30 years' ago today, I arrived back from Japan.
I'd just got back home to Caerphilly when the Enniskillen bomb exploded.
It seemed oddly inappropriate that I was so pleased to be home while people were reeling.
In those days, the Japanese electronic giants had seemed indomitable. Just as Philips, Plessey, STC and GEC had.
But challenges came.
A few days later, my youngest was born. In the Miners Hospital.
All around the pits were closing.
Japan had seemed so far ahead that no country could ever match it.
Challenges came.
In the seventies, I worked for Avis in Shalesmoor, based at Shalesmoor Service Station. It's in Sheffield.
More soon on that year. But I was struck by this, a posh restaurant, albeit in a sea container. In Shalesmoor.
Why not? Says part of me. At least it's in a metal box.
You've been here 14 years and now you and your partner are planning to return to your home country in the EU.
You feel that you're an outsider now and no longer welcome. Or appreciated?
It was the uncertainty, you explained. Not knowing what rights you may have.
What seemed so certain has gone for good.
Friends with children will stay on and hope it all works out.
You don't have kids yet and your're not taking any chances.
You may come back, you may go to another EU country.
Our loss.
Reminded of this by hearing a snatch of a report on Radio 4 this morning.
http://humanities.exeter.ac.uk/history/research/centres/warstateandsociety/projects/bombing/italy/
It was while preparing vegetables in the kitchen at Chadwell Heath Hospital.
The acoustics were just right.
I thought it was a worthy tribute act. My much more mature and somewhat caustic colleagues didn't share that view. Thanks, Olive.
Great that The Proms are now recognising Scott's worth. I did, way back in 1967.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/events/ex9whn
The driver of the unnecessarily bloated Audi ignored me at my local zebra crossing this morning.
Do buyers of such vehicles feel that they have been granted impunity or is there an app that enables them to swish by on auto pilot?
Seconds after he ignored me standing at my zebra crossing as he cruised by at an illegal speed, he had to stop at a red light.
So why did he ignore me? Pointless.
Either way, it's annoying.
Why is it that flash, expensive cars are far less likely to stop at our crossing than lesser cars.
On my way back, the driver of a 65 bus stopped for me, as they usually do. Perhaps he sensed my Freedom Pass.
I felt guilty for delaying a bus load of citizens. I bet the bloated Audi driver didn't share my shame.
The battered old and grey 2CV did make it back from the South of France, without mishap.
Well, there was the significant detour, caused by the weakness of those 6V headlights. Candles would have been more powerful.
As the weather got colder, the battery suffered, and I frequently jump started the car. The problem was that the front doors hinged the wrong way.
I'd run along the road after pushing the car and try to jump start. It always started. But getting into the car while it was moving and fighting the door proved difficult and possibly dangerous.
A solution had to be found.
I found one that was much cheaper than buying a new battery. But it did mean that I had to take the door off.
That was easy - I was able to lift it up, slide it off the runner and lean it against a hedge. I then charged along the road, alongside the car, jumped in and started it. I'd reverse back, slide the door back into place and drive off.
I did this on my own, for some weeks.
Neighbours were bemused at the sight of this young guy, normally wearing a suit, carrying out this morning ritual.