' s house , using it as a hostel, youth club.
I lost contact with most of the CBers in the summer of 1983 when I left to go nursing

Where is this amble down memory lane taking us, I hear you yell.... Well I shall tell you.
Sweetie Pie and Blacksheep had a baby called Kellie and as a gift I wrote her a book about the friends that met up on those rather naive days of the early 1980s.
It was a lumpy precursor to Going Gently
A few days ago, on facebook, Kellie sent me a message completely out of the blue..... It was this photo

The last page of the book I had written for her, some 32 years previously . She had kept it all of that time........
I was very flattered.

44 comments:

  1. Breaker breaker calling big dick pockets are you there breaker breaker

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  2. LOL, I was in on the craze a bit earlier, it hit in the States in the mid-70's. My handle was Stargazer... a bit 'sweet', now that I think of it.

    My darlin' was involved in it at about the same time you were.

    Flattered? I should say so... then again, I'd say you've become a treasured part of many lives. Not a bad legacy.

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  3. how lovely a tribute to you, john!

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  4. Uh. I need to make a correction here- you are a lovely writer. Your words paint pictures of things and people and emotions and doings. I wouldn't come here if it wasn't so.
    Trust me.
    What a beautiful gift you gave and what a beautiful gift was returned!

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  5. I remember the CB craze.
    Your meet up with friends sounds wonderful, I love this story.
    What a special gift you made her.

    cheers, parsnip

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  6. That was a wonderful time, wasn't it. We made such good friends and still have some of them. How sweet of Miss Kelly to bring up the memory.
    My handle was "Sunshine."

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  7. How very nice to be remembered and sweet of you to write the book for her! (Time to scrub your toe in the dirt and say, "Aw shucks, 'twarn't nuthin.")

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  8. "...I am not all that good at it..." John, you don't realize your own talent. I come here for the writing, and I think most of us do. (Some come for the WD info, of course - ha ha)

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  9. I love the way you write Pockets. That was a great little story of you and your interests . Your handwriting is beautiful. Xx

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  10. Thats abeautiful thing to do for a child, I'm not at all surprised she kept it!

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  11. That is a very special gift.

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  12. I don't know how you can say you aren't a good writer. You are a brilliant writer because it comes from your heart. I'm not at all surprised that your old friend kept such a lovely gift.

    Love,
    Janie

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  13. I love to read your words, John, especially when you write about your animals and life in the village. You make the words sing.

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  14. Oh how lovely, what a sweet gift.

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  15. Truly lovely. Both the initial gesture of yours, and that she let you know how much it meant to her.

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  16. I think you're a very good writer, John, and that was a wonderful gift - no wonder Kellie has cherished it. And I even peeked out of the woods of Vermont to tell you so!

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  17. You are a good writer John, because you write as you are. What I mean is that we here your voice in your words, which is a gift not many people have.
    I missed out on the CB era, by then I was well on the way to my second divorce and about ten years short of meeting the man of my life!

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  18. Not many people have a book dedicated to them, I expect she's very proud of it.

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  19. That was such a lovely thought John, and how good to know that Kellie treasured it all these years.

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  20. Anonymous6:46 am

    How charming. What we Freud make of you always seeking a community? I reckon you could write proper like, but I doubt you would have as many blog readers.

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  21. My brothers were CBers. Not old enough to drive, their radio was in their bedroom. Numerous complaints from the neighbours that it was interfering with their TV reception.
    You have a lovely style of writing which can capture the emotion of a story with just a few well chosen words. You've sometimes made me shout with laughter and sometimes I've shed a tear. Your friends are lucky to have a John Gray original.

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  22. That's lovely Pockets x

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  23. I too was a cb' r. Such fun we had back then.

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  24. I have told you so many times Pockets - WRITE YOUR POSTS IN BOOK FORM. IT WOULD SELL LIKE WILDFIRE.

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  25. I didn't have a CB radio BUT we did have a Austin 1300 ... a GT no less :-)

    How lovely that she has treasured your book all these years :-)

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    1. We didn't have CB radio either, but hubby had an orange Austin 1300 GT and I have an ordinary 1300 - not a furry seat in sight in either!. Early 1970's I think?

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  26. My sister was into CB radio in a big way....personally I wasn't into it. But what a great gift to give a child and how lovely that she treasured it ...

    Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  27. I beg to differ...you are a captivating writer! It seems to come so naturally to you, and you never fail to entertain or inspire thought in me.

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  28. As I found out by accident a few years ago (honest) the world of CB is now inhabited by nothing but Swingers, Doggers and a mixture of other assorted sex-maniacs. If you say, 'And lorry-drivers', I can tell you that they also fall into the above categories.

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    1. Just leave lorry drivers out of this will you.

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    2. Nothing like that happened in my austin1300

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  29. John, you are a brilliant writer. Every day we all wait patiently for your latest story. Your stories are the best!!!!! The titles are catchy and the photos are perfect. Thank you so much ....your followers love you. Mardy from Canada

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  30. well, of course she kept it!

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  31. You do make an impact....as we have been telling you.

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  32. Thank god for lorry drivers and their radios. My daughter was in a horrific auto accident on a highway in the mountains and due to the hour , there was no traffic. But a passing truck saw , stopped, called in and saved our girl.

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  33. Anonymous6:12 pm

    That was quite the lovely piece of calligraphy you did on the last page of the book...yet another of your talents.

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  34. Yes, I had a CB radio in my truck. I used to write for CB magazine. My handle? Flying Fanny.

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  35. My Sister's boy friend was a CB enthusiast, she was very miffed he referred to her as his seat cover !!

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  36. Your great talent is that you touch lives. As with Kellie, those of us who read your posts have taken you into our hearts.

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  37. Ah memories!! I had a CB radio around that time too with a huge die pole up in the attic. I was Kan Kikker and like many others had my CB in my bedroom running off a car battery! Lovely gift - you're ace you are aren't you?! x

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  38. John, you write with honesty, and I think that's where you have many other writers beat, even ones that an editor would say are better craftsmen.

    We were in the CB craze, too, used it for a lot of long-distance trips, as our CB radio was in the car. My handle was Crackerjack.

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  39. Very cool. Have always enjoyed your writing style John. I too like to hoard memories. x-Cassie

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