Bob Piper has been a Labour Councillor for the Abbey
Ward in Sandwell, West Midlands, for 10 years. He is a lifelong supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and a follower of Yorkshire County Cricket Club.
The views expressed here are mine in a personal capacity, not those of the Labour Party, Sandwell MBC, Aston Villa or Yorkshire County Cricket Club. Get it! Mine... just mine!
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
Promoted by Bob Piper of 115 Barclay Rd, B67 5JZ on behalf of the Labour Party, care of 39 Victoria Street London, SW1H 0HA . Hosted (printed) by Swaithe Internet Solutions who are not responsible for any of the contents of these posts.
Please note however, that The Labour Party is not responsible for the content of this website or individual posts as, unless specifically stated, I am writing solely in a personal and individual capacity.
I've been 'tagged' by Sadie (which is probably not quite as nice as it sounds) to do this Meme which originated from Iain Dale.
What were you doing when you heard about...
Princess Diana's death - 31st August 1997
Watching television in bed on a Sunday morning... like most Sunday mornings. My main memory is of Blair's appalling, cringemaking 'people's princess' nonsense.
Margaret Thatcher's Resignation - 22nd November 1990
I had been in the House of Commons the day before for a meeting on superannuation schemes and everyone was speculating on whether the count going on down the corridor would see her off. But strangely, I cannot remember where I was when I heard the news. Perhaps tragedies stick in the mind more than moments of pure joy.
Attack on the twin towers - 11 September 2001
I was listening to the car radio in a hotel car park, waiting to go in to a meeting on Education with Serco. The first tower had been hit and on the radio people were speculating on the cause of the explosion. I didn't find out about the attack until I came out two hours later.
England's World Cup Semi Final against Germany - 4 July 1990
Watched it at home with the missus and the bin lids. They were all excited and insisted on singing that bloody song over and over. I knew Southgate would miss the penalty, I just knew it. Just as I knew Vassell would make a cock-up of his pen. in the Euros. Neither of the buggers would ever be let near a penalty for us. Bottlers, the pair of 'em.
(Correction, same Germans, different year see comments).
President Kennedy's Assassination - 22 November 1963
It was a Friday evening, I saw a newsflash in a Granada TV hire shop - how strange in these days of 3 and 4 tv households to think that way back then people used to hire them - whilst waiting for a bus. I don't really remember that much about it, and I never felt the same sense of loss that I associated with the death of his brother Bobby.
Mike Wood said:
August 24, 2008 6:35 PM | permalink
I think you're mixing up your penalty shoot out defeats. They do seem to merge together after a while.
David Boycott said:
August 24, 2008 6:53 PM | permalink
Nessun dorma do you mean? D you dislike it or was it just over-played?
Bob Piper said:
August 24, 2008 7:37 PM | permalink
David, Mike, you're both right, I was thinking of the Euro 96 penalty shoot out and Baddiel and Skinner.
The 1990 one... I was in the same place, minus the bin lids (too young) and I loved Nessun Dorma, it just seemed so appropriate. And a Villa player never missed in 1990 (actually, I think Platt scored)
Paul Sandars said:
August 24, 2008 8:05 PM | permalink
Can I have my fourpennorth?
Princess Diana's death - 31st August 1997
I'd been to Blackpool and got back at 1am and wide-awake. I put on R5 where the late great Pattie Coldwell was doing the overnight slot. The tragedy unfolded as the hour went by and I went to bed thinking she was hurt but would recover. Next morning, I put the radio on to find a BBC News service on all BBC frequencies-and Diana talked of in the past tense.
Margaret Thatcher's Resignation - 22nd November 1990
At uni- and lived in the students union for three days watching the TV and having a drink.
Attack on the twin towers - 11 September 2001
I was working in Walsall with a great joker named Greg. I arrived back at work from lunch to find Greg saying that five planes were bombing America. I honestly thought he had had a breakdown- but found the boss putting the TV on. I think we all had breakdowns that day.
England's World Cup Semi Final against Germany - 4 July 1990
At home with the folks. Boring, eh? I'd be in a pub now.
President Kennedy's Assasination - 22 November 1963
Thanks mate, I can manage three out of five. But you have already shown the difficulty of remembering which penalty miss is which. I remember listening to Princess Diana addressing a meeting in the Lords once, but I will have to find out where I was on 31 August, 1997.
Glad to hear you didn't succumb to all the Princess Diana nonsense, Bob. I think it was the very same evening in the pub that I heard the first sick jokes on the subject ... :D
August 24, 2008 6:35 PM | permalink
I think you're mixing up your penalty shoot out defeats. They do seem to merge together after a while.