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Andy Pollitt - BOOK

Karl Bromelow

22-Mar-2016
4:33:58 PM

Hey Andy,

I picked up my copy of your book on the 19th from a post office depot in chilly grey Earlstown, Merseyside. Dressed in flip flops and bright orange knee length shorts as I had been a couple of days earlier at 32 degrees on the Mornington Peninsula, with dried seaweed from my last surf with my son after school decorating my hair, I got some proper funny looks from the punters queuing up for their undelivered copies of Pigeon Fancier Weekly and World of Whippets. I'm now up in the French Alps and reading your book during down time from sun drenched snow fun. I won't analyse it too deeply but suffice it to say it's a bloody, bloody good read! Thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us. How much is the Boardman Tasker award again? Cheers, Karl

Andy P

31-Mar-2016
1:19:52 PM

Nice one, thanks heaps Karl.
Only positive feedback thus far and you're the second to mention an award - somehow I think not though.
Take care in them there Alps ... should do that coffee (or beer?) when you're home.
Cheers,
Andy.

ima.seriousyoungliza

1-Apr-2016
1:03:43 PM

http://www.ukclimbing.com/forums/t.php?t=109431

ima.seriousyoungliza

1-Apr-2016
1:06:36 PM

http://www.bigjohn.com.au/punk-in-the-gym-andy-pollitt-autobiography.html

ima.seriousyoungliza

1-Apr-2016
1:15:26 PM

eveningsends.com/punk-in-the-gym/

>>>No penis. None. Not even a shrunken, tidily thing—nothing! Gone inside. Not coming out to play

too much information , Andy ...

; P

ima.seriousyoungliza

1-Apr-2016
1:19:23 PM

http://www.amazon.com/Punk-Gym-Andy-Pollitt/dp/1910240699

Andy P

1-Apr-2016
1:32:06 PM

Ha, those Americans God love 'em ... I wrote 'tiddly' and 'fags' ima.
Well, I did pre-warn you it was "warts & all" (except 'down there'). Lovely Man the future ex- GF's dad!
Ha! Can't beat a bit of 'shock, horror' in a book hey?
Cheers,
Andy.

ima.seriousyoungliza

1-Apr-2016
1:33:12 PM

: D


MisterGribble

1-Apr-2016
3:15:16 PM

On 1/04/2016 Andy P wrote:

>Ha! Can't beat a bit of 'shock, horror' in a book hey?

I've just read the bit where you 'half-watched' Redhead on the first ascent of Atomic Finger Flake - seems your mind (and vital organs) were elsewhere.....

Dr Nick

6-Apr-2016
11:23:48 AM

Quick review - not a bad read, particularly if you've got memories of Andy's mug (or tights!) being everywhere in the early 90s. The language is a bit odd at times, but reflects the conversational tone of the book. Andy's brutally honest about his shortcomings, and in general there's a good flow. I suspect it reads a lot like talking to Andy in the pub would sound - lots of tangents and little jokes, but the overall message gets through.

It's interesting to compare it to Jerry's Revelations, which really captures JM's intensity and drive. This book is a bit more rambling, but reflects AP's slightly more relaxed approach to climbing.

It's also worth pointing out that this is a hardcover, rather than the poxy softcover that most of the autobiographies are. This means it should last longer with heavy traffic, and not need reinforcing with Sika.

Thanks for the read Andy.

stugang

6-Apr-2016
2:06:28 PM

Hey Andy - book received with thanks. Looking fwd to reading.

Looking at the pics of you on punks reminded me that I may have one of your wires - be cool if you could confirm or deny. It's an HB offset brass wire #2 (I think) yellow one with finger tape protecting the wire where you clip (though this could have been added by me later).

Story goes that I'd finished a climb with Jarryd McCullough on unc Charlie and we thought we'd rap punks to check it out. I went first and when j got down he pulled out a couple of wires and a Biner he'd bootied off punks - at the time I thought it a pretty shitty thing to do but j didn't seem to care. However he shared the booty with me (prolly to share the guilt) and I ended up with that wire and used it for many a year as offsets were impossible to get in those days. Can't remember whether it was before, during or after your ascent but would have been early 90s - be funny if you knew something about it.
Cheers
Stu

Andy P

6-Apr-2016
7:53:11 PM

Thanks good Dr but there's no rambling in it, that's hill walking isn't it?
Definitely written as meant imagining a fireside chat in some climbing hut or camp site by a log fire - that was always the intention so well spotted.
Relaxed? I was horizontal most of the time ... !
Appreciate your comments.
Cheers,
Andy.

Andy P

6-Apr-2016
7:56:16 PM

Ta Stu,
Hope you have a giggle ...
No, not my gear that, obviously somebody else's but good tale.
Never imagined J would sink to such depths ...
Cheers,
Andy.

Ball_Bagg

7-Apr-2016
11:13:22 AM

Andy,
Thanks for the book. I am enjoying it immensely. Very funny. I had a quick skim thru first up, concentrating on the Australian section then back to the start. I thought Nick White's and your despair at arriving at the health food environs of the "Nati Shack" aka Louise's place was pretty funny as was the disappearing penis!

I reckon the goings on at number 84 are worthy of a TV soapie. Shagging and Cragging (not doubt said before), the full expose on the hardest climbing house hold on the planet. With a bit of creative licence, we could all be watching the roller coaster of human emotions of stuff like your good self being smitten by the latest version of T*** and Jez spitting the dummy at home cos' Big Ron pinched "Master's Edge" from under his nose.

If the joint had exploded due to some gas fault the history of British/World climbing would have been different.
And as a final point, has there ever been a Pommie climber without a nickname? Zippy, Dirty Derek, Plantpot, the list just goes on and on!


MisterGribble

7-Apr-2016
11:59:24 AM

On 7/04/2016 Ball_Bagg wrote:
>And as a final point, has there ever been a Pommie climber without a nickname? Zippy, Dirty Derek, Plantpot, the list just goes on and on!

Cool Pete, Banks, Boy Ben, Scotch Ben, Kepto, Big Smeg, Little Smeg, Hand-Jam Joe, all sound like prospective members of the Senate minor parties

All Australia ever had was a Ferret !

PeterW

7-Apr-2016
12:34:37 PM

On 7/04/2016 MisterGribble wrote:
>All Australia ever had was a Ferret !

I think there's been a few more than that! Sparrow, Vegetable, Melon, Noddy, Bangla, Claw, Squeak, Humzoo spring to mind for a start!

Although I have to admit nicknames don't seem to as common among the newer climbers.


ajfclark

7-Apr-2016
12:36:24 PM

Crunchy? HB?

7-Apr-2016
12:49:30 PM

On 7/04/2016 PeterW wrote:
>On 7/04/2016 MisterGribble wrote:
>>All Australia ever had was a Ferret !

And remeber, he was "Ferret" because he wasn't "Weasle".

Andy P

11-Apr-2016
12:29:36 PM

35 copies of 150 left if anyone's interested ... Please PM me - or try Bogong Melbourne, BJR Sydney, Pinnacle Sports Brisbane or Paddy's in Adelaide.
Oh, Rock Harware in Bendigo and NZAC in New Zealand too.
Cheers,
Andy.


MisterGribble

14-Apr-2016
5:03:02 PM

Palms sweating after reading the North Stack and Skinhead Moonstomp chapter (Go Garth)

Truly this man is the son of god......

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