Tory John
It was freshers' week 1995. I had just moved into my hall of residence. "Sick, Tired and Sleepless" by The Cardigans was on the radio.

One of the people with whom I would spend the next academic year was John. John was... well, he wasn't normal. How abnormal? Well, he had a picture of Michael Heseltine above his bed. He wore a tweed blazer if he got cold. He wasn't posh, or a huntin'-and-fishin' type - he was just remarkably unworldly, and an 18-year-old Liverpudlian Tory.

At the time, one of the ways to gauge people was by asking them one question: Blur or Oasis? He'd never knowingly heard anything by either. He did own a lot of Frank Sinatra tapes, though.

He'd be in bed by 10:30 every evening, and up by 7:30 every morning. This was understandable during the week - he had a heavy lecture timetable - but the same was true at weekends.

At weekends, he'd go off to car-boot sales and buy things in the hope of selling them on at a profit - and they always, but always, turned out to be utter junk.

And his proudest possession - Heseltine picture excepted, perhaps - was an adjustable spanner, which he'd demonstrate with warmth to anyone who'd listen.

Nice enough guy - but... oh, dear. Not really suited to going outside.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 27 Feb 2009, 14:49, 5 replies)

He sounds great!...

...and might I add that I'm delighted the topic of this QotW seems to have once again ignited your inspiration juices.

mmmmm...inspiration juices.
( Pooflake braces for an onslaught..., Fri 27 Feb 2009, 14:56, closed)

How did he demonstrate
his adjustable spanner?
( Bazongaloid, Fri 27 Feb 2009, 15:01, closed)

With a sense of reverence.
Oh - you mean practically? He'd tighten it around imaginary nuts and bolts.

Strange.
( Enzyme is powered by sunlight, Fri 27 Feb 2009, 15:06, closed)

That's one of the funniest mental images
I've had in a good long while!
( Bazongaloid, Fri 27 Feb 2009, 15:12, closed)

The thing is
that this bloke is possibly going to be a future Prime Minister, "man of the people" etc.
(Rsoles, Mon 2 Mar 2009, 15:49, closed)