There was a moment in my life that I might as well define as one of the truly happiest of my life. I was in my room at Fifer's Lane, university residences at UEA, Second Term first year, The Fifer's Lane residential blocks, also called the UEA village had been there, a short minibus ride from the main campus since the University opened in 1965. Prior to that I think they were RAF accomodation blocks to the best of my knowledge. Sue me if I'm wrong. I am often wrong.It was closed in 1994
At the beginnng of my second term my father drove me my record player and collection up to university as I recall. I was sat there in my room one afternoon in the Spring Term with Ben and James, sitting opposite me. James and Ben were the blokes across the coridoor from me and my best friends that year and therefore two of the best friends I've ever had in my life. Rod the fourth member of our gang was away for some reason and wasn't there that day. He was chasing after some woman Rod and I suspect all these years later. Sally? He wasn't with us anyhow,
We were listening to The Hoodoo Gurus, Stoneage Romeos which I'd borrowed from one of the girls upstairs, Fifers Lane blocks were sensibly segregated by gender though there was nothing to stop you visiting each others rooms and getting up to all sorts given consent and inclination. Actually often we preferred each other's company.
As I recall we were in N Block which was at the far end of the field of blocks. It had trees and thickish woodland outside the windows at the back of my small room.They were sparsely furnished. A desk, a wardrobe, a couple of chairs, a bed. Very fewof us bothered with TVs. They didn't seem as important as something to ply your music on somehow. This being before the days well before The Internet and smartphones we used to sit around talking to one another. Kids, this actually happened and we didn't feel deprived.
The light was streaming through the windows and we were talking shite no doubt as Stoneage Romeos played.. The record was and still is fantastic. A melting pot of teenage obsessions. Rock & Roll, heartbreak, cool riffs, Flinstone imagery. Fun. The kind of stuff that doesn't and never will go out of fashion.
The second song, the standout and still probably the best thing the band ever laid down on plastic, I Want You Back came on. It still does it for me that tune.. Ben and James both joined in lustily with the chorus. I can see them still before me in my mind's eye. It was such a defining moment. Youth in all its ragged, foolish, valiant glory. Bottled.
I'll never forget the moment. Our year at Fifer's Lane ended too soon. I'd virtually moved out already in the Summer Term to my new girlfriend Min's room on the campus.Sorry guys. She was cute. James headed off at around the same tume to hang out with the Sloanes for reasons you'd really need to ask James about. The four of our friendhip was never quite the same again. These things are not always meant to last. Forty years later the reasons and details don't matter at all. All that matters are the memories,.
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