I hesitated about posting this photo as when I engaged with Reggae “Everyone calls me Reggae”, he’d had a few drinks. However, we had a coherent chat, so I’ve decided to post
On Wednesday evening at about 7 O’clock I decided to have a walk with Elsie into Arnold town centre, to see if I could get some photos of England fans before the World Cup Semi Final against Argentina.
As I walked along Front Street, I didn’t see many England fans, only a few stragglers making their way to the pubs. The pubs were rammed, everyone had already bagged their seat for the match.
As I made my way home I saw Reggae, sat outside a “Chicken Takeaway” eating his chicken, chips and mayo
I thought he was a member of staff having a break.
“Hi do you work here?”
“No, I’ve just bought a meal, I am friends with them” (he points to the shop.
“Where are you watching the game? Are you going to the pub?”
“No, I will just spend too much money, I’m waiting for my Dad to pick me up, he owns a takeaway on Nuthall Road (he tells me the name of the takeaway)”?
“Yes I know it”
“I’ve lost my phone, I cannot contact him”
“The shop will ring him”
“Yes, but I don’t know his number”
Reggae had a point, I don’t know the numbers of my wife and daughters, I just ring them from my address book”
Reggae points to his leg, he had an electronic tag on it.
“You seen this?”
“Yes I saw it”
“My 14 years old niece had a bloke stroking her ass” (Reggae’s words) .. He was 25, I beat him up. I court I told them what would you do if your 14 years old sister, daughter , niece was being abused. I was found guilty, they tagged me”
“I’m a gangster you know” Reggae produced a wedge of notes from his pocket”
“No No No, put those away Reggae, don’t flash your money about”
I asked Reggae for a photo
“Let me put my Pokémon hat on” (I didn’t ask the significance of the hat)
I took some photos and Reggae told me to take a seat to continue our chat.
“I have to get my dog home”
I felt Reggae was a bit vulnerable carrying a wedge of money with no phone, so I went into the takeaway and asked the manager if he knew Reggae, He told me he’s a regular customer. I asked him to keep an eye on Reggae until his Dad arrived.
I thanked Reggae for the photo and Elsie and myself made our way home for our seat on the sofa for the match !
I started 365 at the end of January 2011
Amateur photographer from Nottingham, England
If you read my lengthy profile notes you will see how my photography...
Great portrait but Reggae sounds a bit off. I hope he got home ok. Sorry about the game. I had my hopes up when Gordon scored but England didn’t have an answer when Argentina stepped it up a notch.
@cdcook48 thanks Chris, reggae was ok , I think I might have been overthinking things . As for England the manager received unfair criticism for his tactics, but I think it was a case of Argentina moving the ball quicker and being the better team
@ljmanning thanks Laura , there is a taxi rank 50 metres from the takeaway so reggae had another option to get home if his dad didn't turn up . Good spot re' Pikachu 👍📷💕
@kjarn thanks Kate , I think the fingers is a gangster pose , I took a photo a few months ago of a youth who said he was a gangster and he struck up the same pose 📷💕
A very interesting narrative Phil. You showed how kind you are with what you did to help him. I love your picture of him. He has the looks of a very good man, worth helping when in need.
I was thinking as I began to read your story, Phil, whether I would have ventured out at that particular time. I think you captured a sad portrait and story in Reggae. This is not meant as a criticism. It’s just how it makes me feel. And I understand in a way his knee jerk reaction to a situation which got him tagged. I think you acted in a ‘professional’ way.
I think he was suffering from " hay fever " which was making his eyes water . Thank you for your words 😊🙏💕
He’s right about not knowing numbers!