1984, A NEW JOB and the KING...AL GREEN

It was now 1984, I had just Spent Christmas at Home with my Wife and Kids, after leaving my previous Job (Offshore Chef) about 4 Days before Christmas '83. 

I cant be exact, but I think I only had about 2 Weeks out of Work before I found my next Job!

It was only Part-Time (but I knew it would become Full-Time in due course) I was going to Work at a Casino in our Town, as a Chef, the Place was Called "King's Casino"

I Remember at the beginning I was Working, once or twice a Week, I was taking care of the Starter's and Sweets, there was only a Small Team of Worker's, including the Head Chef called "Peter Culley" and a Second Chef named "Kevin Huggins" there was another Trainee Chef and about 2/3 Chaps doing the Kitchen Porter's Work.

I enjoyed the Job and Work, although there were a Couple of Draw Backs, one was, I was Working Night's again and two, I Lived about 4/5 Miles away and I still had my Bike, so I was back Pedalling again!

When I say I worked Nights, the Hour's were a 5pm Start and "Last Order's" were at 11.30pm, so by the Time we Cleared up etc and I Cycled Home, it was around 12.30 am, not too great for a Married Man with Kids, but I did get 6 out of the 7 Day Times off, although we did Work Friday Morning as well, as the Night Time.

I recall Cycling back and forth to work, that time of the year, it always seemed to be Raining, so I had my "Yellow Water Proof Coat and Trouser's" for Bike Riding, they used to make me Sweat "like Hell" most times, but at least I had My "Personal Cassette Player" that always Helped me to pass away the time on boring Journeys! 

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As for Music, back in 1974, Al Green Released His 8th Album on the  Hi Records Label, called "Explores Your Mind" and the Brilliant 3rd Track on Side 1 was called "God Blessed Our Love" What a Classic!


It was Written by Al Green, Willie Mitchell and Earl Randle, Surprisingly, it was Never Released as a Single, I would say one of Al Green's Best, but He has so Many Fantastic Tracks!


The Album went to Number 1 in the US R&B Charts, the Track was Re-Recorded by several Different Artists over the Years!


Checkout the Live Version, Recorded in 2002 in New York City, What a Performance!

Download the Track!
Check out the Great Lyrics!
Talking:
God blessed our love. 
Even in the morning, when I rise, I say 
God blessed our love. 

And every morning, when I rise
I can just see heaven all, all in your eyes
Makes me know this is not an everyday love, no, no
We've got something I'm sure we can be proud of
Oh, we've got so much, so much love
We've got so much, so much trust
Can't you see a halo, a halo, I can see a halo hovering over us

Chorus:
oh I just can't believe it baby but,
God blessed our love, 
I have to say it this evening that
God oh God blessed our love
if you've got something to be thankful for 
you oughta just say, hey, hey, hey, 
God blessed our love, 
I have to say it this evening
God oh God blessed our love oh yes he did

Let me say I could just stand up and tell the world, oh baby
That you're mine, all mine, ah yeah
You love is heavenly designed
And I just have to say that I like kissing you
I like, I like hugging you
I like squeezing you, wanting you, holding you, loving you
I'm glad I'm still lovin' oh baby 
Let me say when people, yeah, people, yeah, start to criticize
Well it don't bother me, no, no, 
Cause I know God, God, God is on our side
yes he is

Chorus:
let me just say
God, God blessed our love
I have to say that God oh God blessed our love
(Until Fade)

Summer of '79

The Summer of 1979, we were still living in the same place (one room really) we used to go out as much as possible, as I remember it was a decent Summer weather wise!

I was still working as a Trainee Chef in the same Hotel, I got on with most of the Chefs, but the difference was they were all single and I was Married with a Baby, so I didnt go out with any of them, they would be drinking at the Bar attached to the Hotel, during working hours & sometimes when they had time off!

Fournately that Summer, we had a new Chef came to work at the Hotel, he was about 26 years old, about 6 years older than me, but married with a couple of kids, so I had quite a bit in common with him, his name was Bob Gaunt & he only lived around the corner from us, so that Summer we see quite a bit of him & his family, although Susan says she cant ever remember going around anyones at that time!

I cant remember his Wifes or his Kids names though, must be old age!

He at that time was a good colleague & friend to us but I cant remember what happened to him, whether he left the Hotel, although later that year, I left the Hotel & Catering Trade for a few years!

Perhaps one day he will read this Blog!

Another Trainee Chef I got on really well was a lad by the name of Mark Davidson, he was only about 18 & from Sheffield, I wander what happened to him also!

NATHAN OUT OF DANGER!

After a week or two, Nathan was released from the Hospital's Baby Unit and Transferred to the Baby Unit at the General Hospital, which was handy for us , as it was only 2 minutes from where we were living!

So over the next couple of Months, Nathan was in and out of Hospital constantly, going in for a few days then back out again, which for me and Susan was a strain, what with living in 1 room and sharing all other rooms and facilities with about 9 other families, plus still working split-shifts at work, times were hard, not too mention having hardly any money, as I was still on low wages being a Trainee Chef!

I cant remember either family helping out too much either!

As for family visits to our place, they only happened about twice the whole time we lived there!

This must of been worse for Susan, as at least I had work to get away from the strain of our situation!

We were just about out of November in 1978 and things had not really changed concerning Nathan and our situation and with Christmas was just around the corner, (our First as a Family since we got Married) would things improve!

CHANGES ALL ROUND!

As I said in earlier Post, things were going to change this Year! Susan was working in her Father's Shop during the Holiday Season, but by around August time Susan and her Family moved House, to an area about 5 miles away from our Town, I still had my Car so that was no problem!

While working as a Trainee Chef, by now it was for nearly 3 Years, I was going to Catering College on Day Release from Work, I had about 4 Months earlier Passed my First 2 Years Exams and was thinking of Changing Hotels before College resumed in the coming September!

So I was having several Interviews at Hotels in our Town and the next Town, about 5 miles away! I ended up going to the Biggest Hotel in our Town, it was on the opposite end of the Seafront where I had been working, and were my previous employers biggest rivals!

As it turned out my new Hotel wasn't a patch on my previous Hotel, but the work was easier, and the Money was better! and what I was about to find out in about 3 Months time, I would need all the money I could get!

See Pictures at top of both Hotels!