Comments on: 163

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Wed, 18 Mar 2009 20:27:42 +0000

Believe it or not Graham, I`m still thinking about the Griblets and their pointless existence!! They may well be the greatest of your creations!!! For years I wondered why there were so many Welshmen amongst the country`s doctors, dentists, teachers and so on, and put it down to their working class origins, and the strong work ethic amongst the miners, who all wanted their sons to “do better in life” than they had, and on no account to end up “down the mines”. Well, it turns out that I was only partly right. Evidently, under the 1944 Education Act it was up to local authorities how they dispensed secondary education, as long as they provided Grammar, Technical, and Secondary Modern Schools. (I only ever came across ONE Technical School in my life, and that was in Lancashire!!) The criteria for Grammar School entry varied all over the country, so that in some areas only the top 5% of pupils went to one, but in the South-West of England the figure was, unbelievably, around 25% – as determined by the dreaded ( and dreadful) 11-Plus!!! You can guess what the provision was in Wales, can`t you? Talk about a lottery – and they want to “bring back the Grammar Schools”!! Well, there`s nothing like writing kids off when they`re eleven, is there?!!

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 23:09:42 +0000

But these people that you have created DO belong to a sub-culture Graham – in fact I think you`ve drawn them rather well – and I certainly wouldn`t make any assumptions about anyone`s BACKGROUND from what they write on these pages; but, from the views being expressed, I guess we would all subscribe to a more-or-less middle-class value system. Not everyone in the country would though. When I was a student we used to have endless arguments along the lines of “Would you consider yourself to be middle-class?” This might not be so relevant today, but we were mainly ex-grammar school pupils from a solid working-class background, and, boy, had our families latched onto the middle-class ideals of hard work, self-improvement, deferred gratification, and so on. These things were drummed into us, and we just assumed that they were universal values!! To say that teaching in a large comprehensive school was an eyeopener for me would be an understatement of the very greatest magnitude!!! I think there are many people in this country who get their information from the likes of the Mail or the Guardian and have little comprehension of the value systems that drive the vast majority of the population. The “Royle Family” was not as far from the truth as many folk would like to think. You`ve certainly opened a can of worms with the Griblets – it would be interesting to read the views of others.

By: Graham

Graham — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 22:36:00 +0000

barriejohn, it’s interesting that you’re reading so much into the class element. It wasn’t a primary consideration when I was writing these profiles but that sense of identity is certainly important to me. I don’t think you should be making assumptions about other commenters’ backgrounds though, even if it’s only in jest.

Ariane, I only partly agree with Joshua’s statement. That sense of distance can be as comforting as it is exasperating.

Matt, I thought the same thing but not strongly enough to put him in a different shirt. I was swayed but the striking resemblance he bears to his father – the nose is a pretty good match, I think.

MJB, that’s an interesting point and I thank you for bringing it to my attention. Would you believe me if I told you I hadn’t given it a moment’s thought? A similar ‘controversy’ arose when someone suggested that my reworking of Ron Heather’s CV was defamation of character. Perhaps I need a legal team! Given the modest readership of this site I don’t think any harm is likely to come of it. I did initially consider drawing the family members myself but there simply wasn’t time.

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 15:15:04 +0000

That`s because you`re so “middle class” Matt!! What these postings have demonstrated is how out of touch many of you are with what is really going on in this country today. You need to watch more of “Shameless” and less of “My Family” (sorry Ariane – nothing personal!!!). We DON`T all share the same culture and values I`m afraid. There are millions of people out there who do not have the same regard as you for industry, honesty, integrity, respect, and so on. True, Graham hasn`t made the Griblets complete reprobates – they would then just look like caricatures rather than real people – but don`t expect them to have your “middle-England” outlook on life, because they won`t!! (Let`s hope that THIS gets sent properly!!!)

By: Matt Keefe

Matt Keefe — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:22:43 +0000

Well that’s certainly told me, barriejohn. My understanding of the common man was positively amateur until now.

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 14:04:45 +0000

Sorry about that – I don`t know quite what happened!!!!!

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:50:22 +0000

PS I bet Connor wants to be an astronaut!!! (Oh damn – have I let the cat out of the bag Graham?)

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:47:31 +0000

PS I bet Connor wants to be an astronaut!!! (Oh damn – have I let the cat out of the bag Graham?)

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 13:46:32 +0000

PS I bet Connor wants to be an astronaut!!! (Oh damn – have I let the cat out of the bag Graham?)

By: barriejohn

barriejohn — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 12:04:54 +0000

What planet are you living on Ariane? “This family`s” heroes would be Jade Goody and Colleen McLoughlin – of course they`ve got no bloody ambition!! But at least you seem more perceptive than the readers who are commending them on their good sense and levelheadedness. The only one who seems to have found any purpose in life is the mother. The daughter has done “A” Levels at College, but has settled for the first job she could find that will finance her social life. I`ve got friends like this. Their kids just want to do whatever their schoolfriends are doing – exactly the same college course etc – and seem to think that living at home like a teenager is an option for the rest of their lives. When they hook up with a member of the opposite sex they just bring them back to the family home for a sort of glorified sleepover – everyone else has to make room for them. The idea of having some goal in life, or supporting themselves, would be totally alien to them. I do agree with your comments on the retail trade though. When I was studying, back in Gladstone`s day, I used to support myself by working for the Coop, and it was the most mind-numbingly boring and unfulfilling work that you could possibly imagine. To cap it all, they were constantly trying to get me to make a “career” in the company, as I was supposed to be “management material”!! I mean to say – the COOP of all places – can you imagine it!!!