Rags to Riches – The James Harries Story


It’s BACK and in one part! The much requested (well, 1 person asked in an offhand manner) powerhouse of a jumbling audiobook, “Rags to Riches”, by James Charles Harries.

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frot_hat_gaming
1 month ago

Is all ok George? We’ve not heard from you for a while and I really hope your health hasn’t taken a bad turn.

Bert
1 month ago

I guess the only news around is another retro game book is being crowdfunded, this time by Kim J.

Last edited 1 month ago by Bert
Slaine
Slaine
1 month ago
Reply to  Bert

We all love George’s videos, but there’s a pretty obvious reason why he can’t slate book kick-starters any more

Bert
1 month ago
Reply to  Slaine

Why? because he did one himself? Pretty sure you can slate them for being late, not delivered or a poor idea.

Betacord
1 month ago
Reply to  George

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head there George, best not to focus on them. I think the Kim arcade book sounds like something about 15 years too late and probably not very interesting or insightful to anyone but the most casual reader, but unless it turns out to be a scam or full of plagiarism then at worst it would just be another dull retro game book in an already crowded field. Not worth wasting your energy on. Hope you feel better soon mate!

Bert
1 month ago
Reply to  Betacord

Kim was on the Retro Hour about the book, sounds like a lot of old print media is used for research. One of the better people doing this sort of thing. But I still don’t get the concept of books on computer stuff. I’ve somehow ended up with lots of books I’ll never read. But the problem with retro books in general is if the information is wrong it some how legitimises these incorrect statements.

George’s book is at least fiction and humorous, not supposed to be factual at all.

mrs-funktrum
mrs-funktrum
2 months ago

ah, i used to fall asleep to this one and now it’s all here in one handy (ooh-err) place, so i can drift off to the insane ramblings of the weirdest family in britain. it certainly was a different time. i was informed by olly that the money box that gobbles up the pennies is something you definitely wouldn’t find in a shop nowadays. it does have a weird charm to it, it’s like something from alan partridge. thank you for uploading, george 🙂

Bert
2 months ago

“06 Aug 2024 First Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off
This document is being processed and will be available in 10 days.”

Barcadia will be shut down if they don’t sort their paperwork out 😀

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  Bert

So they’ve made the update. I guess this was a useful reminder?

Finally we have details of the shares:

Shareholding 1: 40 ORDINARY shares held as at the date of this confirmation statement
Name: SAMANTHA WHITEHOUSE
Shareholding 2: 40 ORDINARY shares held as at the date of this confirmation statement
Name: PETER LEIGH
Shareholding 3: 7 ORDINARY shares held as at the date of this confirmation statement
Name: STUART ASHEN
Shareholding 4: 7 ORDINARY shares held as at the date of this confirmation statement
Name: DANIEL BROWN
Shareholding 5: 6 ORDINARY shares held as at the date of this confirmation statement
Name: THEMEBORNE LTD

P. Ness
P. Ness
2 months ago
Reply to  Bert

Interesting. I wonder if Themeborne were the last-minute crowdfunding saviour who negotiated a “bespoke” deal?

If they are, it’s notable that they received shares whilst the remainder of the backers got a special package of excuses and lies from Peter Leigh.

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  P. Ness

Looking at their page they are a small board games producer it seems. So clearly a friend of Slice and Dice who helped them over the line. It’s odd how Sam has so many shares still.

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  George

Yeah, but controlling share and all that. Nobody has 50%

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  George

I doubt it has been properly set up, but there’s such a thing as a sleeping partner. Someone who owns part of the business but has no control at all.

megadrive95
2 months ago
Reply to  George

So Peter’s BARCADIA avoided any leftorium style schadenfreude? Put simply its because he severely reduced the opening hours as do most struggling businesses. The main clientelle don’t play the games, they use the joint as a stop on their nightclub crawls. So maybe Peter should’ve focused on a happy hour bar for binge drinkers with only a few cabinets and fun gaming merchandise motifs like silly hats or t-shirts? Samantha Whitehouse is doing the same with SLICE AND DICE opting to open during peak hours of 12pm to later on. She did an article I’ll post below.

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  megadrive95

Lets face it, when you’ve had a few drinks and get the munchies you probably want some chips or a kebab.

megadrive95
2 months ago
Reply to  Bert

Peter Leigh did temporarily allow for BARCADIA customers to order in take out and eat it at his premises but didn’t specify vegan only. Most customers drubken bankers and solicitors probbably just bounced to said endless kebab or pizza houses on Prince of Wales Road before they “popped” i.e. threw up their stomach’s multi coloured rainbowslaw.

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  megadrive95

Once the zero hour contract ban comes in (if Labour are still going ahead with it), there will be a lot of places closing.

megadrive95
2 months ago
Reply to  Bert

Just get an illegal in.Works for the endless dodgy newsagents and vape shops in Norwich for staffing issues.

Bert
2 months ago
Reply to  megadrive95

Oh but Peter is so ethical.

stacbats
stacbats
2 months ago

Love this, shall be enjoying this one George. They/thum is a fascinating creature

Lucian
Lucian
2 months ago

“The sticky coating was just creosote”.. of course it was.. from a sofa used for ‘courting’.
Great read Sir and, having looked into where she is now it’s nice to hear she’s at least still alive.

Jim
Jim
2 months ago

I’m not one for public displays of emotion, but I must say George you’ve been a constant virtual companion of mine since 2018 – was working away in Kuala Lumpur for two years and your YouTube videos of games on (primarily) the ZX SPECTRUM! kept me sane. The whole Vega thing was also compulsive viewing (well, listening).
After that I was in Indonesia, and we had the LD/THGM incident, plus regular content, and as a loyal bummer (by then), it was a great touch of sanity and homeliness in what was otherwise a fairly hardball 60 hour working week.
Then Singapore and the Barcadia stuff – by then even our lass could recognise your dulcet and obscene tones. That’s when I first heard this audiobook.
Back in Blighty now, and still a loyal Bummer, and modest Patreon.
So thanks for 6 years of pure entertainment! Long may it continue.
(p.s. I’m not Commander Keen)