As mentioned in the previous blog my mate Robun has been told he hasnt got very long to live, due to having lung cancer and various secondary tumours.
I went round to see him on Saturday and he was propped up on a couch and wrapped ina blanket in the kitchen, Looking very frail and weak and a lot older a than his 56 years, it was quite shocking. The thing about lung cancer is it seems to rush in, grip people and kill them quickly, the complete opposite to the method of getting it, which is a long drawn out affair, cigerette after harmless cigerette. year after year, leaving people feeling “It’ll never happen to them” and “It’s too late to change”? If I were to be truthful I did have feeling that if Robin was to go, then this would be what would take his life.

I suppose I should tell yuo a little bit about Robin, who he was, what he did and didnt do, and what he will elave behind. Robin will be the second close friend I will loose this year, the first being Carl Speare, who I worked with on the KVFM Radio Projects. Carl died quickly of a massive heart attack in April, he went quickly, doing something he loved doing (racketball) planning something he loved ( community radio) and loved by everyone he came in contact with.

The background to meeting Robin originally came about when I was working in Knowsley in the Youth Service, when a colleague who was doing the part time youth leaders course told about this bloek who was on the course was winding the Youth Adviser up all the time (this was one of Robin’s talents, winding people up). I had a short meeting with Robin and decided to start a mural project in the youth club he worked in (Centre 70 Kirkby). It was fascianting to see him pull up in his Black Cab (he was a hackney driver when not youth working) and work in a very unusual and direct way with the young people. I began to get more and more interested in what was behind his methodolgy. After a couple of months he disappeared!

It seems te dreaded facebook has the ability to drain your blogging ability, but I ahve decided to make a concerted effort to begin to blog again.

What I am starting with is not very pleasant really, as I found this week that a long standing mate of mine has been diagnosed with lung cancer, secondary tumours and is likely to die very shortly, His name is Robin Barr and Ive know him since my youth works days in Knowsley in the mid 80’s. Iwill write some more tomorrow.

Its a good job Im going bald, as I got some sad news last week.

I went up to Bert’s the Barbers for a haircut only to find the UKIP loving Barber (£2.50 a haircut!) had died.

The end of another landmark and local hero even  if was  a bit racist, sorry xenophobic

It looks like John Prezzer will be here next Tuesday 4th August between |Noon and 1pm, the plan is that we will be running a “One Off” KensingtonVision Show, durung which you can listen in on line and also call in and ask John questions about “Regeneration” and whether you think this has been a good thing for the area.

More details later on over the weekend

People were so enthusiatic that they buried Patience in hanging basket, as Harry Hill would say “What are the chances of that happening”

Me and Sheila went to evening “Do” of Jacky Hilton and Eric. Jacky is one the people from Lime Court who did the radio training for KVFM earlier oin the year. Jacky on the face of it is a very loud and brash person but who has a lot on her plate, she could be a negative person but sho is actually full of life and vigour. She’s married a very nice man called Eric from Stoke, again they look a bit like chalk and cheese,but they are very happy and we had a great tme at the do at the Sylvestrian club (which is looking a bit shabby but not at all chic). Sheila had her big big pink bag with a her and she was deeply deeply shcoked that she had her bag searched on the way in for bottles of barcardi. “Ive never had this happen to me before we dont do this type of thing in Southport” she said in a posh and voice ladened with indignation. Of course we werent smuggling bottles in, When we walked in we looked around and didnt recognise and then realised we were in an engagement do, we had to go to the Snooker room were Jacky and the rest of the gang.
Anyhow we both wish Jack and Eric a long and happy wedded life together.

Jogn Prescott, pugalist and ex deputy Prime Minister is coming to Kensington next month, to look at the beloved regeneration carried out in the area, afterall it was his department that kicked off New Deal, so maybe it’s his fault?

Anyhow we are setting up a “Call Prezza” Special, where you will be able to call him up and ask him or tell him what you think of the regeneration, the show will be streamed live on the internet and podcasted. More information to follow so start thinking up you questions fro Prezza. and remember he “supports full time community railway in Kensington and Fairfield” and so do we.

like this one for instnace

Been trying to work out why I havent been blogging and couldnt think of any good reason. Well what been happening.

Went to an Adult Learning Services meeting sbout Self Asessment Report or SARS (you still awake) things you ahve to do for the  money, no pain without gain I suppose. Also took some nice photos of Arthur and Shirley’ back entries …well there’s nowt dodgey, its jsut that they have turned there back entry into a plant plethora, as opposed to ours on this side of the road which has mattresses and binbags as opposed to begonias and buddhas. They bought me a 99er off the ice cream man for my troubles, I am too cheap arent I but it was worth it, as the 99er had sherbet on it as well, Shirley had a Mivvi.

Also had a meeting with local artit about a stew and cermaic based arts porjects in the near future