Welcome to my world
Won’t you come on in?
Miracles, I guess
Still happen now and then
Step into my heart
Leave your cares behind
Welcome to my world
Built with you in mind
Knock and the door will open
Seek and you will find
Ask and you’ll be given
The key to this world of mine
I’ll be waiting here
With my arms unfurled
Waiting just for you
Welcome to my world
This is a lost island of intertwined histories – of a father, family and friends.
It contained a lovingly collected, indiscriminate agglomeration of all sorts.
Printed ephemera, faded photos and souvenirs galore.
There’s nothing left for me
Of days that used to be
They’re just a memory among my souvenirs
Some letters sad and blue
A photograph or two
I see a rose from you among my souvenirs
A few more tokens rest within my treasure chest
And though they do their best to give me consolation
I count them all apart, and as the teardrops start
I find a broken heart among my souvenirs
Bernard Smith was a bricky, known as Bernard the Bricky and also known as Joe.
So Joe built himself a party garage, to be shared with pals rather than cars.
A sangria Shangri-La.
It became a palace of fun for family and friends alike.
Joe died in 2014, but the fun carried on – but now the house has been sold.
My thanks to Bernard’s daughter Fiona for inviting me to record her dad’s den.
The party’s over and the palace’s treasure is off elsewhere.
The party’s over
It’s time to call it a day
They’ve burst your pretty balloon
And taken the moon away
It’s time to wind up the masquerade
Modern Mooch 
Thanks Steve, what a joy to see this in your fabulous blog, it’s superb
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You are more than welcome – a real pleasure.
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The day that the circus left town
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These photos are great. A few of us gave the old place a send off last night, brilliant memories of the times we spent there.
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Brings a tear to my eyes and a lump in my throat, what an absolutely wonderful piece. So sad it’s going x
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This is so beautiful Fiona, it made me cry. It reminds me so much of family and all the things that are woven in memories. It looks like pure happiness in one room where everything matters xxx❤️
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So many happy memories of brilliant parties and boozing and ballooning, sometimes a garage full, sometimes a handful.A unique and special place,where newcomers were invited and welcomed as equally as old lags (like me), you’d be Christened with a new name and given a special hat to wear !!! So glad it’s been recorded for others to see.
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“Oh, the crystal chandeliers light up the paintings on your wall..” fantastic photos -what a beautiful send off for the legend that was ‘Joes garage’
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It was a pleasure, to be invited into the den, really nice bloke
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Wonderful memories of quite a special, wonderful man, and Uncle.
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Many a happy hour spent with Bernard in his den and in the Quadrant. He was a unique, wonderful, funny man and irreplaceable. I never did get to do the weekly Bury Market trip with him and the gang, it sounded a great day out! Miss you loads Bernard x
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Its been 9 months since we had to dismantle the garage. To look back at this wonderful blog on my dad’s birthday weekend means the world. You have captured something so special. Thank you. What a joy.
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