Thinking Aloud

By Mike Hanmer Walker

Thinking aloud is my fifth book of poetry which looks at life in mainly a humorous and cynical way, but it also has a few straight ones for thought and debate, but I just cant avoid being funny, so I hope you enjoy this book as much as I enjoyed writing it.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Xlibris US
• Release date: May 11, 2016
• ISBN: 9781514477595

Mike Hanmer Walker

I was born in North London, but I was raised in Hackney, or Shoreditch, as it was known back in the day. I had a comprehensive education, and I left school without any qualifications in 1968. My first job was as a trainee motor mechanic, but that only lasted a few weeks as the governor at the time seemed to take objection to me turning up late nearly every morning. After one or two garages later, it soon become apparent that motor mechanics was not for me. Well, okay work of any kind was a general interruption to my day at the time, but I persevered and I thought I would give screen printing a trial. I started with this small firm and was doing okay, and I was sent to the London College of printing for a term, but in my return, I was sacked and the firm went under a week or so later. Then I saw a "Boy Wanted for Bake House" poster in the local pie and mash shop (pie and mash is a traditional cockney dish), so I thought, well, that may see me over for a few weeks. I was there for eleven years. I finished in the shop selling rather than making it. The shop closed in 1980. I spent the rest of my working life as a salesman and an accounts rep for the local electricity supplier. I always kept involved in local community issues, chairing the local residents committee for a while. In 2010 I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, and after the initial coming to terms with the disease, I felt there were many things I could not do anymore so I concentrated more on those that I could and discovered new challenges. I have always tried to be a half-glass-full type of guy, and this first book is my new first challenge.

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Copyright © 2016 by Mike Hanmer Walker.

ISBN:      Softcover      978-1-5144-7760-1

                  eBook           978-1-5144-7759-5

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

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Rev. date: 03/23/2016

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CONTENTS

Time up for Santa

A special friend

Another Sunrise

As time goes

Ted the Walker

My New Doctor

Old Boy Band

What life

How do I get to know you

Moaner Lisa

Nothing to Smile For

Its tough

My Hobbies and Me

Have you heard the news?

All about Sam

To another year

Two Old Ladies

A thought for your children

Just a Formality

What is happiness?

Do it again

On My Mind

Keeping up

Would You Be Ok?

The Other Side of Nowhere

Marbles

Sam the Bus Driver

Well I Never!

Pat --the untold story

Well I never!

Johnnie at Christmas

Where do I start

Time up for Santa

I think that Santa's time has come, he is getting far too old for the job, and often getting it wrong,

So someone should take his place, someone younger,

Healthier, and someone who is strong,

And the change should take place immediately, please let me tell you why.

It all happened last Christmas, when he got things wrong it almost made me cry,

Maybe it was all that sherry he has when he visits, yes that is