Article: It was all right on the night

The day of the show arrived . Jim had struggled all day with nerves but was fine on the night, after a slight altercation with me. He had started getting edgy before the Christmas lunch when he said "Ask Freda (the Cook) not to give me any gravy with my dinner." Now this was odd. Even though it sounded simple enough I heard a warning alarm go off.

Freda was cooking 112 Christmas dinners. Jim knew that very few people were brave enough to speak to Freda in her kitchen. She was lovely out of work, but ruled the kitchen area with an iron spoon.

However, I decided to go anyway, so that I could tell Jim I had at least tried. Freda just looked at me, puzzled and harrassed and I backed off.I went back to a an unhappy young man. Jim said he would make his own f...ing meal. He asked for a tin of sausages.

Christmas is a bad time for young people in Care. Everyone thinks it shouldn't be, but every advert with comically drunk grandad and smiling mum washing and cooking etc. merely emphasises the distance in their lives from such a family life.

The Christmas meal was about to start but I said I would heat the sausages up and bring them if he wanted to go to the meal hall. He did. He wanted to show everyone that he was not being treated in the manner that his stardom warranted. "I hate this place."

I went in to the main hall and quietly asked him if he still wanted to eat the sausages. He said "Shove them right up ..yourself" (only the Ballochrian version) in front of a hundred assorted guests, dignitaries and Panel Members. However I was ready. "Can I wait till they cool down?" They laughed. They thought it was part of the show.

Song for Jim

Say what ya thinking Jim! Say what you thinking Jim!

Well I'm thinking it's time I got off of the shelf, no statue am I

Im thinking it's time I stood up for myself. No pushover I !

Say what ya thinking Jim! Say what you thinking Jim!

Well I'm thinking it's time I should rise above, this life I know

I'm thinking its time for falling in love. It's time to go etc.

He's behind you ..Oh No he isnt.. Oh yes he is!!!!!!