IT'S PAINTING AND DRAWING HERE From Monday 25th. April

James Bond Fan Club NewsLetter For November 2011

Dear colin


Newsletter                                            November, 2011
Bond With a 'B' is Back!
At last. Early November gave us the official announcement that we had all been waiting for. A press conference was held by Eon Productions in central London on Thursday, November 3, and this confirmed that James Bond movie no. 23 is 'Skyfall', which Michael G. Wilson at one point joked was 'the worst kept secret in London'. At another stage during the special media event Daniel Craig stated that, in doing his third 007 adventure, it was his intention 'to make the best Bond movie that we possibly could, and Bond with a capital B...'. Lined up on the panel were Berenice Marlohe, Javier Bardem, Naomie Harris, Dame Judi Dench, Daniel Craig, Sam Mendes, Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson. Director Sam Mendes also confirmed that Ralph Fiennes, Ben Whishaw and Albert Finney will also be part of the distinguished cast, but he did not at that point give any more details about their precise roles. Before taking questions from the audience, each member of the panel was invited to make some brief comments about the new experience now facing them. Sam Mendes, looking very happy, commented that he had always been 'a huge fan' of the Bond movies. He said he 'loved' Daniel Craig's first 007 movie 'Casino Royale', and was excited about his friend Daniel's work. He also explained that he 'wanted a huge challenge'. Barbara Broccoli, in her contribution, said 'working with Sam is a dream come true', and she emphasised that Sam Mendes has brought 'enthusiasm and commitment' to the project.
Golden High
Much of the media event went out live on various TV news channels, and numerous internet forums were soon chewing over the mini-avalanche of sudden Bond coverage. Just over an hour after the end of the media event, the JBIFC had written our first report on the proceedings (at 2.00pm), and this was followed by our second report an hour later (phew!). A number of other Bond fan websites had given detailed reports on the media event by the end of the Thursday, and it is no exaggeration to say that the official confirmation news about 'Skyfall' and its cast had gone truly global within hours. Bond remains big news. The British media in particular gave extensive coverage to the start-of-production media event for 'Skyfall' and, given all the anxieties there had been concerning MGM's financial situation over the last four years, the sense of relief and excitement at the return of 007 was very much in evidence, both on the day itself and over the following few days. The London Evening Standard, for example, carried an almost immediate response on the same day as the media event with: 'Bond Is Back: Stellar Cast For New Movie Skyfall'. The next day, people purchasing UK newspapers on a rainy Friday morning were faced with various colourful reports about the new Bond adventure. The Daily Express, to take just one example, placed a large photo of French actress Berenice Marlohe in her red dress on its front page with: 'Oh oh heaven! Meet Bond's new beauty'. Inside the paper, the coverage opened with the lines: 'For millions of Bond fans the wait was over yesterday as details of the hotly-awaited blockbuster were unveiled'. The paper also commented: 'Bond is back with a bang'.
Cue the New 'Q'
Bond news has been coming thick and fast during November. According to both the UK newspaper The Sun and (shortly afterwards) the BBC, the actor Ben Whishaw has been cast as the new 'Q' in the 23 rd James Bond movie. He will be following in the prestigious footsteps of Desmond Llewelyn and John Cleese, but it is thought that his version of MI6's gadgets Quartermaster will see a radical reboot of the character by director Sam Mendes. The 31-year old English actor recently starred in the well-received BBC drama series 'The Hour', which was about the world of newspaper journalism during the mid-1950s, around the time of the Suez Crisis (and coincidentally involved an espionage dimension, with Whishaw's character clearly admiring the work of Fleming). Whishaw's other acting credits include 'Criminal Justice' and 'Brideshead Revisited'. Interestingly, Whishaw is also due to play Richard II, opposite Rory Kinnear (who also, of course, has a role in 'Skyfall'), in a new BBC Shakespeare adaptation being overseen by Sam Mendes. This will form part of the 2012 Cultural Olympiad, designed to complement the Olympics in London next year. True to form, The Sun newspaper commented: 'Handsome ben will be the youngest actor to play the MI6 gadget master - and at 31 he is 12 years younger than 007 star Daniel Craig'. The paper's unnamed 'source' was also quoted as saying that Whishaw's version of 'Q' will be 'very different' from the previous 'Q's, adopting a more serious tone in line with the trend in Craig's Bond movies. This was followed up later on Friday November 25 by a report from the BBC which said that Whishaw's agent had now confirmed the casting news.
Writer Royale: John Logan Speaks
The playwright and screenwriter John Logan, who is part of the 'Skyfall' screenwriting team alongside Neal Purvis and Robert Wade, was interviewed recently by the TriQuarterly, an online journal of writing, art and culture. Although the interview took place some time before the new 007 movie was officially confirmed as 'Skyfall', Logan made some interesting comments about his involvement in both general film writing and in the 007 franchise. At one point Logan was asked whether there is a common thread that connects all his work? He responded: 'Yes and no. In a way, I'm always drawn toward big characters and the exciting, theatrical idea. Complex, dark characters appeal to me'. At another juncture in the interview, Logan was asked: 'In 2002 you wrote Star Trek: Nemesis, and now you're working on the next James Bond movie, Bond 23. What is it like to work on a series in which other people have written the previous movies?' Logan replied: 'It's like being part of an ongoing story. I grew up on the Bond movies, and I remember the first one I saw. I remember seeing other ones over the years. They are part of my life story. Same with the Star Trek characters: they've been a part of my life for years. So to get to go in and help shape that ongoing journey is thrilling'. When asked whether there is any pressure, Logan commented: 'There is a unique sense of responsibility to it. The audience comes in with a certain level of expectation and a certain investment and familiarity with the characters. So you want to treat the audience really well'.
A Special Bond: Fiennes and Logan
Interestingly, since the 'Skyfall' press conference on November 3, it has also emerged that John Logan played a part in getting his good friend Ralph Fiennes a part in the new Bond adventure. The two men had collaborated recently on a modern version of Shakespeare (which both men are passionate about), when Logan scripted Fiennes's critically appraised movie version of Coriolanus. In an interview about Coriolanus, given on November 7 to The Playlist (part of the Indiewire Network), Fiennes revealed that Logan was partly responsible for him appearing in the new 007 adventure because, said Fiennes, Logan 'wrote this really interesting part which is really quite fun'. As we noted in our last Newsletter, Fiennes is a considerable catch for Sam Mendes and the new Bond production, and it would appear that Fiennes is already relishing his upcoming part in 'Skyfall': according to the Daily Telegraph's showbiz columnist 'Mandrake' (Tim Walker), while working out at a gym in New York, the Shakespearean actor's mobile telephone went off, and the ringtone was Monty Norman's instantly recognisable 'James Bond theme'!
Logan's Law
Another interview with John Logan appeared in November, but this time with Collider.com, and in this session he revealed some further clues about his work on the new Bond movie. Logan said that 'Skyfall' director Sam Mendes had known him for 15 years. Mendes had invited Logan to work on the 'great script' by Purvis and Wade, and Logan was unable to resist the offer, as he had grown up with the Bond movies: he said 'the first Bond movie I ever saw was Diamonds Are Forever, I remember every moment of it'. In slight contrast to Mendes, however, who said at the November 3 press conference in London that the 'Skyfall' plot was a stand-alone one, and not a sequel to 'Quantum', Logan said that to say it's not following on is one thing, but all Bond movies are in some way 'sequels' due the nature of the franchise: 'It has nothing to do with being a standalone film, as far as I'm concerned, because I don't think these films are standalone, I think they're part of a legacy'. Logan added that, with the longer writing time available for 'Skyfall' compared to 'Quantum', and with Mendes being involved with the project for a year before the cameras rolled, making the blend of action and drama work had been foremost in their minds: 'It's a very collaborative process, and Sam is front and centre on everything. He's got an amazingly exciting adventure mind, which not all filmmakers do...'.
Try Another Way: Scottish Castle Location Changed
In a surprise move, it emerged in mid-November that the 'Skyfall' production team have now decided not to use Duntrune Castle, near Lochgilphead in Argyll, Scotland, as a key location. It is thought the beautiful castle had originally been chosen for filming parts of the climax for the new Bond adventure in the early months of 2012. A considerable number of production crew had been due to descend on the castle and surrounding area, and local hotels had been booked. Hoteliers were looking forward to the potential boost to local income. According to sources, Eon Productions locations manager Russell Lodge made a personal visit to the castle to deliver the bad news to the owner. The castle's owner, Robin Malcolm, commenting to Scottish TV, said: 'We were as surprised as anyone when they said "No it's all off". I feel particularly sorry for hoteliers and tradesmen in the area who were looking forward to a prosperous New Year'. He added: 'For the past three months they have been sending people up here in increasing numbers to look around. Last time we had 50 people having lunch in our kitchen. I think they would like to keep a Scottish dimension in the film, but where they do that is up to them. You win some, you lose some'. One hotelier, in Ardrishaig, also confirmed that Eon had cancelled a booking for 22 rooms in February, 2012. Asked about the decision by the Scotsman newspaper, a spokeswoman for Eon Productions responded: 'Lots of locations have been scouted. We are looking at a number of different places'.
Early 'Skyfall' Footage Shot in London
No sooner had the 'Skyfall' press conference taken place at the Corinthia Hotel near London's Whitehall on November 3 than the crew were making use of locations in and around the Whitehall area on Thursday and Friday, and then, on Saturday November 5, at Smithfield Market, in Clerkenwell. Some of the shooting took place near Gate 20 at the famous meat Market which, ironically, is not too far from the Barbican Centre, where some scenes had been shot with Rory Kinnear and Judi Dench for 'Quantum of Solace'. Interestingly, both Kinnear and Dench were involved in the 'Skyfall' shooting at Smithfield, which saw a mini-convoy of black government-style vehicles (a Jaguar XJL and a Range Rover) using the road around the famous (but quite shabby) Market. The weather at the Smithfield location was rather grey and overcast at times, and wet-weather gear was needed at one point. Other key members of the cast involved included Daniel Craig. At one point, Michael G. Wilson arrived at the scene to quietly observe the proceedings and chat briefly to director Sam Mendes. Other London location shooting also took place in November, including in an area near Waterloo station, then at Spitalfields (not far from the famous Spitalfields Market), and, on Saturday November 19, outside the famous National Gallery in London's Trafalgar Square. The latter filming, which took place early on the Saturday morning, involved a smartly-dressed but bearded Daniel Craig pausing on the wide stone steps of the Gallery and then walking down them, and at one point he appeared to look skywards. A large crowd of extras were used as Gallery visitors. It is understood that the Gallery has signed a confidentiality agreement with Eon not to reveal any details about the day's filming.
Thunderballs
In an operation worthy of SPECTRE, on the morning of November 17 the JBIFC received a strange e-mail from somebody calling himself the 'Latin Sleaze'. The gentleman concerned, who was clearly hoping we would immediately run the story contained in his message, claimed that Sam Mendes had chosen former 'Oasis' band member Noel Gallagher to write and sing the new theme song for 'Skyfall'. The curious e-mail said: 'Apparently Daniel Craig is quite the fan of the now defunct British rock band', and it also alleged that Mendes and Eon producers Barbara Broccoli and Michael G. Wilson had 'been smitten' by Gallagher's latest work, as well as by some of his past ballads from his 'Oasis' days. When the JBIFC refused to play ball with this clumsy attempt at disinformation, the dodgy gentleman then took his story the very next day to some other Bond websites, who did decide to run the claims as 'breaking news'. The 'Latin Sleaze' even sold the story to the UK's Sun newspaper. When Gallagher heard about the claims shortly afterwards, the Manchester singer used his own blog to angrily refute the story. He made it clear he did know who 'Michael G. Wilson' is, and his reaction to the original 'source' of the claims was... well... characteristically unprintable!
Syd Cain (1918-2011)
The JBIFC was very sad to learn of the news that the production designer Syd Cain passed away on Monday, November 21, aged 93. The talented artist had a career that lasted nearly 50 years in the British film industry, and he was closely associated with some of the most memorable gadgets and set designs on the James Bond films from early on in the series. Working as both art and production designer on 'From Russia, With Love' (1963), for example, Cain designed what is probably one of the most iconic gadgets in the early 007 movies: the special black-leather attaché case, equipped with an Armalie AR-7 folding sniper's rifle, a throwing knife and a can of teargas disguised as talcum powder, something which proved to be a tearful surprise for Donald 'Red' Grant (Robert Shaw)! The JBIFC did a full interview with Syd which appeared in issue 22 of '007 Magazine' in 1990. This can be read in the member's area at: www.007.info/Members/SydCain.asp
Sheer Magnetism: Live and Let Die Watch Sold
Cain's creativity was on display at an auction held earlier in November. James Bond's specially adapted Rolex wristwatch, worn by Roger Moore in 'Live and Let Die' (1973), was sold at auction on November 14 for an eye-watering £242,000. The wristwatch, which was auctioned by Christie's, played a key role in Roger's first Bond movie. Near the beginning of the movie 007 explained to 'M' (Bernard Lee) that 'Q' had equipped it with a 'hyper-intensified magnetic field', which could deflect the path of a bullet even at long range, and an exasperated 'M' commented that he was very tempted to try this out! The movie also saw the watch convert into a buzz saw, which helped Bond break free from his ropes while a prisoner of Mr. Big. The wristwatch was converted from a stainless steel Rolex Oyster Perpetual by the late British production and art designer Syd Cain, and the Lot in the Christie's auction (Lot no. 1383) included two framed prints, one showing Bond unzipping Miss Caruso's dress with the watch ('sheer magnetism, darling'), and the other showing Bond with Solitaire tied to a hoist in Mr. Big's underground lair. The Lot also included Syd Cain's original production drawing showing the functioning of the different features of the watch. Syd Cain worked on more than 30 films, including four 007 movies. Since his retirement, Syd had concentrated on writing and illustrating children's and other stories. RIP, Syd.
Bond Born in the Trenches?
Historian, journalist, and Bond expert Ben Macintyre, whose books have included For Your Eyes Only: Ian Fleming and James Bond (2008), designed to complement the Ian Fleming Centenary exhibition held at the Imperial War Museum in 2008, contributed an interesting article to The Times newspaper on November 9. Noting that a new James Bond film had just been announced in the run-up to Remembrance Sunday, Macintyre's article explored the possible personal reasons that influenced Fleming's creation of Agent 007. He suggested that 007 may have been born out of the terrible impact on Fleming's life that came from the death of a young man in the trenches of the First World War: Fleming's own father, Valentine Fleming, who had spent three appalling years on the front line in France and had been killed in 1917, aged just 34. The Fleming brothers had idolised their father Val. According to Macintyre: 'The character of James Bond, Ian Fleming wrote, sprang from many sources, including "all the secret agents and commando types" he had known as an officer in Naval Intelligence during the Second World War. But undoubtedly the central, commanding personality behind Bond was the father killed in the line of duty in 1917, the ultimate man of action from Fleming's impressionable childhood'.
Double Agent
Way back in January 2010 the JBIFC Newsletter briefly discussed wartime spy Eddie Chapman. Ben Macintyre was the host of a new documentary about the real-life career of the British double-agent, screened on the UK's BBC-2 channel on November 15. Based on Agent ZigZag (2007), his bestselling biography of Eddie Chapman, Macintyre's entertaining documentary explored how a notorious safebreaker and womanizer ended up in a British prison on the island of Jersey and, when the Germans invaded the Channel Islands, offered his services to the new Nazi occupiers, in return for a large sum of money. Chapman was then trained by German intelligence for a mission to blow up a factory in the UK, but when he was parachuted into the country he promptly turned himself in and offered his services to MI5, the British Security Service, as a double agent. It was a story of adventure, espionage, secret codes, double-dealing, love affairs and amazing courage. And what gave Macintyre's new documentary added poignancy was the recent discovery in BBC archives of footage from an interview that Chapman had given in 1994, footage that could not be used by the BBC at the time because of fears that his revelations would break the UK's Official Secrets Act (OSA). In fact, when Chapman had tried to publish the full details of his own story during his lifetime, he had been prosecuted under the OSA. However, from 2002, the British government relaxed their policy on historical secrecy and declassified their MI5 files on 'ZigZag', enabling Macintyre to write his biography. The re-discovery of the long-forgotten footage of Chapman (who died in 1997), which included scenes of the chain-smoking Chapman zooming around in fast cars and relaxing in the sun, helped Macintyre's new documentary bring added insights into the life of one of World War Two's most important spies. Reflecting on seeing the footage for the first time, Macintyre commented to the Radio Times: 'Meeting Chapman from beyond the grave was one of the strangest experiences I have ever had'.
Did You Know?
There was an attempt to tell the story of Chapman's wartime career in the film Triple Cross (1966), directed by three-times Bond director Terence Young. Christopher Plummer played the handsome spy. The movie portrayed Chapman as a suave devil-may-care playboy, and even had Bondian-sounding opening and closing credits music! Young also recruited some familiar faces for roles in the movie: Gert Frobe (from 'Goldfinger'), Claudine Auger (from 'Thunderball'), and Anthony Dawson (from 'Dr. No'). Interestingly, there were various rumours in the late 1960s that Broccoli and Saltzman had considered Plummer as a potential candidate to play 007 post-Connery.
Bond Bits: Brief News Items You May Have Missed
Sir Roger Moore was a 'guest' at the recent classic car show at the NEC in Birmingham, but as a life-size cardboard cut-out. A standee of Sir Roger Moore from his days as 'The Saint' could be seen, standing guard next to his Volvo P1800 used in the classic 1960s TV series. Members of the public were soon taking the initiative and getting their photos taken with Sir Roger!...
Sir Tom Jones, who sang the powerful main theme song for 'Thunderball', recently applied for a Coat of Arms. According to the famous College of Arms, Sir Tom's crest features a demi red dragon holding an inverted leek! In 2002, another Bond singer, Sir Paul McCartney (who sang the theme to 'Live and Let Die') was granted a Coat of Arms featuring a guitar...
Three extremely rare behind-the-scenes photographs of Shirley Eaton being painted gold for her role in 'Goldfinger', shot by private photographer David Hurn, were sold at the auctioneers Bonhams for £2,580 in November...
Martin Campbell, the director of 'Goldeneye' and 'Casino Royale', is reported to be considering an offer to bring the 1980s American TV series 'The Fall Guy' to the big screen. The original series starred Lee Majors...
Principal photography on 'Skyfall' commenced at Pinewood Studios on Monday November 7, and the official Twitter account was soon displaying a 'Day 1' clapperboard...
Rory Kinnear, speaking in an interview given to 'CultBox', said that he would be involved in his 'Skyfall' filming through to the beginning of February, and: 'I think they are on until about April or May'. He also revealed that his character, Bill Tanner (M's Chief of Staff), 'gets a bit more facetime this time', and that his part 'is a bit more beefed-up'...
Judi 'M' Dench, interviewed in the UK's Sunday newspaper The People on November 13, said the new Bond movie has a 'terrific story', and, reflecting on her own role, she also commented that: 'I just like playing M - being very, very cross and keeping Bond in order is a lot of fun'...
A copy of the book-lover's magazine The Literary Review will appear as a prop in a scene set in M's flat in 'Skyfall'. The magazine's editor, Nancy Sladek, commented: 'We are thrilled. M is clearly a lady of great taste and authority'...
The British satirical magazine Private Eye had a lot of fun with the news that Bond is back. The November 25 edition revealed that 'in his most perilous mission yet, 007 must battle with Skycorp, a crumbling sinister shadowy organisation hidden inside America'! A photo of Sky Corporation boss Rupert Murdoch was super-imposed on Blofeld's body, stroking a white cat...
Bond author Ian Fleming's naval jacket, which he wore while observing the Dieppe commando raid in 1942, was sold at auction in late November for an astonishing £13,750. The jacket was put up for sale at Bonhams by Lord Mountbatten, who had inherited the jacket from the family of Ivar Bryce. Bryce had been a close friend of the Bond author since their schooldays...
Play it again, Sam? According to various reports, Sam Mendes has signed for just 'Skyfall', but there is increased evidence that Barbara Broccoli is keen to woo him back for Bond 24. So, what do you say, Sam?... 

What Did You Do in The War Daddy? ♥ Rembering 11/11/11 ♥

A Short History of an Old Royal Marine Commando Who Had Been There and Done That, Saw it All But, Never Told it All

Colour Sergeant Albert John Marriott R.M. 43 Commando 1940-45  
1922-2007  R.I.P.
 Albert (Bert) John Marriott,

Was Born at no.12 Temple Street, Southwark, London, October 30th. 1922, Early Schooling was at St.Judes, Southwark, and Later Culvert Road, Tottenham N.15 (Below)
 College of Haringey, Enfield and North East London, Tottenham
 He Left School 30th. October 1934 and the age of 12 years it seems, His Best Subject had been Carpentry so he Found Himself employed as a Joiners Mate in a Furniture Factory Starting off Glueing the Dowl Pegs in Those 1930's Chairs you still see Everywhere Today.


Taylorwoodrowlogo.png
Three Years Later Bert Joined Taylor Woodrow International a Rapidly Expanding Company on his Home Patch. They Worked on Projects all over the World, so Travel here and there was in the offing,
In 1930, Frank Taylor moved down from Blackpool to London where Taylor Woodrow rapidly expanded the scale of its private housebuilding - by the mid-1930s it was building at a rate of 1,200-1,500 houses a year. The Company built over 1,000 houses at Grange Park in Hayes and set up its headquarters in Adrienne Avenue in Southall.
In 1935, the various housebuilding companies were amalgamated and floated on the London Stock Exchange as Taylor Woodrow Estates.
In 1937, Taylor Woodrow Construction was formed and, after a modest start, the company was soon engaged in defence work. With the outbreak of war in 1939, all private housing development stopped. for six years Taylor Woodrow built military camps, airfields, and factories culminating in work on the Mulberry Harbour.
But His Career was cut short as he was called up for the 1939-45 War, His Family had been Moved to Norfolk, away from Londons Blitz, and he Enlisted in a  Norwich Recuitng Office in Duke Street which still exists today and Serves the same purpose tempting the young lads of today into a honourable career.

We are Land, Sea and Air, The Marines


Bert Had signed up for the Royal Marines, and was soon on his way to Portsmouth. After Six Months Training He was Posted to H.M.S. Belfast 9 a Light Cruiser Still anchored today in the Pool of London as a Living Museum.
Here He did 6 months service on the North Sea and North Atlantic Convoys, Finishing Up with a 6 month spell in Iceland. Here Follows an account of those days by his own hand.

Hvitaness, Iceland 1942. 
"During the earlymonths of 1942, was drafted to RN base at Hvitaness. The Daily details of Our Company of 200 Marines was to Supply Ammunitions, Stores and Mail to various 'Battle Wagons, Cruisers and Destroyers.'
The weather was foul! and the Sea was as Rough as it could get. Most of the 'Big Ones' lay a mile off the jetty's, but the Destroyers could get along side, as other small boats but, from Cruisers upwards, it meann't a trip out to them and this wasn't easy sometimes.
The CPO in charge of the Victuling Party was a 'Right Craphouse,' he worked us Marines into the ground!
Everyday in spite of the Heavy sodden clothing we had to wear, to keep out the Cold Arctic Wind, We were Perished to the Bone, Wet and Fed up to the Teeth, if he had heard any off us on the Moan he would have us up on Report, and That mean't even more work, after everyone else had gone off duty, Yup Iceland was 'One Fucking Nightmare,' I always try and forget.
I Spent Six months up there, with Practically No Daylight! 16 hours a day there was hardly any daylight at all, that time of year. I Met a few 'Bods' on the Battleship H.M.S. Prince of Wales and Several Guys onthe Cruiser, H.M.S. Sheffield. One was Brother of My Brothers Wife Vera, it was a small world in conflict, we always made sure that we got our share of 'Sippers,' when we went down to the Mess in The Sheffield. I Did meet up with him again at 'Gib' (Gibralter) He was Full of the news of Gerry BattleWagon 'Bismarck'
The Sheffield had sent two 'Tin Fish' (Torpedo's) into Her, which helped put her beneath the waves, where she belonged.
I happened to mention the CPO, who we had put up with, up in Iceland, and he smiled and said,
"I heard that Bastard went overboard Bert," But he Never said if it was by Accident or Otherwise, :0)
I Transferred to 42 Commando in 1942, Plenty of 'Shit' with this 'Leotard,' Plenty of 'Here, There and Everywhere' in Belgium with Raids on the 'Zeebruge Knoll'.
More Commando Training at Fort Gomer down on Englands South Coast in Readiness for the Normandy Landings on 6th. of June 1944, 'Plenty More Shit' Here But Good Teamwork saw us through to Victory.
Back in England for Christmas 1944, but after two weeks rest up we were shipped out again and joined H.M.S. Illustrious (Commando Carrier) Heading for North Australia, to See off the 'Japs,' 
Entered New Guinea as the War was coming to an End, The Final Job for Our Company was to look after 16,000 Japanese Prisioners of War, While awaiting return to the U.K. for 'Demobbing' It was Now May 1946, I had Served 6 Years in The Royal Marines and Came Out Tough as Old Boots and I Still am." he said, giving Me the 'Old Thumbs-up' Some thing he Famously always did when His Comrades 'The Royal Marines' were in the News wether it be in The Falklands, Iraq or Even the R.M. Band on the Royal Yacht 'Brittania' He even did it on his Death Bed as I asked him to give us a 'Thumbs-Up for the Marines' Which he always Did with a Knowing Wink. 
  Last Orders of The Day 1945
Bert is Ringed in Picture Taken From a Historical Record wrongly Labeled By the Author as October 1944 and it was 42 & 43 Commando Combined
Front Three Rows Fifth Squad 'The Burnets' Back Row My Oppo's
Tomally, Linksey, Robinson, Hill, Mac, and Whitey.
Taken in Ostend, Belgium, Christmas 1944.
R.M.S Combined Op's Not R.M. 43 Commando, B & F Platoons
No.4 Company R.M. Engineers.


"With All The Shit We Went Through These Were Little Reward" ~ Signed A.J.Marriott

Bert was Demobbed in Australia in 1946 and thought about staying out there, instead of returning to Bombed Out London He Had Met a Girl in the Admiralty Islands, But he did Return and thats Why I don't Where a Grass Skirt, :0)
Instead he Returned to Work for Taylor Woodrow International, and was Shipped Out again to Kenya, East Africa as Part of the 'Ground Nuts Scheme' where supposed fortunes were to be made in Peanuts. Here He Met Our Mum a White Seychelles National, He also Served in the Kenyan Rifles Police against the Tribes in the infamous Mau Mau Uprising, When they achieved independence Bert and Glady's were already Back in England with my Kenya born Brother James and Sister Shirley. That was the End of His Military Career For Good, a Crane Driving Roll awaited him in Tottenham again with Taylor Woodrow, he finally retired from Them after nearly 40 years loyal service as Depot Manager Hiring Out Cranes he once operated. He than decided to up sticks and Move to Sunny Norfolk after spending a nice Holiday there in 1967, he took up a Security Guard roll at Caistor Holiday Camp, (Back in Uniform again) he would ask people,
"You on the Camp," if No than he would encourage them to leave! :0)
We would always take the Mick and Ask Him if he was, "On the Camp" It had its Perks as he would raid the huge larders and bring home bags of Jam Tarts, etc. accompanied into the Larders  by the local Beat Sergeant After a Chicken Leg or Three.
After Yet again retiring from that Job Bert continued with his Woodworking Skills Building and selling all manner of Pine Furniture in his Workshop at the Rear of the House inbetween taking another Job as a Boiler House attendant, at Little Plumstead Hospita He was one of the Oldest People Ever to pass his City & Guilds Exams as Boilerman.

He always Thought of the Royal Marines and was Proud to Have Served in 42 Commando for the rest of his Life   
 Bert Finally Gave Up His Struggle For Breath after His Lungs Were Found to still have Traces of East African Dust in Them, But official it was Emphysema, in November 2007 I fed him his Last Meal of Ice Cream and Got the Famous Thumbs Up God Bless Him and All his Comrades 



Rest In Peace Bert 

The End
 

James Bond Fan Club News Letter For October 2011

Dear colin
The New James Bond Film Title is SkyFall

Newsletter                                             October, 2011
Castle Royale: Scottish Location for Bond 23
The month of October has really seen things hot up when it comes to both news and rumours about Bond 23. One of the most interesting news developments came in early October, when the Press Association, together with the BBC and various other British media sources, confirmed that Daniel Craig's third Bond adventure will see some of its final scenes shot at Duntrune Castle in Scotland. The wind-swept castle, which is located in truly beautiful countryside on the Poitalloch estate near Lochgiphead, in Argyll, was scouted a few months ago by some members of the Bond 23 production team, and has now been chosen. Scottish clan chief Robin Malcolm, who owns the 5,000 acre estate, told the Daily Record newspaper that director Sam Mendes in particular 'had decided in his heart' to go for the atmospheric location, which can often experience tough conditions in the winter months. Appropriately for Bond devotees, the Castle is about 20 minutes from Loch Craignish, where part of the final boat chase was filmed by Terence Young and his crew for 'From Russia With Love' (1963). Fans of John Gardner's 007 novels will also appreciate the irony of Bond returning to Scotland, as Gardner's first Bond adventure Licence Renewed (1981) used the country for some key scenes (in fact, the villain, Anton Murik, Laird of Mulcady, resided in a Scottish castle!).
Double-O-Snow
Patricia Malcolm, who resides in Duntrune Castle with her husband Robin, told the British media that several days of filming on the new Bond film would start at the end of February 2012. In a series of surprisingly frank comments, she revealed: 'They are coming here at the end of February and are going to film for several days. They are using the castle - just the outside - it's going to be used for the end of the film. I think it's meant to be James Bond's ancestral home - he will bring all the villains here'. She said the film-makers want a winter scene, 'so they are going to bring their own snow', and she added: 'It looks as if they are going to construct the set and then blow it up. I think they are going to attack the castle from land and sea - there are going to be a lot of bangs and explosions'. Her husband Robin also told the media: 'I reckon it will be good for the economy of mid-Argyll. I have asked them to use local labour as much as they can and they will be staying locally. The number of cast and crew will peak at just over 200'. Responding to the latest Scottish location reports, EON Productions were quoted as saying: 'We have looked at various locations for Bond 23. We won't confirm anything until our start of production press conference some time next month'.
Possible London Market Location for Bond 23
In mid-October the 'Bizarre' showbiz column in the British newspaper The Sun claimed that the first day of shooting on Bond 23 will be on November 7, it will involve some 'dangerous stunts' with moving vehicles, and that it will take place in a famous London meat market. The newspaper said (on October 15) that the sequence will involve Daniel Craig's 007 having to switch from a Range Rover to a Jaguar, while both vehicles are on the move, and that the sequence will be shot at London's Smithfield market. According to the newspaper: 'Traders at central London's Smithfield market are in for an exciting day as that's where the car chase is set to be shot'. Smithfield market, a famous wholesale meat market (one of the largest in Europe) is located in the Farringdon area, in the north west part of the capital city, and both it and the surrounding area have been used quite regularly in the recent past for both TV and general movie-making. A word of warning is need, however: it is difficult to know whether the details obtained by the Sun are accurate.
Bridge Explosion in Bond 23?
Just a week after it claimed that Bond 23 would have a car stunt sequence at Smithfield Market in London, the UK's Sun newspaper returned to the 007 rumour round on October 22 by claiming that Vauxhall Bridge in the city will be blown up in the movie. The newspaper's 'Bizarre' showbiz gossip page (written by showbiz editor Gordon Smart) also claimed that Daniel Craig's 007 'is required to have facial hair' in the film. In addition, Smart's report alleged that: 'The film is going to made on a shoestring budget in comparison to the last few'. Predictably, Smart's article was based on quotes from an un-named source, who included the comment about Vauxhall Bridge. If true, the latter snippet of information will probably be the most interesting for Bond fans. Vauxhall Bridge (over the River Thames) has been used twice before by EON (in 'Goldeneye' and 'The World Is Not Enough') and is, of course, near to the real-life 'Wedding Cake' headquarters of MI6, Britain's Secret Intelligence Service.The newspaper returned to the topic of Bond for a third time on October 27, claiming that the Bond 23 production team have been bulk-buying VW Beetles, with the intention of smashing up a few of the vehicles during the filming. The usual caution is needed, however, with all this: British red-top newspapers can often be very unreliable.
Always Fine Work by Fiennes
In JBIFC Newsletters and on our website this year, we have speculated on a number of occasions about whether the respected actor Ralph Fiennes has signed up for a role in Bond 23. If Sam Mendes has indeed managed to secure the services of the talented Mr. Fiennes, the new Bond movie will be gaining the fine skills of an actor who seems to be experiencing yet another set of high-points in his extensive acting career. His latest movie, 'Coriolanus', is being tipped for possible Oscar recognition. It was also announced on October 4 that Fiennes would be awarded a Fellowship by the British Film Institute in honour of his acting career. Fiennes said he was 'extremely honoured and delighted' by the BFI's accolade (which was presented to him later in the month on October 26, after a gala screening of 'Coriolanus' took place at the London Film Festival). Furthermore, his recent performance as Prospero in Trevor Nunn's stage production of 'The Tempest', which ended its run at the Theatre Royal in the Haymarket, London, on October 29, has also been showered with praise by most of the critics. Fiennes's performance on stage has been variously called 'virile', 'determined' and 'commanding'.
Green Was Nearly Green
Former Bond girl Eva Green, who played Vesper in Daniel Craig's first Bond film 'Casino Royale', recently revealed that a sick bucket was on standby on the set of her new movie 'Perfect Sense'! The film was premiered in London's Curzon Cinema in Mayfair, where Eva was joined by co-star Ewan McGregor and director David Mackenzie. Green plays a scientist who begins a love affair with a chef (McGregor) at the same time as the world is swept by an epidemic of a terrible disease which causes loss of the senses one at a time. Before losing their taste, victims are struck by an uncomfortable hunger and devour anything they can. Green revealed to the media at the premiere: 'That was quite intense. I had to eat flowers, lipstick, and toothpaste. But we had a bucket next to us... It was bonkers. But I didn't die'.
Happy Birthday, Sir Rog!
Sir Roger Moore, the third 007, celebrated his 84 th birthday on October 14 (he was born in 1927). Sir Roger, of course, holds the record for the number of times he played James Bond on screen: seven 007 films, from 1973-1985. Sir Roger's most recent film, A Christmas at Castlebury Hall, which co-stars Merlin actress Katie McGrath and was shot in Bucharest, will released in time for the 2011 Christmas season. The film will be shown on the Hallmark Cable Channel on December 3 and will be available on DVD at the end of the month.

For Very Special Services: New Book on Fleming's 30AU
A new study about the wartime special assault unit 30AU, which was the brainchild of Ian Fleming, was published on October 6 by Faber & Faber. Entitled Ian Fleming's Commandos: The Story of 30 Assault Unit in WWII, is it written by historian Nicholas Rankin, whose previous works include the highly-praised Churchill's Wizards, a study of British deception techniques in World War Two. Rankin's new hardback investigates and sets out the history of a unit which specialised in gathering enemy intelligence before it was destroyed, lost or looted in the chaos of military conflict. Of all the plethora of special units and secret forces created in World War Two, 30AU has - until now - remained among the least known, and the new book will be of particular interest to those interested in Fleming's early career. A special launch event, attended by the author, was held on Wednesday October 5 at the National Army Museum in Chelsea, London, not far from the flat where Fleming resided during the War. The JBIFC was able to insert one of our own special agents into the event. Rankin explained to the rapt audience that, in 1942, the then Lieutenant-Commander Fleming, who was assistant to the Director of Naval Intelligence at the Admiralty in Whitehall, London, 'had a brilliant idea': to set up a unit of authorised looters, who would go in with the front-line Allied troops and steal enemy intelligence and any examples of secret equipment. Known as '30 Assault Unit', the small team's final major coup was to seize the German Navy's archives, which provided invaluable evidence for the trials set up by the Allies to prosecute key Nazi leaders. Rankin also said that, in his view, Fleming's wartime service was one of the most significant periods in the young Intelligence Officer's life, and that these experiences were instrumental in shaping Fleming's later creation of James Bond's fictional world.
All Time High: AU and Octopussy
A particularly interesting theory put forward by Rankin in the final chapter of his new study of Fleming's AU concerns the short story 'Octopussy'. Rankin notes that the story, which was published posthumously in 1966, was called 'brilliant' by the novelist Anthony Burgess. Rankin's thesis is that the Bond author's 'last and somewhat neglected' story reads 'like a back-handed tribute to 30AU as well as a valedictory parable from the author'. Rankin points out that the central character in the short story, Major Dexter Smythe, has interesting similarities in character and physical health to Ian Fleming and that: 'Smythe, like Fleming, has been able to retire to Jamaica because of what he did in the war'. Smythe's involvement with the wartime 'Miscellaneous Objectives Bureau' (the 'MOB A Force') is also very reminiscent of the real-life AU. Reflecting on Smythe, Rankin poses the question: 'Is this Ian Fleming's final sardonic self-portrait?' For those who are interested in delving more deeply into the whole AU saga, Rankin generously provides a detailed 'Source Notes' section at the back of his book. Ian Fleming's Commandos: The Story of 30 Assault Unit in WWII is published in the UK by Faber & Faber, priced £20.00. ISBN 978-0-571-25062-2.
George Baker (1931-2011): R.I.P.
Staying on the subject of 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', we were very sad to learn in early October that the actor George Baker, who played College of Arms genealogist Sir Hilary Bray in the movie, had died. Baker, of course, also dubbed George Lazenby's 007 when the latter posed as Sir Hilary while a guest in Blofeld's lair in the Swiss Alps. Baker's other contributions to the 007 franchise were as an un-credited NASA engineer in 'You Only Live Twice' (1967), and as a Royal Navy Captain named Benson in 'The Spy Who Loved Me' (1977). Baker's long acting career included roles on stage, in film and on TV. On TV, he took roles in 'Dr. Who', 'The Persuaders', 'The Protectors', and in an episode of the cult series 'The Prisoner'. He also paid a gentle tribute to his Bond connection by playing the part of 'Jamus Bondus' in comedian Frankie Howard's satire of Roman times, 'Up Pompeii'. Baker's all-time favourite role on TV, however, was as Chief Inspector Reg Wexford in 'The Ruth Rendell Mysteries', which ran for 13 years (1987-2000). Intriguingly, not long after he started as Inspector Wexford in 1987, Baker revealed in interviews given to the British media that he had been a possible candidate to play James Bond in the early 1960s. This was also confirmed by Bond director Terence Young.
Elementary, Mr. Bond: 'Sherlock' Writer Is 007 Fan
The writer and actor Mark Gatiss, who has contributed highly-praised storylines to both the rebooted 'Dr. Who' and 'Sherlock' TV series for the BBC (and also played Holmes's brother in the latter), was a special guest on BBC Radio-4's 'Desert Island Discs' on Sunday October 23. He conceded that he is something of a Bond fan. Hosted by Kirsty Young, the programme each week invites a guest to choose eight of their favourite music recordings to take to a mythical desert island. Most of Mark Gatiss's choices, as he admitted, were quite melancholic. But at one point he said he needed something 'exciting', and chose John Barry's classic main theme from 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service', a piece of music which Gatiss said he 'loves'. Later in the programme, reflecting on his acting career, Gatiss also said he was open to the idea of perhaps playing a cat-stroking villain one day.
Diane Cilento: R.I.P.
Early October also saw the very sad news from Sydney that the Oscar-nominated actress Diane Cilento, who was once married to James Bond star Sean Connery, had died in northern Australia, aged 78. She was a veteran of many films, TV shows and stage productions, and worked alongside such screen legends as Charlton Heston and Paul Newman. Cilento originally came from a town called Mooloolaba in Queensland, Australia, but her surname was apparently taken from the Italian town Cilento, from which her grandfather was exiled because he was a follower of the famous 19 th century Italian nationalist Garibaldi. Cilento left Australia at the age of 14 to go to America with her physician father, and at 16 she in turn left the USA for England and enrolled at RADA (the famous Royal Academy of Dramatic Art). After rising to screen fame in the 1950s, she later became involved with Sean Connery. Moreover, at one point she persuaded the young actor to go along with her to movement classes, which helped both of them to improve their physical acting presence. It is said that it was in these classes that Sean first developed his famous panther-like walk, a walk that so impressed the Bond producers and helped him secure the role of 007. It is also clear that Cilento was instrumental in persuading Connery to take the role of James Bond when it was offered to the then 31-year old actor. She married Sean, her second husband, in 1962. They divorced 11 years later.
True Bond?
Bond fans in the UK were able to recently catch another transmission on British cable TV of 'True Bond', a drama-documentary about the spy Dusko Popov, first broadcast in the UK in January 2009. Popov has often been pointed to as a possible role-model for Ian Fleming's James Bond, although the list of such candidates seems to grow with each passing year. But Popov's dramatic career as a real-life spy in World War Two may have indirectly furnished the Bond author with some ideas for his later fictional 007 plots. Fleming, who knew Popov well and was involved in setting up some of the espionage operations the Serbian-born Popov carried out, seems to have admired Popov's playboy lifestyle and his attempts to 'clean out' Nazi agents at the gambling tables in casinos in neutral Portugal. Indeed, the programme speculated about whether Fleming had possibly witnessed one such high-stakes gambling episode when he visited Portugal during the War and saw Popov at work, and may have later used it as the basis of his first Bond novel Casino Royale. However, there have been a number of theories about this from Fleming's biographers and nobody can be sure. The programme inter-mixed frequent poor-quality clips from the EON Bond movies with its commentary, but included some astute contributions from Fleming biographer Andrew Lycett, author of Ian Fleming (1995). Although there has been much speculation in the past about Popov's precise influence on the Bond author, Popov himself always remained modest about this and often reminded his interviewers that James Bond was based on a combination of different people admired by Fleming during the War. Interestingly, the programme included clips from a rarely-seen American TV interview with Popov, conducted at the time his memoirs (called Spy, Counterspy) were published in 1974. Popov died in 1981, aged 69.
Did You Know?
Popov's wartime codename was 'Tricycle', given to him by his MI5 (Security Service) handlers. When MI5's files on 'Tricycle' were finally released to the UK's National Archives at Kew, south London, in 2002, as well as lots of information about Popov's extensive use of 007-style microdots, invisible ink and secret contacts, the files also contained a strong hint that Popov had been given his codename because of his strong sexual appetite and his love of threesomes! Fleming would have been very amused.
Bond Bits: Brief News Items You May Have Missed
Sing another day: pop band 'a-ha', who sang the main theme song for 'The Living Daylights' (1987), and eventually split up in 2010, were briefly reunited at a memorial ceremony in Oslo on August 21 for the 77 victims of Anders Breivik's bombing and shooting spree in Norway...
The singer Lulu, who sang the theme song to 'The Man With The Golden Gun', said she was 'humbled and thrilled' to be awarded the Sacla Women of the Year Lifetime Achievement Award, which was announced in mid-October. Lulu added: 'When women roll up their sleeves, there is no end to what we can achieve'...
Brokenclaw? Australian actor Hugh Jackman, 'Wolverine' in the X-Men movies, has admitted that, given the chance, he would now consider the role of 007 if it was offered. He told the Press Association: 'I got a call from my agent saying "There is some possible interest in you for Bond, are you interested?" At the time I wasn't. I was about to shoot X-Men 2 and Wolverine had become this thing in my life and I didn't want to be doing two such iconic characters at once... I think every male at some point thinks about playing James Bond so it was not right then, but it may be right if it comes back'...
The UK's Daily Mail newspaper carried a short comment on October 21 from Joe McGrath, who directed Peter Sellers in the spoof version of Casino Royale (1967). According to McGrath: 'Peter negotiated an astonishing 3 per cent of the film, which I recently discovered has now grossed £120million. Amazingly, it's still earning money'...
Gemma Arterton, Strawberry Fields in 'Quantum of Solace', sounded positively nostalgic when interviewed recently. Commenting on her role as a Bond woman and the news that Bond 23 is about to go into production, she said: 'They're just starting to make the next one and I'm so jealous that I died in the movie I was in because I'd love to do it again, it was so much fun'...
From Bond to Bones? A press release to the world's media from New York on October 24 announced that former 007 Pierce Brosnan will return to television in a four-hour mini-series called 'Bag of Bones', based on Stephen King's best-selling ghost story, and produced by Sony Pictures. It will be screened on American TV on December 11 and 12...
Well, is he or isn't he? Is Javier Bardem the villain in Bond 23? Judging from some comments from the man himself, it would appear he is now on board. In an interview transmitted on October 4, when asked about the next Bond movie, Bardem responded: 'I am very excited, my parents took me to watch the movies, and I saw all of them, and to play that is going to be fun. They chose me to play this man, but I cannot give you any details'. All will be revealed at the start of production media event to be held by EON in November...
Sad times for fans of the BBC's hi-tech spy series 'Spooks' ('MI-5' in the USA). After 10 years, 10 series and 86 episodes, the final hour was shown on BBC-1 on Sunday, October 23. Intriguingly, however, MI5 boss Harry Pearce (played by Peter Firth), a kind of 'M' with attitude, was seen back at his job and desk in the final scene...
A bearded Daniel Craig attended the premiere of the new Tintin movie on Sunday October 23, in which he has a role as the villain Ivanovich Sakharine. The Steven Spielberg movie was shown as part of the British Film Institute's London Film Festival. Daniel generously signed some autographs for fans in the waiting crowds... 

By David Black OO7 Fan Club

My Lighter life Diet Experience Daily Diary 4 Stone to Lose in 8 Weeks :0)


Colin Marriott Aged 53 17 st. 9 lb. -Target weight 13 st. 7lb.
One year ago i weighed 20.5 Stone and decided to Diet i had retired early from a Physical job Due to Bad Feet and was now a House Husband, Sitting around and not being active My weight Sored up from 15 stone pretty quick. Then My feet improved and i was able to walk fair distances, so i tried the SlimFast Plan 2 shakes and a 600 Calorie Meal in the evening Plenty of Long walks inbetween, all went well the Diet and exercising help the weight drop-off. But the 600 Calorie Meal grew and Snacks appeared in my hand as if by magic i was on the slippery road to failure, capping it off Holiday eating where i put on a Stone in 2 weeks, Phew! as i'm used to having shakes i Thought i'd try a newish Diet Called The "Lighter Life" Which my Wife was inspired to join by its Most Famous Member TV's Pauline Quirke (Emmerdale, Birds of a Feather) We Watched Her gradually deminish before our very eyes, Night after Night she got Thinner as Her TV son contemplated suicide.
I Won't Bore you too much with the ins and outs of the diet But, it does involve completly Substituting food for Shakes, Soups, Drinks and Snacks Purchased every week at the meetings You Buy enough for a whole week taking into account 4 sachet meals a day + any snack bars and drinks allowed all provided on the plan More about that later.
 Tuesday Evening 18th. October
"Goodbye Large Hawaiian Pizza with the Stuffed Crust" (Good Riddens Really)  
Wednesday Evening 19th.
Met the Nice Local Enfield Lighter Life Club Lady Heather, who weighed me and took my height writing them on my enrolment form, Subject to me getting approval from the Doctor with a Blood-Pressure Test That is. Apparently there are 6 men starting in My group this week. New Groups Start Every 4 weeks. Sat and watched a introductory Film with Dr. Hilary Jones (No Not sitting Next to Me, on the Film) explaining Why it was more than a Diet But, a complete Lifestyle change, Which it is.
As I've watched My wife Lose Nine and a half Stone in What seems like no-time. She has sat in Pubs and Restuarants watching me and my daughter eating away as she sipped a Fizzy water and Gnawed on an approved chewy bar secreted under the table. Who couldn't be inspired by that Determination.   
There is a £15 One off MemmberShip Fee Than Your Food Packs Cost £72 a week Which if you take into account a Large Domino's Pizza costs £11.50 + Garlic Bread, Etc. Just for 1 Meal for a Fat Boy, isn't at all expensive. 

Thursday Evening 20th.  
"Goodbye Fish and Chips i said as i ate my last Fatty Chip
First a Trip To The Doctors Friday Morning 21st.  
For Official approval, Took my form to have the boxes ticked, The Doctor was very Sceptical about it all But gave me a Blood-Pressure Test, I Told Her My wife was also on the Diet and was Beating Pauline Quirke (above) although its not a Race. She Has inspired me to have a go. And Her Eyes are Watching My Every Move LOL.
She would Make a Good Lighter Life Councilor, As she inspires all the Ladies at the club to resistant snacking Tsk, Tsk,  
All boxes checked, no heart failure iminent, Blood-Pressure better than A1, We're in, Then i thought - "Damn it! I really have to do this now, Bring it On"! 
Friday Afternoon Just Found Out I Can't start Till Monday as the Sceptical Doctor forgot to Charge £20 for the Approval and Blood-Pressure Test LOL.
Friday Evening The Last Supper
Ravioli is the Last food to Pass these lips with a sprinkle of cheese. And My Last Cup of tea with milk. I am aloud Black tea with sweeteners from now on, Haven't had sugar for Three years anyway, won't miss the milk either. Managed to borrow some sachets to start my new Regime tomorrow.
So Tomorrow I can Look forward to 1 Vanilla and 1 Banana Shake Which has milk Powder in it so it will taste like Slimfast and the Evening Meals Will be 1 sachet of Minestrone and 1 sachet Vegetable soup Which i understand taste great. Chewy Bars Are Not on the menu till week two.
Saturday 22nd. October
Got Up 8 am. to start my New Regime, Shave, Brush the teeth, Cup of tea with sweetners too hot to drink after toothpaste so left half of it. Then Out For a 4 Mile walk around My Front Garden (The Park opposite) Oops! Woke the wife, decided to come with me and gave me ear'ole all the way around my circuit for disturbing her lay-in LOL. Didn't listen just paced 8 circuits of a Triangular path I had previously paced out as 0.75 Km. Dodge the dog walkers picking up their pooches poo's and 1 hr. 20 mins. later back home. Pulled of my sweaty track suit and sat down to cool off, while finishing my now cold tea, Love Cold Tea refreshing and not congealed having no milk in it, Tastes like Ice-Tea.
My First Lighter Life sachet meal was a Banana shake crush ice water and the yellow powder mix whizzed up in a mini-blender.

Taste Verdict - Wallpaper Paste very bland with a Hint of Banana but then i was used to putting a Real Banana in a Slimfast shake with semi-skimmed milk. Those days are gone :0( LOL
Wife wanted to go to Waltham Abbey Market more walking so i posponed my shower a mile or so walking round there, we got a bit cold so home for Lunch.
My second sachet Meal was a Vanilla shake I took no chances and added 3 spoons of coffee to the mix as advised by My wife an old hand at this. Taste Verdict quite passable, ;0) Glad i put the coffee in LOL. Washed it down with a Hot Black coffee, don't recommend Cold coffee :0( Suprisingly LOL.
A Bit of Chelsea Blogging (4thechelsea.blogspot.com) Recommended to all slimmers the hours fly by and food never enters your head even if its only a Diary Blog like this one.
Mid-Afternoon while watching the end of Wolves 2 v 2 Swansea Tried a Savoury Drink sachet which was a bit like a mixture between Bovril and Oxo. Taste Verdict Great! :0) What Times Tea?
Not to Worry 5.30 pm. its Liverpool v Norwich Come on the Canaries 1-1 Draw Good Result.
Saturday Evening
First Evening food sachet 8 pm. Minestrone soup. Taste Verdict Brilliant, Best so far, Made just like a cupa soup Plenty of chewy pieces cheered me right up feeling positive now, and comfortably full :0)
Second food sachet of the evening Vegetable soup. Taste Verdict Nice second Favorite Have to Get some Curry flavour soup to try next week Tired Now Time for Bed.
Sunday Morning October 23rd. 
A quick weigh-in after the First day of the Diet, Result Lost 3 lb. Whoop! Whoop!
Second Day much like the first only a 5 mile Bike Ride instead of a Walk. Tea and a Bit of Blogging.
After the Bike ride I was steaming, so I sat and had a large tea and cooled off, Showered and Settled Down to Watch Man.Utd. lose to Man.City 6-1 with a Hot Vanilla Shake & coffee in. 
A Word of Warning don't put hot water in a Blender - Bang!! when i removed the lid Right down me clean shirt LOL. Didn't lose much so that'll teach me Mix with a whisk and Jug.
Having enjoyed the Match i was looking forward to QPR v Chelsea at 4 pm. so i had my second shake mixed in the Jug No fireworks this time. No fireworks in the game either as we Lost to QPR 1-0 two sent off in the process.
After updating My Chelsea blog Time for a Minestrone soup lovely a bit more water than last time filled me right up, will have the second at 10 pm. after XFactor Vegetable soup again Check my blogs then Bed. 
Monday Morning October 24th. 
Got up late, 10.30 am. Decided last night to play golf on http://www.wgt.com 3 Yanks and me I lost but it was fun till 2 am. +13 Durrr. ZZzzz. Scored More in Real the Real world - 94 without 1 Seven :0)
Quick Weigh lost another 2 lb. thats 5lb. in Two Days, Time for a bit of blogging, Walking to Enfield Town and back later to collect my Doctors Form and window shop some PS3 Games. :0)
11 am. time for a Vanilla shake with crushed ice :0( not my favorite but Mind over Matter LOL :0) Actually That Tastes Quite Good With 1 Spoon of Coffee in :0)
Monday Afternoon
Off for me walk with My Wifes Window Shopping Turns into four and half  to five miles, came back with the all important approval form and minus £20 for the priviledge.
Late Lunch another Vanilla Coffee Late A La Colin, and Relax Playing World Golf Tour online till 6.45 pm. and its time to go and officially start my diet at the Enfield Lighter Life Club couple a miles by car this time.
Monday Evening
Its My Wifes Slimming Club Night so I wait in the wings as She Gets Weighed with all her admiring friends, She loses 3 lb. for the week, Good Girl, :0) I wait till last and then its My turn.
Official Starting weight 17 Stone 4 lb. BMI 34.7 said the smiling Denis, Who wrote it in My record book and Then filled a bag with start up goodies. Thats Me Done No Lectures, Just paid me club membership and food bill. Collected my first weeks food written on a company shopping list Pick and Choose the Flavours you like and off.
Tonight as my night is a Sunday so i leave to return in an hour to Collect the Wife.
Back Home I Unpack My Goodie Bag and look over my purchases.


7 Days Worth of Food Packs, 4 packs per day (28) gone for :-
7 x Vanilla Shakes,
13 x Minestrone soups,
7 x Vegetable soups,
1 x Curry soup, to Try
and a Box of Savoury Drinks (Bovril) aloud 2 per day.
Next in the bag we have a Pedometer for doing up to 10,000 paces a day exercise.
Next a Feeding Mixer Cup for taking out and about on the move
Then My record Book where all progress is recorded and side effects explained etc, etc.
Side affects my Wife has experienced are constipation eased by 1 tablet of Dulcolax laxitive, slight hair loss a few weeks in which stopped, Giddy Lightheadedness if you don't stick to a routine, 
Must Eat All Packs Daily Without Fail They Have The Essential Vitamins, Etc Your Body needs.
Last a Member card to access online info for Members Only and extra goodies will have to see that later. And thats it for the first weeks goodies, now time for a Minestone Soup and Spank a Yank at Golf online, :0)
10 pm. I have my last Meal of the day A new one to Try Curry Soup which was promised to be like Mulligatawny Well it nearly was :0)
Tuesday morning 25th. October
Quick weigh-in on the Wii Fit Plus to compare last nights results (Wii Fit Plus not only weighs you it tells you your BMI aswell and you can set targets for the week of fortnight ahead)
And the Result is 17 Stone 4lb. BMI 33.64 a Slight reduction on yesterdays BMI 33.89 which is under 1 lb. on yesterday. :0) At least the Wii Fit Scales are sort of in agreement with the Club Ones.
In My Lighter Life Book the BMI Chart Says Over 30 BMI is Obese 25-29 Overweight 18.5-24.9 Healthy Weight Less than 18.5 Under weight.
Off for My 4 Mile Stroll round the Park Now without Wifey telling me off, shes at work Praise the Lord LOL :0)Bless Her. Pick up 8 acorns for My pocket and threw one out every circuit completed, Back home feeling the Burn on me feet, Peel off my sweats and steamed like a Turkish bath :0)
As i Cooled off had myand off on myt first Vanilla & Coffee Shake of the day, Minestrone for Lunch to get rid of the Curry Tasting one :0)Worked Out if i keep up this Pace walking wise its equal to Norwich and Back in the 8 Weeks, Which isn't Quite 'Beefy Botham' Standard But enough for me :0)
Ian Bothham Lands End > John O'Groats http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/516015.stm 874 Miles > 34 days 
Tuesday Evening
Wife is off to Lighter Life Club to have a Blood Pressure check at 7 pm. You have one Every 4 weeks after your intial Doctors one the Club can do it if their geared up or Lloyds Chemist Can do it its free aswell :0) She comes back as okay time for Tea Finding it Hard to Want Two more Meal sachets so I combine the last two soups of the day Minestrone and Vegetable into one Big one in the mixer bottle checking this time to release the air pressure that builds up inside a after shaking, :0) then as TV is boring I Play a Few More Yanks at the Online Golf which is quite addicitve a bit like Twitter :0) 12 midnight Bed for Me.
Wednesday 26th. October
Slept Better Last Night Must have Bin that Late Curry Soup I had Monday Night kept me awake, no more late soups for me.
8 am. Hear the Family Bang the Door off to work, get up cup of Tea, Headphone Radio on Talksport grab a bottle of water, and off around the Park Picked up My 8 acorns lapcounter and 1 hour 10 minutes all acorns gone back home, hot & feet aching strip of the sweats and cool down Drinking my first Shake again a Vanilla and Coffee with crushed ice whilst blogging this and checking out twitter   messages, and Chelsea Blog tonight its Everton v Chelsea in the Carling Cup I watch online and tell other fans how to http://4thechelsea.blogspot.com
I Run Three Blogs the one Where this Diary is, the chelsea one and a Comical one called "Open All Hours" http://arkwright2010.blogspot.com/ Where I asume the Guise as tight fisted Shop Keeper Arkwright and Talk as Ronnie Barker did in the Hit BBC Comedy series, Plenty of Banter on twitter as lots think i am really Yorkshire and not from the East End, I have to Tweet with a Stutter and welcome all followers with a comical intro a little bit of thought has to go into fitting the oneliners into 140 Characters allowed in a message My Brother has a bit of Fun Tweeting as his long Suffering Shop boy Granville, Our Tweets are @arkwright4 and Geh- @Granville8 if you want to follow and join in the fun, half the fun is Tweeters messaging back Mimicking the Stutter Leh-LOL it passes a Hour or Two When i'm doing anything  :0)
A quick weight Check on Wii Now and the Result is - 17 st. 2 lb. BMI 33.64 a loss of 2 lb. and a reduction of BMI from 33.83 Happy Days :0)
Lunch today is Minestrone Soup :0) Played Golf Online all Afternoon and Watched Chelsea TV We Beat Everton 2-1 But yet another player sent off. :0( Bed By Midnight.
Thursday 27th. October
27th. Wedding Anniversary Today Planned a Intimate Candle lit Dinner for Two LOL.

Latest News From Now on as the Daily Routine is pretty repetitive. Weekly official weigh-in's from now on until the Management Stage of the Diet, Where we introduce food slowly. 
Sunday 13th. November Exercise Walked and Biked 20 miles Club Weigh-in 16 st. 2 lb. BMI 32.46 weekly loss 4 lb. BMI reduced 0.57 :0)
Sunday 20th. November : Exercise 16 Miles Walking, Club Weigh-in 15 st. 11lb. BMI 31.70 Total weekly loss 5 lb. BMI reduced 0.76 :0)
Sunday 27th. November Exercise 16 miles walking and Shopping, Club weigh-in 15 st. 8lb. BMI 31.32 Total weekly loss of 3 lb. BMI reduced by 0.38 :0) 
Total Loss So Far 2 st. 1 lb. in 37 Days
Thursday 1st. December 
Wifes Been asked to start management stage of her Diet as She Has Lost her Target over 11 stone. I Will arrange to start Management with Her at This weeks meeting. lost another 4 lb.this week since Sunday and I have now Lost 5 Stone in 420 Days of various Dieting. Lighter Life has Been the Quickest Method over all accounting for half the loss in 40 days :0)

Sunday 4th.. December
Lighter Life Club Weigh-in 15 st. 4 lb. BMI 30.72 a loss of 4 lb. and BMI reduced  0.60 :0)
Thats My Last Weigh-in as i Start healthy eating now, Ruled over by Wifey's Cooking :0)
Monday 5th.December
9 am. Healthy Eating Begins With Variety Size Cornflakes Skimmed Milk and Sliced Banana for Brekkie.
3 hours around the shops.
3 pm. Lunch 6 Ryvitas Pumpkin Seed and Sunflower Seed, with Ham and Tomato sandwiched inbetween, after afterwards 2 Plums.
8 pm. Tea  Lasagne 600 calories as cooked by the wife Yum a day of treats for me That was a Granola Bar if i need it later :0)
From Now on its back to Wii Fit for weigh-ins Happy Days are here again :0)
Monday 12th. December 
First week back on food ends with a weigh-in 15 st. 9 lb. a gain of 5 lb. totally expected that so exercise will help out from now on :0)
 Now For Something Amazing My Wifes Before and After Lighter Life Total Diet:-

 She is Now on The Management part of the Diet Eating Fish and Green Leaves to Start, I'm So Proud of Her Losing Half of Her Total Body weight and She Fits into Her Wedding Dress Easier Then Originally 27 years ago. Pauline Quirke Eat Your Heart Out Although Your Not Allowed To :0)