Reprographics - The repro man blog

That means a lot to me, mate. Thank you.

You're welcome.

I loved the original stories, and I think you've an eye for detail and a beautiful turn of phrase. But these latest three stories are even better.

It's a bit like you've mentally escaped from the zoo and can write about the real stuff now.

Here's a new post for Friday!

generallucifer.wordpress.com/201­5/01/23/141-stepping-out/

This has been my busiest 24 hours ever as far as blog traffic is concerened, incidentally. Thanks to @cliveo!

A slow reply, but it reminds me of some of the initiation stories I was told by guys who worked in the print industry, such as being tied to a chair with their arms in the air. Naked of course. Then lowered into a tub of waste ink mixed with other crap up to below the neck. The idea being with clothes on they would look normal , but when undressed would look like a smurf or something.

It's true, some of things they did to lads coming out of their apprenticeship was shocking.

There was the usual stuff, like inking the bollocks, being gaffer taped to things, being chucked in a skip full of ink tins, but sometimes it got out of hand pretty quickly.

I got off lightly. They parked a big plastic rubbish barrow in the loading yard and over the period of a week they filled it with piss, tea dregs, ink tin scrapings, bits of rotting food and stagnant water.
The whole factory, (women in suits from the offices included) came out to the yard to watch me try fight off four big labourers who eventually got me in a headlock, literally tore my clothes off my body and threw me naked in the barrow.

Nice.

There might be some truth in this - I'm getting beyond the factory, outgrowing it. I think I had to write all these stories to get them out of my system, cut my teeth, even. Now I can write about other things.

A friend of mine works as an industrial bookbinder (does that job description even exist in English?). Gotta ask him for some stories.

Here's a new one!

https://generallucifer.wordpress.com/2015/02/27/144-the-grind/

Well that's cheered me right up

Ha!
I count myself very lucky that I sit near a window with a view of a few trees, the occasional birds and the sun.

Really nice read. The story had a machine like quality to it, like the task...

A toffee.
He smiles back at her, discreetly unwraps the sweet and puts it in her mouth.
She does the same.

Should that be put it in his mouth?

"...and my wife would be very disappointed if that happened."

Ha!

@jdp I'm very glad I share the same view!

Brilliant again @General_Lucifer I visited our local press a few weeks ago and can now totally empathise!

Oh, and I feel obliged to say that 'Clarke's' shoes should be 'Clarks' shoes; my gf is a Team Leader in the Norwich branch :)

Hmm, I'm in need of some new shoes. Will she do a forum discount?

Spotted! Cheers, fella - correction done!

Put me down for some real leather work boots! (Correction done!)

He has an immense belly and no neck. He is grinning like an idiot, which is fitting, seeing as he is one.

Made me lol

Love the repetition in this one Luci

Thanks, buddy - unfortunately my life involves a hell of a lot of repetition.

You're mining this rich vein of form.

It gives it the impact

Every time I read one of your stories it makes me want to write about my work but not sure I'd be able to convey the humour!

Rather than a vein of form, I think it might be a new insight. I'm trying to look at everything differently, take it apart a bit. Cheers for noticing the change though!

Fucking Amazing Dave rolls past on a pallet truck. He’s wearing a big Christmas pudding bobble hat. In February. He is undefeated.

Holy shit. Talk about development.

The Bay is a work of art and to have it followed by Stepping Out is just a beautiful contrast.

Such a treat to catch up with this last batch.

Thank you!!

Cheers my friend! I really glad people are loving my new stuff. Since winning the award in Autumn it's boosted my confidence and given me the incentive to test myself a bit.
To have people actually thank me for my stories is a great feeling!

given me the insensitive to test myself a bit.

You were insensitive long before the award...