Yes, of course. The old saying about 'if you remember the 60s you weren't there' definitely applies to my time in some of those places! All a bit of a fog...

The Somali I do remember in great detail, however, being somewhat of a 'home from home' when I lived in Huskisson Street and other places round there. The ever-changing wallpaper, the appalling bogs, the cheap curry upstairs and, of course, the jukebox. I always fancied producing a compilation album called "The Somali Jukebox". Whenever I hear some of those tunes it takes me right back there-

Cockney Rebel- come up and see me.
Fleetwood Mac- go you own way
Candy Staton- Young hearts run free (saw her play this at the WOMAD festival last year)

-are some that always seemed to be on. My favourite was Hamilton Bohannon's 'South African Man' which was a real stomper that got everyone up- and often the tables over!

There was also the Nigeria halfway along the Avenue. Didn't go in there much, never found the vibe too welcoming in there.



Which were the places that later opened in the old Deaf Centre, the round church at the top of the Avenue and round the corner from Princes Park Gates on Ullet Road? It was in a formerly-grand house and had an impressive mural of white horses.