Just About Me - The Forgotten Bits 2

Around 1986, I was indoors with Mandy and actually getting ready for bed at the time, I had the most excruciating pain in my lower back, I tried to rub it and manipulate it but it just made it worse, I tried having a bath but nothing would shift it. So I told Mandy to call for an ambulance, when it arrived the medical team suggested that I sit in a wheelchair and be taken too the ambulance, I just got up and walked down the stairs informing them that it would be quicker. We arrived at the A&E dept at St Charles Hospital, W10 and was taken straight in to a an observation unit, they could not administer any pain killing drugs because at that time they did not know what the problem was, I now know it to be Kidney Stones, by now I was stark naked and laying on my side and a female doctor appeared with a large tub of K Y Jelly, as she started fumbling about with my rear end I shouted "Mandy, Mandy" she replied "What is it love" I then said "Your right, it does hurt" even the doctor laughed.

Another time we had to visit the hospital, was for Mandy who was having an Asthma attack, we went into A&E and they decided to give her a nebulisor, she was laying there with the face mask on and a big cylinder of oxygen, the doctor asked me to come in and could I give her a bit of support, he then threw me out for chanting "Come On Mandy", I promise that this is a true story.



Written By Paul Martin Allen - Between 10th July 2011 to 8th August 2011 

Just About Me - The Forgotten Bits 1

Approx 1972, I was working for the solicitors, I had to walk from the Law Courts in the Strand to Somerset House, as I got closer I noticed a fairly large crowd standing outside, there was a side gate entrance to Somerset House and ignoring all the people I walked on in, as I got in I noticed a large statue in the courtyard covered by a large sheet, suddenly the crowd started to applaud a big black limousine, I stood still very near the statue, The Queen stepped out and unveiled the statue, funny thing is I don't recall her saying anything, she must have done so but I seem to remember her simply getting back in the car and driving off, not even a "Hello Paul".

In 1979, I worked for a company named ESS Security, I felt quite honoured to be asked to work as Front of House security for the Royal premier of the mega movie hit Alien , starring Sigourney Weaver, Tom Skerritt, John Hurt and Veronica Cartwright. It was attended by Prince Charles , I also had to go to the same cinema all week because it was such a popular film and lots of people came to see it, I personally must have seen that film at least 20 times, I never liked it then and doubt I would now. Quite a few years later I worked with Joe on the premier of Miss Saigon, we did the after party on the South Bank of the River Thames, we were there all week whilst they erected a giant marquee, they then sailed down to the party on chinese junk's.

I only ever worked once at Wembley Arena, the concert was by the American group the Commodores, I was stationed on the door that led through to the dressing rooms when a tall black guy went to walk past me, I told him that without a pass he was not coming in, he replied that without him their was no show, then their ain't no show son says I. He turned and walked away, a short while later he returned on this time he had the promoter Harvey Goldsmith with him, Harvey asked me why I had refused the guy admission, he has no pass I said, he is Lionel Ritchie he says, I had never heard of him let alone knew what he looked like, in fairness he supported my stance, and the show went ahead. He didnt do too badly in the music game and I reckon I secretley helped his career along.

Just About Me 40

I started out in 1956 and have now reached 2011, when I think of the innovations in my reasonably short existence it just amazes me, In England where I live, one thing that has been consistent is The Queen, one of them, we have gone from two black and white TV channels to over 100 in colour some are HD and some are 3D, three lions have won the football and rugby world cups, four major conflicts involving the British Army, the VHS Recorder has been and gone along with the CD player, spangles, the aztec bar, baggy trousers, brutus shirts, crombie overcoats, three wheel vans. I have had ten addresses, lived through 11 US presidents and 12 Prime Ministers, I have owned a three wheel tricycle, subbuteo, spirograph, a Johnny seven gun, Bjorn Borg socks, at least eleven motor cars. I have seen my football team go from being fairly good to absolute rubbish and now they are considered one of the top teams in Europe. I have seen my daughter grow into a young lady going into her second year of high school, and watched my wife grow from a shy seventeen year old girl into a confident forty five year old woman. I am lucky that I sill have my Mum and Dad with me, and can honestly say that I have never fallen out with my two brothers in the whole of my adult life. I have in my eyes lived a really exciting life, I have earned fortunes and spent the lot, they say you can not take it with you, I have also heard the saying money does not bring you happiness, but never from a rich person. The future, who knows, I just hope my daughter has a long and happy life with her health intact, but as my friend David Draper always says "There's a lot of football still to be played"

Just About Me 39

In May 2008, we decided to go to Australia, the 3 of us and my Mother In Law Annette, the plan was to come back via Disneyland in Florida, USA. We made enquiries about it and I asked my work if they were OK with me taking my holiday all in one go, they were not only in agreement but we were offered the chance to visit South Africa as well, we were offered Holly's own house in Hermanus, near Cape Town, well it would have been rude to refuse wouldn't it, so we booked up to first go to South Africa onto Australia and finish up in the USA oh and then home. Hermanus was a two hour drive from Cape Town and it is a stunning drive at that, the house is truly amazing and the area is wonderful. We visited some amazing places whilst there, Simons Town where you have penguins on the beach, to vineyards and the Birkenhead brewery to the wildlife we saw, Antelopes, Zebras and Ostrich's. On to Sydney, Australia for 2 days, we saw Sydney Harbour Bridge and had a cup of hot chocolate near enough on the steps of the Opera House, and I absolutely loved Darling Harbour. Moving on to Brisbane, Australia. We stayed with Mandy's relations Jill and Charlie and their family, they took us around Brisbane and we visited all the families houses which have to be seen to be believed. We went to a place called Childers for a wedding and visited the Bundaberg Rum Distillery. A short 10 hour flight to Los Angeles for a one day stop over, we went on a guided bus tour of the city, seeing Hollywood Boulevard and all the golden stars in the sidewalk. Finally 3 days in Orlando, USA and all the major Disney parks just for Laura. And then to Gatwick and home to Carshalton, over too soon if you ask me.

When I started to use public transport again to get to work it was a bit of an eye opener, the first couple of days, I stood at the 80 bus stop with about 4 other people, and not one person spoke a word to another, the next day was the same with the same people, the next day I had had enough, I carried a bag to work and promptly dropped it on to the floor, it landed with a loud thud and I now had  everyone's attention "Right" says I "This is my third day here, I will be here everyday and my name is Paul" we all struck up a conversation, probably about the service or the weather, now in 2011 I get on the bus and sometimes the driver knows my name. I speak to at least 25% of the other passengers, some have become real friends, among them are office worker's, chef's, printer's, decoraters, pensioners and school children and you know what they all talk to each other, I consider this a job well done, and hopefully proves that sitting next to the nutter on the bus is not such a bad thing after all.

Just About Me 38

This was painted by a lady named Tin Odulakowski, it is life sized (6ft 3ins and not so Fat) it was sold to somebody in America for £5,000

Just About Me 37

In July 2004 I was to be honest on the edge of depression, I was in bed one morning at about 10am, the phone rang, on the other end was my friend Nick Pomeroy, he asked me what I was up to, I replied nothing, he then said that a friend of his, Holly, was moving offices and wanted me to look after her, I said that I had a friend named Holly, he then shocked me by telling me it was the same person. I told my wife that Holly was really lovely, that she wanted me to watch her furniture and stuff being moved, and that she would probably pay me a couple of hundred quid for doing so. Holly Bellingham saved my life quite frankly, she asked me to visit her at her office in Lime Street, EC3. I waited in reception and her husband Simon Turner greeted me with a friendly "Hello mate", Holly came out carrying a painting, I gave her a cuddle and kissed her cheek, we went into her boardroom, by the way Holly was the Chairman of a major Lloyds of London Underwriting Insurance Company, it is called Marketform, it was in the boardroom that Holly showed me a painting of a building in Lloyds Avenue, London.The artist responsible for the painting was her mother. It was the building that her company were moving into, she spoke of my smiling face on her door and how nice to be greeted in the mornings etc. It became clear to me that she wanted me "Your offering me a full time job" I said " Of course I am you silly sod " she replied, I explained that I thought it was a one off removal job and she started to laugh. Well once again, I nearly cried, somebody had had faith in me, and as far as I am concerned she saved me from a life of Benefit's, and yes I mean the dole queue. Let me introduce you to my friend Holly, she is a wealthy woman in her own right, although to talk to her it is no different to talking to your mate down the pub, she is the most generous giving person I have ever met, she never ceases to amaze me, I was with her once and witnessed her paying for a family of four to go on a holiday abroad, a holiday they had never had because one of their children was recovering from leukemia and they just could not have afforded it.
She is everyones Mum, but dont you dare take the piss out of her or you know about it, from her I mean.
I started working at Marketform in October 2004, at first I can not lie, I hated it, I was used to night hours and all the things that happen in London at night, I am the front of house security man, and people would be telling me how much better off I would be, I thought they were mad, but you know what, even if the wages are a lot less than Raffles I really do enjoy it. And I would like to record here and now just how grateful I am to the people who work at Marketform for making me feel welcome every day.

Just About Me 36

 In January 2003, a lady came into Raffles and put £1,000 behind the bar, this was to ensure that her daughter and her guests had a great time at the young ladies 21st birthday after party drinks gathering, the next night a group of about twenty young people came in, all of them were incredibly polite and either shook my hand or inthe girls case kissed my cheek, at the back of the group were 3 forty something year old men. I thought it a bit strange that these 3 were hanging out with the youngsters but hey this was Raffles and I had seen funnier things. My receptionist was quite excited about one of the young men, I thought she fancied him and was making fun of her, She told me that it was Prince William, I said not to be silly, I would have noticed him. So off I marched into the main bar area, as I opened the door the 3 older guys all stood up as one and gave me the once over, and there at the bar talking to an oriental "lady" was indeed Prince William, the party was for his now wife Kate Middleton, He was a really nice young bloke, he came and sat at the door for a few minutes and we had a chat, he supports Aston Villa so we shared a bit of banter, at the end of the evening the group wanted to walk along the Kings Road, this really pissed the 3 older guys off as they followed in there Range Rovers, a memorable evening by any standard.

So now we lived in Carshalton, Surrey. It was 2003 and things were looking good for us, I was still earning extremely good money, so I spent another £10,000 on improvements to the house, so in about a year I had laid out approx £30,000 in cash, this was fine until April 2004, I was called to a meeting with the owner of Raffles and another guy, they told me that they were going to renovate Raffles and that it would reopen in a different way, they said I would no longer be the doorman and that I was to be a greeter, in hindsight I should have refused and told them that I was happy with my terms and conditions and that I would remain in my doormans role, but I sat there and thought that as a 41 year old man this maybe the future for me. So I accepted, I was told to have a holiday and come back in June for the reopening. I then hired an enormous villa in Portugal for a week and the 3 of us escaped to the sun. We had a great time, our own pool, electric gates, orange and lemon trees in our own garden, Laura even got her own job in the local pub, she was only 4 but every night she would pick Lemons and go behind the bar to serve the locals. And then came the grand reopening of Raffles, they had given my job to two very flash young yuppie girls with clipboards, about 6 miserable looking eastern european security men complete with ear pieces, and me standing there in my dinner suit and black bow tie. People were turning up who came there on a regular basis and these 2 silly girls were refusing them entry, I stood there in disbelief and was told to mind my own buissnes by the guy in charge, we had quite a row but I was by now a bit concerned, then something happened that made up my mind, a young bloke in ripped jeans and trainers tapped me on the shoulder "Hello Paul mate" he says, he was a bloke who I had known since he was about 12 from the estate I had lived on, nice enough fella but this was Raffles the home of Lords, Ladies and Millionaires. If this was the future then I was most definatly the past. I came home at 2am and I am not ashamed to say that I sat in my front room and cried my eyes out. After about 17 years and doing the door single handedly with only a handful of troublesome incidents, I would not allow any, I was a washed up old has been. I never went back to Raffles and I never will, I am just not interested and truly believe that my time was the best time.