The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 35: A Break from the Killing and Violence: There are Now Two Daddies!

It was time out for a bit of sightseeing outside Naples suggested Ginevra and I agreed. We would be tailed only by two men in a car. Ginevra explained to me a cardinal rule of the Neapolitan Camorra that in the case of hostilities between families woman and children would be spared violence and deathContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 35: A Break from the Killing and Violence: There are Now Two Daddies!”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 34: Ginevra Get Your Gun: Is My Sweet Campanian Plum a Ruthless Killer?

Dear reader you must sense I am all shook up. A gangland attack which very nearly killed me and a cold-blooded execution of two young teenagers Guido and Lino by Don Lupara all in one day. If it wasn’t for my sweet Campanian plum Ginevra, I would be hightailing it out this Neapolitan Truman CapoteContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 34: Ginevra Get Your Gun: Is My Sweet Campanian Plum a Ruthless Killer?”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (the Final Version) :Chapter 33: Attacked by “Cyclops”: The Execution of Two 14 Year Old’s

Ginevra told me all involved in the Neapolitan narcotics trade had nicknames as a matter of pride and to assist in obfuscating identification by law enforcement and tax authorities. You remember that notorious American gangster Al Capone who visited the “big house” not for murder but tax evasion! The names were colourful and of courseContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (the Final Version) :Chapter 33: Attacked by “Cyclops”: The Execution of Two 14 Year Old’s”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 31: My One on One with Don Lupara (the Fat Fox): Invited to Join the “Family”

I knew Don Lupara wanted a private conversation with me. Hopefully it was not to slit my throat! After dinner one night at the “family compound” Don Lupara “invited” me for a chat, just him and me! We had yet another coffee and grappa. Boy those Italians drink coffee like water and just as fast!Continue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 31: My One on One with Don Lupara (the Fat Fox): Invited to Join the “Family””

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version):Chapter 30: Meeting Don Lupara in Naples: Better Toasted than Being Toast!

Ginevra and I flew to Naples via Frankfurt in mid November. Naples was almost warm when we arrived at 11 a.m. We were met by two burly men in the arrivals area. And wouldn’t you know one of the men was that heavily tattooed man with a scar on his face and Iroquois haircut thatContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version):Chapter 30: Meeting Don Lupara in Naples: Better Toasted than Being Toast!”

RKS Literature: The Chinese as Inveterate Gamblers

“Over the centuries Chinese peasants have never had any control over the circumstances of their lives. Often acts of God, but more commonly acts of man, have completely disrupted any attempt to lead a rational and normal existence. Hard work seldom reaps its just rewards or even put sufficient rice into the family bowl toContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Chinese as Inveterate Gamblers”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version):Chapter 28: Goat’s Head Special Delivery from Don Lupara?

Ginevra and I had earmarked Saturdays for an exploration of New York City. So many sites to see. My favourite was Central Park an oasis from the urban frantic New York. No matter the mood or weather we had frequent walks there. I liked the lagoon with its ducks and benches to observe the worldContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version):Chapter 28: Goat’s Head Special Delivery from Don Lupara?”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 26: Getting to Know My Sweet Italian Plum Ginerva: Am I Playing with Molten Lava?

My romantic escapades have been brief and disastrous. Minah my 160-pound sweetheart ended up in psychiatric care and her brother Abdul murdered my mother. Reena was set ablaze by her evil mother-in-law and the Toad with her marriage obsession was enough to drive off any sensible young man. But heck better to have loved thatContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 26: Getting to Know My Sweet Italian Plum Ginerva: Am I Playing with Molten Lava?”

The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 24: Reading John Lennon’s Tea Leaves: Yoko Ono’s Stuttering and Screeching

Being half Welsh and half Indian my bloodline was comfortable with high tea. I walked to the Plaza Hotel, well known for its high tea, and bought their incredible jasmine tea and some dainty cakes and sandwiches from the iconic Palm Room. John arrived at my “pad” at 2 p.m. and we sat down toContinue reading “The Penniless Pensioner: Misaligned, Maligned but Marvellous (The Final Version): Chapter 24: Reading John Lennon’s Tea Leaves: Yoko Ono’s Stuttering and Screeching”

RKS Literature: The Sea Dictates Everything

“By the time we were off Livingston, any hope of getting into the harbour was out of the question. The entrance to Livingston Harbour is shallow with a series of low lying rocks directly in front of it. Even in calm weather you had to know your way in, as many a visiting sailor hadContinue reading “RKS Literature: The Sea Dictates Everything”