The Indubitable Man's Man our friend Brian, aka Joe Bailey 26 1 9
He and I were friends almost from the cradle up and once grown up a bit our Mam told how when I was younger I had said "When I grow up I'm going to marry Brian" as he was then.
Well we got to share a lot of stuff like building a boggy: a plank of wood, stolen from nevermind where, and fitted out with four old child's pram wheels, 2 in front and 2 at the back, maybe someone of us pushing one of the others, seated with reins in hands, to change direction, left or right. Taking turns to enjoy the fun, until Brian's elder brother, Lewis thought he'd exchange it for someone's air gun..! Lewis, so much older, never considered consulting we group of youngsters, some 3 or 4 years his junior. Lew wasn't a man's man: just another a*sehole, hahaha
I personally got to share lots of things with Brian in those early years, including the two bottom places in our secondary school class of 32 students, for our shared desk, and inability to learn to read, or spell English words, as quickly as the rest of the class...
But after growning up a bit more, Joe who by that time had transmogrified from this guy known simply by his given name Brian...into this Philosophical Man's Man, known universally as Joe, most affectionately, by all who knew him better. If in doubt ask by brother Jim, whom he befriended later in adulthood.
Fast forward now to our early 20's when the four of us Higgi, Joe, Brother Jim and I went to the English Lake District camping, nearby Castlerigg, maybe at Easter time, just to the south of Keswick, just off the road to Ambleside. With the interminable disputes with Higgi on the subject of where to walk for the day, when on the occasion coming to mind, Joe and I went off to climb the seldom climbed Skiddaw, whilst Jim and Higgi went for the more frequented Saddleback hill, meeting up again in the evening, in good time for a meal by the camp-fire (?) and another evening in a nearby pub, in one of Joe's favourite expressions: to sink the gallon (of Bittter beer).
40 years later I would return to this same hill, upon Joe's unfortunate premature demise aged 62, to mull over once more the old times of our salad days, when a few pints and not a few ciggies, was the order of the day, and a fair old sprinkling of a man's crack...
On one such occasion Joe would tell of the time he had broke it off with his betrothed of several months when he had already bought, or put down the first installments, on the bridal home, but when out of the blue she announced that her mother would be moving in with them? When, thereafter, he began to frequent the Cricketers' Social Club in Green Mount, to chat with friends and maybe the odd colleague.
Well the story then turned on the fact that this particular night there was a young lady he had taken a shine to, on an earlier occasion, only this time he was a free agent agent, and she appeared to be keen on listening to his chat, which we all to a man enjoyed.
So, continuing his tale he said that after last orders had been called, he thought he would try his luck and ask her could he see her home, when she readily concurred...But upon reaching the house in question and being invited in for a bit of slap and tickle, it all unfortunately ended in disappointment, as he confessed, "But you know ** 'I couldn't get a hard on'", maybe the gallon on that occasion getting him water-logged, catching him with his pants down but with no follow-througth..? lol
Unfortunately for me I cannot describe such events with the pathos at Joe's disposal, but I can relate how his story almost had me in tears...hahaha!!!
Then one more story from our walks on Holcome Hill, when in describing the 3 things a woman is best for, he ennumberated the following: 1) Frying Bacon; 2) Emtying the ashes out; and 3) *******!? No prizes for guessing the missing trait! On top, to win Bonk! We all to a man miss Brian aka Joe Bailey, and undoubtedly a few of the Ladies too because he was always charm itself with the ladies, ask my Missus if in doubt...
Well we got to share a lot of stuff like building a boggy: a plank of wood, stolen from nevermind where, and fitted out with four old child's pram wheels, 2 in front and 2 at the back, maybe someone of us pushing one of the others, seated with reins in hands, to change direction, left or right. Taking turns to enjoy the fun, until Brian's elder brother, Lewis thought he'd exchange it for someone's air gun..! Lewis, so much older, never considered consulting we group of youngsters, some 3 or 4 years his junior. Lew wasn't a man's man: just another a*sehole, hahaha
I personally got to share lots of things with Brian in those early years, including the two bottom places in our secondary school class of 32 students, for our shared desk, and inability to learn to read, or spell English words, as quickly as the rest of the class...
But after growning up a bit more, Joe who by that time had transmogrified from this guy known simply by his given name Brian...into this Philosophical Man's Man, known universally as Joe, most affectionately, by all who knew him better. If in doubt ask by brother Jim, whom he befriended later in adulthood.
Fast forward now to our early 20's when the four of us Higgi, Joe, Brother Jim and I went to the English Lake District camping, nearby Castlerigg, maybe at Easter time, just to the south of Keswick, just off the road to Ambleside. With the interminable disputes with Higgi on the subject of where to walk for the day, when on the occasion coming to mind, Joe and I went off to climb the seldom climbed Skiddaw, whilst Jim and Higgi went for the more frequented Saddleback hill, meeting up again in the evening, in good time for a meal by the camp-fire (?) and another evening in a nearby pub, in one of Joe's favourite expressions: to sink the gallon (of Bittter beer).
40 years later I would return to this same hill, upon Joe's unfortunate premature demise aged 62, to mull over once more the old times of our salad days, when a few pints and not a few ciggies, was the order of the day, and a fair old sprinkling of a man's crack...
On one such occasion Joe would tell of the time he had broke it off with his betrothed of several months when he had already bought, or put down the first installments, on the bridal home, but when out of the blue she announced that her mother would be moving in with them? When, thereafter, he began to frequent the Cricketers' Social Club in Green Mount, to chat with friends and maybe the odd colleague.
Well the story then turned on the fact that this particular night there was a young lady he had taken a shine to, on an earlier occasion, only this time he was a free agent agent, and she appeared to be keen on listening to his chat, which we all to a man enjoyed.
So, continuing his tale he said that after last orders had been called, he thought he would try his luck and ask her could he see her home, when she readily concurred...But upon reaching the house in question and being invited in for a bit of slap and tickle, it all unfortunately ended in disappointment, as he confessed, "But you know ** 'I couldn't get a hard on'", maybe the gallon on that occasion getting him water-logged, catching him with his pants down but with no follow-througth..? lol
Unfortunately for me I cannot describe such events with the pathos at Joe's disposal, but I can relate how his story almost had me in tears...hahaha!!!
Then one more story from our walks on Holcome Hill, when in describing the 3 things a woman is best for, he ennumberated the following: 1) Frying Bacon; 2) Emtying the ashes out; and 3) *******!? No prizes for guessing the missing trait! On top, to win Bonk! We all to a man miss Brian aka Joe Bailey, and undoubtedly a few of the Ladies too because he was always charm itself with the ladies, ask my Missus if in doubt...
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