We met an old friend of mine and his partner who I have known now for over 55 years, my how time flies and went to the Goodwood Festival of Speed this week, staying in our usual hotel, the rather amusing Old Railway Station at Petworth.
As a GRRC Member we parked the Arnage in the Performance Car Park and headed to the Kinrara Enclosure where we were based for the day, having watched the cars going up the hill for a while we went for a walk round and then came back for lunch.
I’m always surprised that you never see people you know in such a large crowd, they must be there but never in the same place you are at the time, however during lunch one chap came to say hello who recognised me from when we had our cars displayed at Goodwood House in 2009, yet again time flies!
Finally, during a walk around the paddocks I came across a strange looking WO Bentley which looked brand new but not in a way that a concours restoration would look and upon questioning I was told it was one of the continuation Henry Birkin blower cars and indeed was brand new. Apparently, this was their development car and had just done 17000 miles and looked stunning.
I am a retired actor, although to be honest I only retired because I wasn't getting any work and the option of becoming an unemployed actor/waiter at my age was ludicrous, especially as my waiting skills are non-existent.
Having said I’m retired, I don’t think there really is such a thing as a retired actor for I am still available for work, I just don’t have an agent or any connections with regards to obtaining any worthwhile work.
I have over the years done student films when there is nothing else available, always low paid (if at all) the only incentive was always the promised copy of the finished film for your show reel which nine times out of ten always failed to materialise.
I spent many years looking after my aged mother who had dementia, hence the lack of acting work but shortly after her death I was lucky enough to run into an ex-girlfriend of many years ago and our romance blossomed once again, resulting in us getting married in 2013.
My move to the countryside inspired me to write The Diary of a Country Bumpkin which tells of my continuing dilemmas in dealing with the rigors of the countryside from the unexpectedly large number of pollens, fungal moulds and hay products waiting to attack the unsuspecting townie.
I enjoy writing, see my play Dulce Et Decorum Est Pro Patria Mori on The Wireless Theatre Company, The Plays Wot I Wrote and The Battle of Barking Creek both available on Amazon.co.uk and am very fond of classic cars so my ideal occupation would be acting in a film I had written set in the 1930s/40s, we live in hopes.
I am delighted to say that since venturing to the countryside where space is not quite the premium it is in town, I have due to the availability of two double garages acquired more classic cars to form a small collection the pride of which are a 1947 Bentley Mk VI and a 2000 Bentley Arnage.
My various blogs and websites are continually evolving and I’m sure that by following the appropriate links you will find something which will edify or amuse.
The Diary of a Country Bumpkin 