Reading all that above has totally flummoxed me. Worked over 20 years all over London and the only crime I witnessed was a prat running out of Sainsburys with bottles of beer being chased by about four staff.
London used to be a scary place for Northerners Page 2
Quote: Stephen Goodlad @ 11th November 2014, 10:06 AM GMTWhile he was laid gasping for breath she called me a 'f**king c**t'
I had never heard a woman swear before -
I think you'll find women swear up north, too.
This thread is making me feel strangely proud of London.
Oh I know they do. I hear them everyday. (I still don't like to hear it though) But back then, it was a showstopper to me.
All I saw as a callow youth was crime and dodgy dealings wherever I looked. I'm not trying to denigrating London, I enjoyed the feeling of mystery and suspense on each visit. These are just records of my experiences in the late 70's early 80's.
For instance, I was working on an exhibition in the Olympia halls during the 'build up' and a large van pulled into the middle. Nothing unusual in that but a queue formed behind it as if it was an ice-cream van.
I went to see what it was all about and a 'geezer' was flogging sheepskin coats out of the back. Of course I bought one for a 10th of it's value. (not the one that was stolen)
Then another bloke was selling counterfeit tenners. £1000 for £100. I didn't buy them but plenty did.
Quote: Nogget @ 11th November 2014, 9:39 AM GMTSome of my memories of London in the early 80's: seeing a bank robbery right in front of me; the barman getting shot at in the pub we were in; kids with little fingers missing after being disciplined by whatever mob ruled that part of town; two cars pulling up outside work, and the drivers getting out weapons to have a fight in our yard...then the next day, one of the relatives coming around asking who had phoned The Old Bill (don't admit to that); the car in front of me being ambushed by a group of (primary school age) kids, who pelted it with stones before one of them chucked a brick through the window. Actually, that last one was from 10 years ago, so I doubt much has changed.
Ah what memories! The good old days eh?
Actually, none of that really bothered me very much; I think you just get used to it.
I once read a story of a northerner who when he disembarked from the the train he actually thought he was in the centre of London and it was all covered in glass !
I go oop north many times a year and I think I heard the following conversation a 100 times.
"ee them bloody oyster cards, thems only for Londoners so they can charge decent folks extra for using t' tube."
I do wonder if I suggest you can have one for a £3 deposit would get my ears boxed?
Or you can just use a contactless bank card.
Oi! you bloody well leave us Northerners alone!
It would be easier if you weren't so damned sexy.
Quote: Stephen Goodlad @ 11th November 2014, 10:06 AM GMTCor! Amazingly to me at the time, I was told by the police I was stupid for putting my coat on a coat hanger then taking my eyes off it....
I said I was as green as grass at the time and the one armed man that tried to attack me proved it. He was with his girlfriend and bumped into me on purpose (to show off I expect) I was a big strong lad and he bounced off me. He then took a swing at me with his one arm. I grabbed it and told him to behave.
But he took another and another and wasn't going away.
So I floored him with a quick jab to the solar plexus.
Then more shocking to me than the guy trying to hit me was his girlfriend. While he was laid gasping for breath she called me a 'f**king c**t'
I had never heard a woman swear before - not that bad anyway he he.
Did you tell Dr Richard Kimble about it?
Shame it's still not scary for them!