Very Public People

ebook2 28 very public people interviewed by 16 artists

Annette / Krzysztof / Michael

ContributorsAnia Bas / Poppi Holness / Antonio Roberts

Name: Michael

Age: 63 years old (born on 5th of January)

Star sign: Capricorn

Status: Married with 2 kids

Interests: Interested in music and West Brom Albion

Pets: Owner of a cat Susie

Religion: Fairly religious

Likes: Spring, as it is not too cold nor too hot. All is beautiful in blossoms.Live rock and Robin Williams in Dead Poets Society. Tunisia as a holiday destination and New Zealand for its diversity and beauty. Colour blue Pork chopsPort!

Dislikes: Damp towelsDraughts and wind Lack of disciplineBad language in publicPeople parking in front of his houseTripe and pig trotters.

“I have lived in West Brom all my life and I guess to new

people it must look dire.”

Michael

Mechanical Services EngineerInterviewed by Poppi Holness & Antonio Roberts

Michael

Continued from previous page...

Tell us about your community:I have lived in West Brom all my life and I guess to new people it must look dire. There is a great culture mix around here, good neighbours and it is a close knit community!

P.S. Home is my favourite place.

I am proud of West Brom a lot! Especially of famous people who come from here, the surroundings that have a lot of history to them and the football ground (oh yes!). I feel the proudest that the town is moving forward.

Occupation:I always wanted to be a male nurse not an engineer but life worked out that way. But I am happy with my job as it guarantees a decent living. I hope the future will bring happy retirement and there will be plenty of entertainment, here in West Brom.

Your characteristics:I am not really flexible. I am a planner, clean & neat & tidy (both at work and at home), emotional and loyal.

Your attitude to chocolate:Sometimes I would rather be invisible and would love to have a lifetime supply of chocolate guaranteed.

If you had a million pounds?A million pounds (if this amount was at my disposable) I would spend on my two boys.

Aspirations:One day, one beautiful day, I would like to learn to play the banjo.

I got bus-driving licenses just before leaving Poland for UK. I thought it would help me to get a job if plan A, working in my occupation, would not work out for some reason. I am an engineer in automatics and robotics. But since arriving to UK I work as a bus driver.

I think I might be here for another year and I will pack up and go back. My life here rotates around work, it is not really life. I work 6 days a week, and after work I just meet a couple of my colleagues for a drink. That’s it. And yes, I do visit Poland. Usually during Christmas and for my friends’ wedding. I do

not go on holidays really. As I said, it is all work.West Brom? Better than London! I like it here. I have a good job, it’s nice and it pays OK. There is no reason to whinge. It is not the most beautiful part of the country, but I have never regretted coming here.

I left my country, as so many other people did, as I wanted to find a job. Hard times. There wasn’t much I could do in Poland back then, straight after my studies. I didn’t want to be unemployed so I left. Here I can save a bit and I know what I am saving for - better times in my country.

Krzysztof

Bus DriverInterviewed by Ania Bas on 406H bus to Great Barr

“West Brom?Better than London!

I like it here.”

I like it here although occasionally I feel challenged. Once someone asked me if we have DVDs in Poland. I said ‘no, we only use Blu-rays these days!’

And sometimes I think that some landlords here assume that being a tenant from outside of UK means that I am fine without hot water in the tap. Well, I am not. I see certain things as normal and I hate

when I feel people are taking advantage of me because I am foreign.

I am planning to go back, I have always seen being in UK as a temporary thing. An adventure. I am sure things will work out for me. They usually do. I have learnt here in the UK so much. I am confident now. West Brom gave me my post-grad education.

Krzysztof

Continued from previous page...

“West Brom gave me my post-grad education.”

I was made redundant in 1996; I was 56 then and not really ready to look for a career in another industry. I was not prepared to be jobless, I was desperate to stay in my job. I loved it. MEB was the best job on the earth, I am sure about it. I was going to work with a smile on my lips, I was wanted there and I wanted to be there too.

I was working in customer service dealing with enquiries of all sorts. I hate the current

system. You call a number and go through a long list of options, you talk to a machine and by the time you get to speak to a living person you are tired, angry, bored, irritated or all of these things. And quite often find the person on the other side of the line is equally exhausted.

MEB wasn’t only a place for paying bills, people were also invited into a showroom where they could look at all sorts of electrical appliances. It was

Annette

Ex-worker, Midlands Electricity BoardInterviewed by Ania Bas at the Great Western Café in West Bromwich

“It was non-intrusive marketing and a very friendly and civilised way to shop. It wasn’t in your face, it

wasn’t coming through your door, and it wasn’t tiring you out.”

non-intrusive marketing and a very friendly and civilised way to shop. It wasn’t in your face, it wasn’t coming through your door, and it wasn’t tiring you out. And I felt valued, as a person with expertise, advising on what is good and what is useful.

After all these years what is left in me now is the memory of the people I met there. Both customers and colleagues. We still exchange Xmas cards,

getting them means that the people are still doing well, still tinkering along. It makes me happy, it is very heart-warming. These days I come to West Bromwich not to work but to shop. I am not a very public person any more, I do my shopping, I have my lunch at the high street café and I like to sit by the window and people-watch. This is my current view.

DesignAlice Ralph

www.aliceralph.com

Very Public People