Barry

Keb: Well it's been a very hectic three weeks. Started with a very bumpy flight to Tacloban then a rush home before Yolanda struck. Spent the night taping up windows, blitz style, then forming a barricade in the middle of the room for the family, friend, and relatives to hide behind. Followed by two hours of pulling relatives and their kids away from the windows, the message got through eventually as the complete windows with frames started spinning round the room. Next news arrived that my NPA guerilla buddy and his dwarf wife were missing, so like a twat out I went to find them. The locals thought I was mad, but they are a lovely couple, and we had a big strong house for them to hide in. Spent an hour dodging falling trees, and flying corrugated iron roofs. Found out later he was half a mile in the jungle gathering said roofs so that he could build the house of his dreams after the typhoon finished. Next I remembered that I had told a friend Jonathan from down in the town to come to ours asap with his family but he had not shown up. So off I toddled to Hernani proper, to be met by a flood of refugees heading the opposite direction. I got into town a bit and heard the scream "TUBIG, TUBIG" which means water in a negative way. Shure enough in came another wave about chest high, but I'm a good swimmer so nae bother. I then found Jonathan heading to the Iglesia ni Christo church who's gates had been locked when the main wave hit. I then thought I should head off into town to try and help any other survivors. Not many injured though, they were either dead or not. The water was about waist high now and full of debris. I got a stick and started prodding for bodies. Rain was pouring down, the water rising again and I was by now at the other side of town thinking I might get cut off so home I headed, ha ha ha 2 hours to do a 15 minute journey, too much debris in the water. I arrived home to find Edith feeding over 200 people in the house, and 300 over in the school. We were the only fuckers that had food left undamaged. I'll post film and photos later, some not so nice. Stood guard that night then on day 2 took a reluctant brother in law to look for dead or injured, (the Mayor, and police had disappeared so it was just us). We found most of the dead washed up in all the debris up at the high tide mark, days later those who had been washed out to sea made their presence known, the heat and salt water speeds up the decomposing so they were easy to find, just follow your nose. The high tide bodies were a mix of fresh bodies plus those washed out of their graves. Sadly 13 of the dead were Edith's family, and numerous friends. I took some photos which I will post, but stopped after seeing the face on a chap from Carmen who came to help when he realized the dead girl I was pulling out and shooting was his sister. The next week was spent feeding people, looking for dead, sending those living that I came across to my house on the hill,and reassuring people that relief would arrive soon. The people were very strong in spirit but knew that their own govt did not care for them, and found it hard to believe that foreigners would help. On day 8 I woke up to the sound of the first chopper, (now when you have no electricity and your food and water is running out this sort of noise is very exciting). Now don't let the news tell you different, the first people to appear several days before the rest were the US navy from USS George Washington. They were at first landing anywhere flat and handing out to whoever was standing there. On about day 10 the Mayor appeared and took charge of distributing relief goods. This involved Men with automatic rifles, light and heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, etc protecting the relief boxes until the Mayor had shifted "the good stuff" into his newly commandeered storage buildings. These buildings were then guarded. The Mayor then started handing out bags of water damaged rice and water stained tinned foods only to those who he knew had voted for him. 800 burgers cooked fresh on the US ship went rotten as the mayor spent days working out how to make a profit out of them. My next task was to photograph this and let the yanks know. Not as easy as said as the mayors men knew I was a friend of the opposition mayor. I went in pretending to be giving them free Aikido lessons, as they knew I often did this, then took photos of the stockpiles as they laughed at each other fucking up what I had taught them. Next day I caught a US Marine seaplane as it landed, and got hold of the CO as he stood taking in the view of destruction. Perfect marine officer, chewing tobacco and all. He was great, I had just mentioned what was going on when the mayor and his bodyguards turned up to introduce himself. The Marine CO then shouted "Bob get these people (mayor's group) back, I need to talk to this gentleman in private". He fully understood, and told me it was the same in most third world countries, he had just been in Haiti and had to get everything passed the gang bosses who ran the place. I'm going for a crap, I'll continue the story soon, then post lots of photos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4qLPdI7bZnI

....I was just telling you that they didn't

....the hard way too no doubt. Trains, buses, Shanks Pony and yer thumb were the 80's way. None of this poncey car stuff you get nowadays ;0)

You were lucky then, loads a Soulie Bashing went on in the town.

Jolly good mate

Odd. I don't think I've got one meself anymore - but will check later - will be straight on the Bay if so

That's the thing that always gets overlooked - it was that diverse in the end, it was unreal what was getting thrown on (start you're own thread with that one ). There was a definately a new breed born then, one that grew up on the Nighter scene that didn't see NS just as Classic Oldies, Footsee, Joe 90 - we saw it as Cecil Washington, Velvet Hammer, The Phantom Janitor (Deadbeats), ZZ & Co (Quality Soul, Disco, Garage, Southern drawl) etc etc, all kinds of stuff. That new breed had the breadth musically to take it on a step further. Exciting 'new' underground music played to young unstained minds - in reality Wigan couldn't have finished at a better time for Northern Soul. But it laid real strong foundations for the future... always grateful to it (them - the DJ's) for that.

You know, I never once had a pint in Wigan beforehand - I looked too young, so after a couple of attempts gave up - used to get the 11.03pm 640 from Warrington which got us to the bottom of Station Rd for 11.45.

I'd never heard it played out before but no doubt you're right - doesn't warrant that money though.

Placcie Scouser types - I found that I never got much help when I got outside, had me pockets emptied on a number of occassions sat on the little wall amongst bundles of other Soulies.

That'll have been China and his boys, used to do me for me cash or summat else every now and then too

Just checked Popsike - they do fetch a couple of bob - used to play this at Bradford but it didn't do owt really. Nice enough track but I'd never give you anything like those bids for it.

I remember picking a load of these up in late 80's and knocking 'em out @ a fiver... https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/VERY-RARE-MODERN-SOUL-BOBBY-FINCH-ON-BEVNIK-RECORDS-/151172681728?pt=UK_Records&hash=item2332981000#ht_508wt_1328 ...is this right? *Edit: actually I think I got £8 a piece on reflection

I can't imagine Norman singing it.

Was booted with Janice on the flip in 81 for the Wigan market. I'm sure they all skipped.

The reason I use backenders as my example is due to the amount of quality (in my opinion) newies from all eras that got played at that time, in that place - it possibly stretched the patience of some but set up some major excitement musically which I think made people want to travel to other venues after Wigan closed. It was a pivotal period.

It's a funny thing about that piano riff in LH as I had a record shop all the way through the crazy house thing when every old track that had a clear sampleable piano break in it got used in a house/rave track - except Love Hustle....unless someone can tell me different.

You're telling us a little more about yerself there than I think you should fella! Edit* Right, just seen the post you're relating to - was it some kind of gay thing then??

It's one of them 'at school' things, I think I have some kind of linked in testosterone thingy goiung on with stuff I liked at that age - can't shake 'em.