Lost Youth Volume 2: London

© 2012 by Christian Simpson. All rights reserved.

No part of this book may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means without the written permission of the author.

Published by AuthorHouse 04/16/2012

ISBN: 978-1-4685-0387-6 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4772-1479-4 (eBook)

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This book is in memory of Mark Speight, Natasha Collins and Amy Winehouse.

All three who died so tragically at a young age.

AMY WINEHOUSE FOUNDATION

www.amywinehousefoundation.org

The Amy Winehouse Foundation has been set up in Amy’s memory to support charitable activities in both the UK and abroad that provide help, support or care for young people, especially those who are in need by reason of ill health, disability, financial disadvantage or addiction." Amy’s Dad, Mitch

SPEIGHT OF THE ART FOUNDATION

www.speightoftheart.org.uk

The Speight of the Art Foundation was set up in memory of Mark Speight by his father Oliver Speight in order to fulfil two aims: To seek out future artistic skills and talent in children aged between 4 and 18, in all its various forms including portraiture, landscape, fashion design, architecture, graphic design, sculpture and modern art. To promote and encourage the involvement of all young people in art (as defined above) as a means of self-expression; contributing to personal and community development.

I wish also to mention: Elton John Aids Foundation and Wellington Activity Centre.

ELTON JOHN AIDS FOUNDATION

www.ejaf.com

The Elton John AIDS Foundation in the UK has funded over 1,100 projects worldwide with grants totalling more than £50 million. EJAF are the largest HIV/AIDS grant maker in the UK and one of the 20 largest international AIDS charities.

EJAF mission is to empower people infected, affected and at risk of HIV/AIDS; to alleviate their physical, emotional and financial hardship, enabling them to improve their quality of life, live with dignity and exercise self-determination. EJAF grant programmes have already helped millions of people infected, affected or at risk of HIV/AIDS to receive medical and social care, food, training, housing, legal protection, counselling and emotional support. EJAF have also enabled 150 million people from around the globe to access HIV/AIDS information.

WELLINGTON ACTIVITY CENTRE

www.wac.school.nz

The Wellington Activity Centre (WAC) was established over 21 years ago as an educational facility where secondary aged students get another chance to re-engage with education. W.A.C aim is to support students to overcome their learning barriers and facilitate their return to mainstream schooling, further learning or the workplace. The students have excellent staff members who are led by director Jonathan Cobb.

This book is dedicated to my beautiful daughter

Angel-Grace Simpson

Contents

Introduction

Chapter 1 Old London Town

Chapter 2 The East End

Chapter 3 Reggie Kray

Chapter 4 Leukaemia

Chapter 5 Introductions

Chapter 6 Charlie Kray

Chapter 7 The Blind Beggar

Chapter 9 Paris

Chapter 10 The Highlands Of Scotland

Chapter 11 Little Black Book

Chapter 12 Lennie Mclean

Chapter 13 Swindled

Chapter 14 The Tnt Magazine

Chapter 15 Troubled Waters

Chapter 16 Mean Fiddler

Chapter 17 Notting Hill Carnival

Chapter 18 Red Mist

Chapter 19 Ealing Jazz Festival

Chapter 20 Saying Goodbye

Chapter 21 Baby Kangaroo

Chapter 22 Roast Chicken

Chapter 23 Gary Kray

Chapter 24 Happy 21St Birthday

Chapter 25 Riverdance

Chapter 26 The Eagles

Chapter 27 Oasis

Chapter 28 Wally The Map Gore

Chapter 29 Billy Connolly

Chapter 30 Michael Jackson

Chapter 31 Princess Di

Chapter 32 Snow Storm

Chapter 33 Jimmy Page And Robert Plant

Chapter 34 Bob Dylan

Chapter 35 Fun Lovin` Criminals

Chapter 36 Jamie Foreman

Chapter 37 Guy Ritchie

Chapter 38 Hollywood

Chapter 39 Australia

Chapter 40 Farewell Charlie Kray

Chapter 41 The Last Of The Krays

Chapter 42 Goodnight Dad

Chapter 43 Amazing Grace

Chapter 44 The Great Escape

Chapter 45 Farewell Tony Lambrianou

Chapter 46 Italy

Chapter 47 Sex In The City

Chapter 48 Suicide (Latin Suicidium, From Sui Caedere, To Kill Oneself)

Chapter 49 Picking Up The Pieces

Chapter 50 Chesse And Biscuits

Chapter 51 How Strong Is Their Love

Chapter 52 The Beginning Of The Book

Chapter 53 Queensland

Chapter 54 That’s Life

Afternote In Saying Thank You

About The Author

INTRODUCTION

Lost Youth Volume 2, London is the follow up to the critically acclaimed best selling novel `Lost Youth Volume 1 New Zealand`.

Here now continues this incredible true life story of one man’s life that took him from a lonely prison cell in New Zealand to England bound at the young age of 20 years old.

Once in London, not knowing anyone and with only the clothes on his back, he campaigned for the next 5 years of his life for the release of the notorious gangland crime boss Reggie Kray from a 30 year prison sentence.

What was to come next in the authors life was unexpected as not only did he step straight into the underbelly surroundings of the British underworld and soon became a member of the most powerful gangland family in British history but he too was swept into the world of show-business.

Starting firstly in the music industry, thanks to the kind hearts of two people. A lovely Irish lady by the name of Eileen Sweeney and an old school Irish gentleman by the name of Vince Power. The author was given work at The Mean Fiddler in Harlesden, which at time was the most famous live music venue in all of the British Isles.

He then went onto making a career for himself, going onto working with such names as Michael Jackson, Jon Bon Jovi, Paul McCartney, Tricky, Elton John, Janet Jackson to name only a few that saw this young man take the correct path in life rather than a life of crime. He chooses rock n roll rather than a life spent behind jailed bars. He turned his life around for the better and went onto great heights that could never have been dreamed of.

This book will take you on one hell of an adventure but one you will need to hold on tight as there are many shakes, rattles and rolls along the way.

This book is an inspiration to anyone who has ever suffered or given up on their hopes and dreams. It’s what films are made of, Hollywood will be sure to be knocking soon.

A book that I wished to be read like a road trip down somewhere like Route 66, full of many bumps along the way from the very beginning but trust me, you will make it through to the other side, exactly like how I made it through some very bads times. Then again, I had many summer time, sunshine bright rock n rolls moments along the way, in this life of mine to get me through which brought me many a smiles, thanks to others such as Tricky, Huey Morgan, Mickey Curbishley and Siobhan Sweeney. Christian Simpson (two times novelist).

CHAPTER 1

OLD LONDON TOWN

The Year was 1995.

I was in the air flying over Wellington, looking down over the city of lights when I knew there and then, that I was saying a final farewell.

Goodbye to the long grey cloud (New Zealand) for the very last time though what a beautiful place that New Zealand is. The most beautiful country on the whole planet and with such friendly people but with the way my life had been lived and with whom I had for so many years continued to choose as my company of friends, I knew by leaving it was the best way forward for me.

Living in New Zealand for 20 years of my life, sadly had brought me a lot of sorrow. I was full of so many memories of times that were not the best. As I flew over the country that evening of my 20th birthday, it was heartbreaking saying good bye to New Zealand. Farewell to a place I had known as home for now 20 years of my life. I knew in saying goodbye I would be freed of many of my inner demons and that I would as like my father had before me; make a fresh new start in old London town at such a young age.

He was only 16 years old when he first made the journey to London from his birth country of Scotland. Here now was his son only 20 years old, making that same journey though not from the Highlands of Scotland but from what many people call paradise on earth (New Zealand).

I felt such a heavy weight lifting off my shoulders from just being on that flight and more so as the further that plane flew across, what must have been down below the almighty Pacific Ocean, one thing I knew I should have done before I set off was at least told my sister that I was leaving New Zealand. My own sister had no idea I was leaving the country. There was only one person who knew out of all my family and friends. The only person who knew was my Nana as I had visited her only four hours before making my way to the airport on leaving New Zealand forever but I asked her to tell anyone.

I respected my grandmother so much and I wanted her to know that I loved her dearly. I didn’t ever want to be in a position where I might not have been able to say my final farewell to my Nana. She had been such a rock throughout my life. If my sister hadn’t been living down in the South Island at the time that I left then 110% I would have also made sure I had seen her before I departed. That is something I do wish I had, had the chance to do. I couldn’t contact my sister on a phone line as she lived out in the deep countryside at the time with her boyfriend Ian on a plot of land in their house bus. They were surrounded by beautiful N.Z native forest and the nearby mountains of the West Coast of the South Island.

The only way to make contact was to have posted a letter and waited for a reply but it was only the morning of my 20th birthday, and some 12 hours earlier when waking up I decided there and then that at whatever the cost I wanted to be on a plane that evening heading for old London town.

Many people would think that was mad to not even plan the trip and just to leave so sudden without knowing what to expect and to be so unprepared but I wasn’t one who was ever bothered about the unexpected as hell I had taken so many chances in life previously and here I was still standing on my own two feet.

I had been through hell and back at times throughout my life, and through all the bad times and times of struggle, one thing it all had taught me was to be ever so much stronger as a person. More so always to find a positive from any given negative that is thrown at me in life. I was street smart, that’s for sure! Hell I always had been from those early years discovering the streets of Wellington at night when I was ever so young. I had a feeling the streets of old London town would be something completely different to those streets I had just said good bye to a few hours previously. So whatever I was soon to be facing, how very unexpected it all would be, well I was willing to come up against anything and make good of it. This was my last chance to make good of my life. No one and nothing was going to stop me this time.

My Mum’s sudden death on Mother’s Day (3 years earlier) had taught me one thing and that was that you may be here today but gone tomorrow so why worry about what tomorrow might bring. Live for today and try to enjoy it as much as possible as it could be your very last day, taking your very last breath.

Another thought that crossed my mind was how I had overcome my intake of massive drug use throughout my teenage years and how now my mind and body was free from all such toxic things. What a difference that sure made as I was feeling so much better within myself and my thoughts were ever so clear.

As I looked back over my life I noticed that the drug intake was started for the purpose of escapism, away from all the troubles and pain that I had witnessed or felt as a young child. Then as I got older into my teenage years, drug intake for me become about the need to numb such pain that I had experienced in my teenage years when confronted with death. A way for me to yet again escape from any such future pain whenever memories came flooding back into my daily thoughts. You may say what a weak excuse but I hadn’t any counselling when certain things took place. And drug taking was normal custom among the people I hung out with as in my social circle of friends. I can’t truly say there was ever any peer pressure into taking drugs as I got older. By then I was old enough to make those decisions myself. Though among the people I had become close to through my many years growing up in N.Z then maybe I just followed suit.

I was simply just doing whatever everyone else done. Not to ever fit into that certain crowd but stupidly I guessed, just following the trends of others. The problem was as I was somewhat of a wild child at the best of times then I did things twice heavier than everyone around me, which frightened most of them. Looking back even if I hadn’t taken drugs I am sure I still would have been accepted into that circle. A circle, that as a kid I glamorized, when I should have walked away from them many years earlier. Most of my fuck ups in my life somehow was indirectly or directly connected to them. Very much so, when it came to the people who I used the term my peers as these people I did look up to with a hell of a lot of respect. Who knows how my life would have turned out up to the point in my life (aged 20 years old) as just think, if I hadn’t been expelled from one of the leading schools in the country then I truly could have made something of myself.

They were some of my thoughts when having what was maybe regrets but did I truly have regrets? I guess I had as I always felt I was born under a lucky star even though the map of my early life may have asked questions about that.

Life for me, aged 20 years old was far from over. Just think only 3 years earlier at the age of 17 years old, I didn’t even expect to make my 20th birthday. I am dam well sure many others didn’t either who were witnessing how I was living my life at the time. Loose cannon were what I was known as during those teenage years of my life. Even though young in age trust me I had no fear and that alone many times lead to some very dangerous situations. Not just for myself but more times for many others, who got some of my heated up angry.

That was, now looking back, worse than a nightmare that anyone could dream of. My behaviour back over those years is something I’m not proud of as many people got hurt and hurt badly. Some deserved what I dished out but others simply were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Others had simply said the wrong thing to me when I was in a state that can only be classed as out of control and that was mainly times whenever an evening soon turned into a weekend of partying hard in the pubs and nightclubs of Wellington.

The police at the best of times couldn’t control me. Whenever they arrived to a nightclub where I was in full swing, I would be fighting constantly, wrecking the evening, sadly of those around me. Well at least I made the strong decision to get away from it all and to very much start afresh. A brand new life which others wouldn’t ever get the opportunity to do due to their own lives falling apart so with that thought in my mind I took another sip from the glass of champagne and felt for the very time at peace with my life.

After serving time in some of the toughest jails in New Zealand and knowing if I carried on the way that I was then I would eventually be back behind those bars. One thing I knew was by getting away from New Zealand I would find inner peace. More so I would be leaving that loose cannon behaviour of mine back there in New Zealand and not bringing it with me when reaching London to begin my new life.

Alania`s own thoughts on the journey ahead was filled with excitement to be seeing her brother who was living at the time briefly in London. Alania already was feeling very home sick as she was ever so close with her parents. The medical condition she had, she knew whatever she was going to be doing over the next many weeks and months she had to take it easy. More so keep with regular medical checks so with that at the back of her mind she didn’t take this trip with two open hands like I did. That’s due to her not really caring much about a leading London gangster by the name of Reggie Kray.

It was only as we touched down in L.A that thoughts of Reggie Kray came to mind. The one person who had invited me over to London as did his twin brother many years early Ronnie Kray. Ron, who sadly for Reggie and many others, had died a month earlier. I had absolutely no idea what to expect when it came to my friendship I had built with the Kray twins over the past years. Remembering how that friendship came about and thinking back to that very first letter I had received from Ronnie Kray.

I also had my father in Scotland and his second wife Irene whom I was going to be visiting. Something I very much looked forward to seeing my father after all these years apart.

Also seeing my Scottish grandparents, my beautiful auntie June and my uncle Raymond and my two cousins. As for my father, I knew from pervious conversations that if I ever were going to make the move to the U.K then he did think that I would be calling the Highlands of Scotland my new home and not old London town.

My father had no idea about my involvement with the Kray twins. This was something I wasn’t going to let him know about. I had told Alania not to say a word to my father about anything to do with the Kray twins. I knew for a fact it would anger my father. I guess he didn’t want me experiencing that side of London as he had done when he was my age back in the 1960`s of London. Although I was sure the East End of London would have changed in so many ways since he had last been there.

My knowledge of the East End was only based on books I had read about the area. These books were only true crime books, many written by the Kray twins and also from stories that my father had told me so my mind-set of the East End was stuck in the 1960’s. I can honestly say I was excited to be revisiting that place I had been told so much about and had read so much about. More so my excitement while sitting in L.A.X airport was visiting Reggie Kray when reaching the U.K. The very last time I had stood in the East End of London was when I was only 5 years old back in 1980. I was too young to have a proper sense of the place back then at that young age. You wouldn’t ever have thought that I would be from corresponding and speaking to Reggie Kray over the previous 3 years.

Here now soon in 1995, I actually would be visiting the remaining living twin of the Kray crime family empire. I know many people would be shitting themselves as what if it was a trick. Maybe he actually hadn’t ever forgiven me for the way I went around it and firstly made contact with his brother and him. As like what Ronnie had underlined in his first letter to me, it was a right fucking liberty in the way I had gone around to make contact with them.

Reggie had years earlier pointed out there was a thin line between stupidity and youth and that I had crossed that line. Here I was a 20 year old kid leaving one life, as it seemed, behind me and stepping into a brand new life.

No one including myself would ever have known what was waiting for me as I made it to London or what would come about with the friendship I had with the Kray Family. Would I fail in setting up a new life for me? Would I soon be back on a plane to N.Z where I had left all my past firmly there in the past? Never to be spoken about to anyone. Never to be shared and never again to be thought of.

One thing I did want to happen was to make my mum proud of her son, that’s something I had achieved since coming out of jail back in N.Z. Even though three years had passed since she had been killed back in 1992 on Mothers Day. I really wanted to keep that continuing in all aspects of my life. I know I wasn’t a clean cut guy or a 9 to 5 kind of guy and I had a streak of naughtiness in me. I guess I was born to be naughty, but naughty not in the crime sense of the word but more so just in the mischief sense of the word.

I wasn’t born to be bad. Hell I had a very good heart and a big one at that. Even though in many ways my heart was damaged but that again was to do with my past and not to do with the future. A future, where I would be making sure to always put the right foot forward.

At the age of 10 I thought I was a man, the man of the house after my father had left. At the age of 16 I truly thought I was a man, a man around town all grown up. Then at the age of 17, after my mum was killed I thought I was a man, one who had to now cope alone with life.

At the age of 18, I thought I was a man after being sent to jail, handcuffed in the back of a prison van. A journey through the city of Wellington (that I knew so well) as the prison van took me up the winding hill to Mt Crawford jail. I had to stand my ground and fight for my rights at such a young age.

After my time in jail, getting through it better than most, I then thought I was a man. But you know when it felt truly like I was a man, was when I made the decision to step onto a plane the evening of my 20th birthday. In saying that final goodbye to New Zealand and heading to old London town. That’s when I knew I had become a man as to get away from all that was negative in life. To be man enough to know the way I was living my life in New Zealand was only going to amount to my down fall. Be it more years behind bars or ended up dead from either a fight gone wrong or from the misuse of drug taking and heavy consumer of alcohol. To finally stand up to my demons and to seriously wake up and take order of my own life and my destiny. Not to ever go backwards in life.

Only recently around my 20 birthday, I had actually improved so much with solid regular work. No drug taking, less drinking and not mixing in the wrong crowd. I had actually come a long way from only a few years early but the thing is all of that was still only on my door step. As in the bright lights were not ever too far away from my reach and who knows if anything else had gone bad in my life at the time. Then I am no fool not to believe where I would have turned for comfort and so called self-help. That would have been straight back to the use of drugs as a weak excuse and then back on the Jack Daniels and back among my peers. Walking back into those nightclubs and bars of Wellington, where knowing from my past mistakes, I would have ended up getting into more violent fights. For now I was saving myself and with the love I had from my girlfriend and with her coming with me on this journey. A journey into the unknown then at least I had someone with me for support and love. I wouldn’t be lost in the new world that I soon was to be discovering.

I could share the good times ahead with her as I knew in my heart that’s what I had to look forward, was good times. I would take good care of her, something I was very good at doing was taking care of others.

Soon we were in the air again, this time on a plane from L.A to London. The last leg of the journey and now old London town was very much was calling out our names.

We joined the mile high club on that leg (hey it had been a long flight) and then got back to sipping champagne with mischief like smiles upon our faces. I had paid for us both to travel business class and so we took full advantage of the flowing booze that was served to us, time after time throughout both the flights. Closing our eyes, we found some sleep as all of the first leg of the journey I was far too excited to sleep and so many things had been rushing through my head. Such as thoughts from the years that had passed. Thought’s about my mum, my sister and family and also thoughts about my father, grandparents in Scotland and thoughts of course to do with Reggie Kray and the Kray crime family, all were flooding into my mind.

Sleep came though I don’t remember the dreams that took place. I do know they were peaceful ones and not any night terrors as such that had been a major part of my life while growing up in N.Z. It was dark as we crossed over the British Isles to land finally on a cold looking Friday evening in London.

Wow I was here. Finally what I had been looking forward to for so many years, my return to the UK and so more to London. Something due to my own actions I had missed out on travelling with my sister a few years earlier instead spending the time locked up in New Zealand most dangerous prisons but here I was finally. Walking down the stairs of the plane and touching British soil again was something I had dreamed about for so many years. I got off that plane and everything just felt so right. It was a feeling like I had just returned home though that may sound odd as home to me was many thousands of miles away, a place where I had just come from.

It’s the only way I can describe my first feelings as I got off the plane and though the night air was chilling cold, that didn’t both me in the slightest.

Alania went to the nearest phone booth as we got through the security check point where customs and exiles were checking everyone’s passports. The time was maybe around 7pm if I recall right, the first call she wanted to make was of course to her lovely parents back home in Upper Hutt New Zealand.

They were overjoyed to hear their daughter`s voice. This was the very first time Alania had ever been overseas, maybe if I recall correctly first time she had ever been on a flight. She was very happy to be speaking to the two people she loved the most. I spoke to them reassuringly as I had the day we flew out that I would look after their daughter and that’s one promise I wouldn’t be breaking.

Alania was something else for coming on this last minute trip for me. I had taken her from all her home comforts and really travelling across the other side of the world wasn’t something high on her agenda. Though at the time, she was very much happy having also landed in London. We got off the phone to her parents and she then called her brother to say hello and I can tell you he was over the moon to hear from his younger sister. As Alania and her brother were chatting, I thought I would make a call myself. So I got out my only one London contact number that was Reggie Kray (who was still being held in Maidstone Prison in Kent, England). I called through to the jail and was put through to his wing. Many of the prison offices knew me well by now, through all the phone calls and parcels over the years that I had been sending Reggie (while he was serving time in that prison).

The senior officer took the call. I explained I needed to speak to Reggie Kray as I had some good news for him. I told the screw that I actually now was in London but for him not to tell Reggie as I wanted to do that myself so he told me to wait on the line. I put more English coins into the pay phone and a few minutes later Reggie came to the phone and asked how I was. Asking me was everything ok and what time was it there over in New Zealand? I told him where I was and where I was calling from. He couldn’t believe it and asked me if I was pulling his leg but I said No truly Reggie I am here in London. He was over the moon and said to me he really didn’t think I would ever make it over. He was thrilled that I actually had kept to my promise as in that with Ronnie passing, I very much wanted to come over and pay my respect. He asked did I want him to arrange for someone to collect me. Did I need somewhere to sleep for the night? Could I get to him on the Monday as he would arrange a visit for me straight away?

That’s something, I didn’t expect was a chance to be able to see him straight away so soon from landing in the UK. His voice sounded full of joy and that put my mind to ease. I told him no I was fine and that I think I was staying at Alania brothers place for the weekend but that tomorrow I would call again. He told me once I have a London phone number to where I would be staying then he would call me back. As I could just leave messages with the prison staff and they always pass the messages onto him.

I ended the call by telling him I would do exactly that for tomorrow. He ended the call by saying God Bless as he always did. I turned to Alania (who by now was off the phone to her brother) and told her that Reggie wanted to see me as early Monday. She could see the excitements in my eyes but as I have said previously she didn’t really share the same excitement as me when it came to such people as the Kray twins. That was understandable, though she was happy for me at the same time.

She had been there in NZ, seeing all the parcels going back and forth. Alaina had been there next to me during all the many phone call between myself and Reggie and the letters from Ronnie Kray. Alania asked for some more coins so she could call her friend Vanessa as she explained that’s who we were to be staying with the evening and over the weekend. She told me her brothers flat had dossers in the front lounge. A word I didn’t know what the meaning was but over the coming months I would find out what the term dossers meant.

Vanessa was a friend of Alania’s from Upper Hutt in New Zealand, who had gone to school with Alania and both had become close friends after leaving school. A year earlier Vanessa had made the journey herself to the U.K with a boyfriend. They had planned to go travelling through Europe as many Kiwis’ and Ausssie do. When they wouldn’t be travelling, they would use London as a base to find work and to save up more money to continue travelling and discovering different parts of Europe.

Half way through their planned time in London, her boyfriend left London to go back to New Zealand. I am unsure reasons behind it though Vanessa didn’t follow suit as she had started to very much enjoy the London life. And more so her plans of discovery hadn’t all been completed so it was something she very much wanted to continue to do. She still had time left on her visa and the fact that Europe was only a stone thrown away. She wanted to finish all she had planned and saved up to do before thinking of heading back to N.Z.

I hadn’t ever met Vanessa before though I had spoken to her on the phone in New Zealand when Alania had called her. She was more than happy for us both to be staying at her place and she told us to get a tube from Heathrow Airport all the way up into central London. Telling us then we would need to catch another tube onwards to all the way up to Walthenstone (E17). Walthenstone is in the East End of London. A place I very much had read about and seen mentioned in some of the letters from the Krays. How weird that I would be spending my first night in London, in the East End. Though this wasn’t the heart of the East End, but it very much still was the East End of London so I thought how fucking cool is that. As for getting a tube there I thought bullocks’ to that after reading a tube map and seeing the distance we would have to cover using the tube system.

So I said to Alania, let’s get a London black cab. What a mistake that was and one that would cost me dearly as we headed outside into the cold of the night. We both looked ever so fresh off the boat (as the saying goes) with our brand new backpacks on and me wearing an All Blacks rugby jersey. I think every London black cabbie who was queuing up to take passengers saw us coming a mile away. How many of them I know would have just wished to have us as their passengers as we looked like two ducks out of water…

CHAPTER 2

THE EAST END

E17, Walthamstow please mate. I said to the cab driver.

Fuck me dead, his eyes lit up as if he had just won the jack pot in Las Vegas and that’s putting it lightly!

The way to our destination was fairly easy, that is, for anyone who knew London like the back of their hand and most black cabbies do know London like such. It’s called, The Knowledge, which is something every black cabbie driver must pass before getting behind the wheel of a London black taxi. Well this cabbie didn’t wish to show us his knowledge of any quick route as he had other things very much on his mind to show us, such as where the British Queen lived. Trust me where the British Queen lived wasn’t nowhere on route to the East End of London that’s for sure. It definitely wasn’t the same route heading to E17 but the cabbie (let`s say) was being proud of his city, his home that being old London town.

He was being ever so friendly for one reason only and that reason was because due to the indirect route that he decided to take. Showing us Buckingham Palace, the Houses of Parliament, oh and of course Big Ben. I am even sure, if I recall correctly, he even drove down past No.10 Downing Street. How ever so thoughtful of the chap to do all this sightseeing on our behalf. Unknown to us two sitting in the back, not being any wiser to the driver’s tactics. We hadn’t clocked that every new corner and every new bridge that he crossed and every new building that he pointed out to us was all meaning that the cab fare was increasing by the pound note which at the time meant every new pound note that appeared on the drivers pay clock meant $3 New Zealand dollar.

We were losing (as the pound back in those days was that strong). Well fuck me dead when we finally got to E17, after discovering all that London had to offer us in the way of history, culture and space, our fare was over £150. Can you fucking believe that ah!

To us that meant $450 New Zealand dollars for a taxi ride. Vanessa couldn’t believe that we had even decided to get a cab ride when the tube would have only cost us £3 each. When she found out how much we had been charged, she went off her rocket as we had been done good and proper! She explained that many and most are honest goers but there is always the rogue or as I would get to know the term, Jack the Lad. She did make us laugh by telling us that most Japanese tourist ended up in Harrow Middlesex after stepping off a flight to Heathrow. That’s only due from them saying Hello which can sound like Harrow in broken English when they got off their flights. At least for us we ended up at the correct address though we could have got a cheaper aeroplane flight to Spain and back for the same amount but such is life.

One soon learned to keep the strong kiwi accent at bay anytime in the future when jumping in a black cab that’s for sure. The time now was nearing 11pm. It was so late, thanks to the fox of a cab driver taking us forever to get there. It was a shame as I was up for having a beer in a British pub once we had landed. But Alania now was far too tired and also she wanted to catch up with her friend Vanessa so I didn’t push for the pub idea as I took our back packs up the flights of stairs into Vanessa`s bedroom. That’s where we were to be staying the night as she had earlier that day brought a blown up bed for us to sleep on her floor. I thought maybe she would have a spare room for us rather than having to sleep in her private bedroom though I was at least just grateful that we had a place to crash that evening. In the back of my head, I was thinking maybe I should have taken Reggie Kray up for the offer to have someone collect us and bring us to a more suitable place to sleep. In saying that, Vanessa’s flat was clean and tidy and her fellow house mates all seemed friendly so I wasn’t to complain as her hospitality was so lovely. She had already cooked us some dinner earlier that she reheated and had also gone out and got us some lovely bottles of wine to have with our meal which I thought was ever so thoughtful of her.

I let the girls talk away among themselves of lost years and what they had been up to etc, while I sat in front of the telly trying to work out the TV programmes on offer for a late Friday evening. Mostly crap to say the least so I headed upstairs to my already inflated bed and pulled out one of the Kray books that I had been reading on my journey while in transit on the flight to London. I must have fallen asleep with the book still in my hand as the next time I awoke was day light shining through the window forgetting where I was. I reached over to feel for Alania but she wasn’t any where to be found.

I opened my eyes more and had a good look around. I knew for sure I was in a girl’s room but whose it was I wasn’t sure until I looked at a few photos up on the bedroom wall and noticed Vanessa pretty face among the many pictures. Remembering now where I was and why I was laying on a deflated air bed on a bedroom floor in a girl`s room. I didn’t know where Alania was nor Vanessa and wasn’t sure if I should make it down the stairs to have a look around for them. Hunger soon got the best of me so down I went to investigate the fridge and what was for offer in the way of breakfast. I was so hungry as I hadn’t really eaten since landing in the U.K, the evening before.

One of the flatmates was up and told me to take a seat on a kitchen bar stool. Then with a smile she told me that breakfast would be served soon. What a breakfast it sure was. A proper English breakfast with all the trimmings. How lovely was it of her to make me such a breakfast fit for a king. I was the over the moon and just as she placed the last bit of toast with dripping egg yolk into her mouth the door opened and in came the two girls with bags of food shopping. Vanessa had taken Alania out and brought breakfast for us all.

How could I say no! You know what I mean!

This time though I did help out with the cooking and after everything had been eaten I cleaned up the kitchen while Alania went through all our back packs sorting clothes out for the day ahead for her. Over coffee I got to chat to Vanessa who told me she had planned our weekend for us so we had loads of things to do. Firstly I was told we would be taking a look around the local market place which she said to me that was very village like. The market place I was told started in one of the neighbouring streets and went for miles through this part of the East End of London.

She went on to tell me that for most part of the East End of London had a buzzing market place and well she wasn’t too far wrong.

We started our day out walking through the nearby market which was only at the end of her street or well near enough. It very much indeed went for miles upon miles and it was buzzing full of all sorts of characters selling fruit and veg, which I must say looked like part time bank robbers.

Every colour and creed of people worked at this market place, all with different types of market stalls. Market stalls as far as the eye could see and the smell of so many different types of food wofting through the air. Food being served up and cooked right in front of your eyes and then cheap clothes being sold off by the tonne load, though I got to say there were many a bargains for the girls. Second-hand books laid out, many books to do with the twins. While the girls were looking at handbags and clothes I was collecting up all the books that related to the Krays.

We spent all afternoon down at the markets and came back with loads of bits and pieces. We chilled out while Vanessa rolled a joint for herself offering it around. Alania never smoked dope and though I was tempted, it`s something I didn’t wish to be doing on only the second day of being in London. I had smoked green ever since I was 11 years old and never did I shy away from having some blow but ere I was in a new land, wishing upon a star many nights earlier for a new life, a new beginning. To be doing drugs, though only pot which at that time low strength weed seemed harmless, but it wasn’t for me so I gladly said no and watched Vanessa get ever so stoned.

She soon ended up in belts of giggles that seemed to last forever and was so funny to watch. By mid-afternoon we were soon out the door though before we left I asked her could I make a call and that I would need for the person to call me back, not telling her that it was a jail I would be ringing and the most feared East End gangster alive, that being Reggie Kray. I made the call this time leaving a message in asking could Reggie call me back. Reggie had asked me to the night earlier while I was speaking to him from the payphone at Heathrow airport.

I went and sat back in the kitchen, the girls were busy looking through all what they had brought so I counted how many books I had brought. Just from that one day out through the East End market place of E17 I had brought 7 books. At that time the phone rang. It wasn’t my place to answer the house phone so Vanessa got up and reached over the coffee table to pick the phone up. A shock of horror and then disbelief came across her face as she placed her hand over the receiver of the telephone in hand and said in a shaken voice Christian. It`s for you!

It`s someone making out they’re Reggie Kray.

At that moment, one of her flatmates who was reading the Saturday papers in the lounge yelled out Who Reggie fucking Kray? followed by You got to be fucking kidding!

I took the phone out of Vanessa’s firm grip of the receiver, who looked as white as a ghost and as if her bottom lip had hit the floor. Her mouth was just wide open, still in utter disbelief.

I said Hello Reggie.

You ok my friend? down the receiver came from his voice.

The flatmate who had been so keen earlier to be reading his Saturday papers jumped to his feet yelling out in the hallway for the other two flatmates to come quick.

I could hear the flatmate informing the other flatmates as they appeared from their bedroom`s that I, the bloke who had arrived last night, was now on the other end of the phone to Reggie Kray. Now I can honestly say the looks I was getting while speaking to Reg from the flatmates, (all whom now were in the lounge at me) weren’t ones of joy but fear it seemed by their expressions. Vanessa was tugging at Alania whispering into her ear asking her what the fucks going on, though Vanessa wasn’t looking frighten but just ever so totally stoned.

Reg asked me where I was and so I told him the area where I was and how I had been to the local market earlier that day and what book I had brought relating to him and his family. Reg couldn’t believe I was there in the East End. He told me he knew the area very well and asked what street was the flat on. He explained that Ron`s grave was only a ten minute drive from where I was and that maybe it would be a good thing for me to visit the grave at some point over the weekend.

He asked how long I would be staying there for and so I said at least over the weekend for now and maybe into the week. Reg said he would arrange as promised for me to come and visit him on the Monday. The phone call was ended by wishing me a good weekend and that he would be in touch again tomorrow, with that he said God bless. I got off the phone and looked around at the flatmates, who I merely said It’s a long story.

I myself was still in some ways feeling unreal that I now was only days away from visiting the British Gangland Boss Reggie Kray and that he himself now was in regular contact with me. This was the second time I had spoken to him now in less than 24hrs since landing in England. In my time in New Zealand, we had spoken many a times over the three years but mainly one phone call per month unlike these past two phone calls within the space of 24 hours.

Vanessa led Alania out of the flat and asked question after question about why Reggie Kray is calling me? I tried to tell her half the story but truly it was far too long to be able to tell her all the details as in my friendship with London’s leading gangster.

Vanessa told us she was taking us to an animal rights project and that there would be a few celebrities there in support of such a great cause. Off we went through the street of the East End taking in all the wonderful different sights and smells before we boarded the famous London tube into central London. I can’t recall where we got off but as soon as we did we were surrounded by many people who were here for the same cause. The selling of badges and t-shirts and asking us to be on mailing lists. Showing such horrific graphic photographs of animal`s being mistreated. There was a shop area opened up where you could buy non animal tested products and even shoes and clothes made from non-leather including London famous Doc Marten boots. There was a fashion show going on as well with models wearing such clothes that were for sale to the general public. Not too far away was a pub where I saw the singer Chrissie Hynde surrounded by many people all asking for photos to be taken with her.

I wasn’t one to celebrity hunt so instead we made our way through the crowd and went straight for the bar to order my first London pint. We all sat down enjoying a few pints of beer. We all got merry to say the least. It was a lovely day out, again grateful for Vanessa to showing us around and taking us out for the day through London. Alania was a vegetarian so she very much loved all the non-animal food that was on sale even within the pub we had picked nearby to have our drink in.

After all our pints had been drunk we left the pub and went back to where the animal rights project was taking place. She loved the assortments of information relating to the fight the cause for animals rights and what was taking place up and down the country in certain labs. It was shocking to see and read what actually happens to animals and how cruel some people can be and certain leading companies as well who backed such acts of animals in labs. It was eye opening to say the least.

As it was getting dark we headed back to Vanessa`s flat. She told us to get changed as she was taking us out to a club for the evening. Off went the girls clothes and on came their glad rags for the night and as for me I too got quickly changed into some more evening like. We all got drunk after a few bottles of French red wine and headed out again this time right into the heart of London, the West End. A place my father had mentioned so much about when I was young. Alania even pointed out Piccadilly Circus, a place we had been driven through the night before thanks to the cabbie form hell. The nightclub was packed. A big venue from the outside, though one thing I wasn’t used to and that was queuing up for clubs. In Wellington I never had to because most of the doormen knew my face but here I was just like anyone else in the queue that night, so like everyone else the entrance fee was also asked from us.

The club was playing trance and house music, the crowd was banging and many looked completely off their faces. Someone who Vanessa knew soon came over offering us pills (ecstasy). Again I said no to any drug in take but I told Vanessa to do as she pleased as I didn’t wish to be taking anything away from her evening of fun. If this was only a few many months earlier I would have thrown three pills down my throat and even placed one under my tongue for the hell of it so to soak up more of the delight that I once got when taking such a drug when I was young and silly.

Vanessa didn’t need me telling her so before I had finished talking she had already dropped two pills down followed by a glass of gin and tonic. An hour later she was shining like the moon, dancing away like a little raver to the music blaring out. She wasn’t the only person dancing like a nutter as most of the people in the club were all high as a kite, buzzing off their faces. Smiling away and being ever so friendly with all whom were near to them. I enjoyed the cub though not everyone in there, which in turn made me very on edge. I wasn’t partying like everyone else in the club, which made me stand out a little from the crowd. I am sure a few people who walked passed me must have thought I was security for the club rather than a paying guest. As I was the only person in there who wasn’t off their face like everyone else. I was the only one drinking beer from a bottle while everyone else was drinking water by the litre and no one apart from I was standing like a lamp post. It was fun just watching everyone pilled off their faces seeing them all have a better evening than what I for sure was. By the end of the night while everyone looked so fucked and worse for wear I was then glad I hadn’t taken a pill or three as I was feeling quite good from just being drunk rather than wasted. I had promised myself not to fall back into my old ways with my new start in life, the new beginning that London was for me so no drug taking what so ever was to take place which was a new thing for me after the many years of partying it in a very hard fast lane at such an early age. After the club had finished at 3am in the morning, we were then taken by Vanessa to a house party near Kings Cross in London.

Kings Cross in London, I had read about and been told about as the place where hookers, street people and druggies and punk rockers all hung out. Well that wasn’t too far from the truth as there and then back in 1995 it very much was, though I hardly saw any punk rockers that night.

We walked through some back street behind the Kings Cross station trying to find this warehouse rave party that Vanessa had been told about. Every 3rd person we walked pass on the pavement was either a hooker or someone selling drugs or someone laying on the pavement in a dark doorway with their hand out begging for money. Many with only a small dog to keep them company. Maybe in all honesty that small dog was their only friend for the night so I didn’t mind handing out a few quid for the homeless as I truly felt sorry for them. In this huge big city which had many (it seemed) empty buildings around this area that the local council or government couldn’t find them some shelter and then as for the drug users some help. Any kind of counselling to get them off the drugs which in many cases seemed to have put them in the position they were, as a lot of them looked like proper junkies.

We finally after walking around came to some loud dance music being played, so in we went. What turned out to be a scallywag type of venue, as in a proper old school squatter place where the illegal rave was taking place. Now firstly who the fuck would live at an address like this and even funnier than that was the people who actually did live there. Now I got to say they all were a lovely bunch of people even if maybe some hadn’t seen a bath for over a month. Once you were passed the smell of them then all you would see were their bright eyes and huge smiles as fucking hell if I thought the people at the nightclub were all of their faces well fucking hell this lot for sure would have won number one prize for that! They were all as high as a fucking kite and that’s putting it lightly. Everyone truthfully seemed really friendly offering me large bottles of what looked like warm piss but actually was apple cider and again I was offered drugs of all sorts even some that I didn’t even know what the hell they were. I drank the cider with Alania saying no