Writing On

Another story from London written by Val Furbish for the Harrison Harold fan club newsletter.  This one was published in the November 1970 issue. 

Before I get started on George, I must speak on behalf of Ringo and his new LP 'Beaucoups of Blues."  Many people have told me the other Beatles should never have let Ringo sing because it led him to believe he could sing.  Well, I love Ringo's voice and I love both his albums.  Just because he doesn't sing YOUR kind of music, rock or progressive or what have you, it doesn't mean he can't' sing.  If you people who say he can't sing knew anything at all about music you'd be quite surprised to learn what a beautiful voice he does indeed have.  He has a very natural voice and it's easy for him to sing when a song is in his range.  I bet those of you who laugh at his singing can't even carry a tune yourself!  Alright so you can't appreciate his style of c & w and oldies, but don't knock him down cos you think you're cool!  Ringo does realize that not many Beatle fans can dig his music and so he is always very pleased when many Beatle fans can dig his music and so he is always very pleased when someone like me or Marcia tells him we bought his album and love it tremendously.  His smile tells you he's pleased and appreciates the fact that you bothered to tell him.  I suggest you people listen for yourself rather than reading the cheap reviews in Rolling Stone and letting them decide you hate it!

October has been a very good month for the George fan in London.  If he wasn't at EMI or Trident, he was at Apple.  For the first 2-3 weeks of the month, he was in and out of both EMI and Trident almost every day.  Towards the completion of his remixing of his solo LP, he began coming to Apple every day.  And all the times at Apple in such great moods.  He'd come out and talk for a half hour or so.  About the new Bob Dylan LP he's on, he said, more or less, that he was not on one record, I think it was "Wigwam" which everyone thought he was on and that he was on a few songs that we didn't know or think he was on, and he even sang in the background, but it doesn't sound like him.   When asking if his LP was finished yet he said almost and patted a package under his arm which contained all the 45's to put the LP together.  George also said the LP was a three-record set, not two.  Pat and I are positively dying to hear it, aren't we Pat?  One of his new songs is about the "Apple Scruffs" who George seems to like.  The Apple Scruffs are six Beatle fans over here and that's about all I really know about them.  I've heard rumors about them and seen them, but I really know very little about them.  I do know they publish a magazine which George likes and John's been trying to get a copy of.  Every time John arrives he looks at all of us and says, "So where's the Apple Scruff Magazine you've been promising me?"

George was really super on October 9.  There I was with Sarah (from Indianapolis), Sher (from Brooklyn) and Anne (from Birkenhead) all with our trusty cameras.  John arrived at about 2:30.  Both he and Yoko were beaming smiles from ear to ear.  It was a gorgeous sight.  A little while later John sent Mal out with a plate of cake for us.  I got the "J" off of John's birthday cake!  Well, there we were stuffing our faces when Ringo drives in.  Talk about getting cake all over your camera!  It took me a week to get it off.  Ringo was his usual sweet self.  About 3:30 boxes of stuff and a beautiful bunch of flowers (we guessed for John) I got a lovely photo of George just as he cracked a smile.

It was really super, all three of them in there together celebrating John's ancient age of 30.  I couldn't help think what Paul was, and is, missing.  Makes you want to cry to think about it. I hope he comes back sometime.

The three Beatles don't htink too much of Paul anymore.  One girl gave John and LP to which he replied, "I hope it isn't McCartney!" 

I'm going to end this by saying I hope Maureen has a girl this time. 

News from London in 1970

 Here is another installment from the Harrison Herald from Val F., an American that moved to London and wrote back to the fan magazine about the news from London.   This is right after she moved to the city in the spring of 1970. This article was published in the September 1970 issue of the newsletter. 

Ringo outside of Apple in August 1970

I moved to London on May 21st with the help of my mum (God bless her!) and Dad's mastercharge.  I live in Mayfair, the nicest (or worse, depending...) section of London. I have a job as an Au Pair worker (chambermaid to put it bluntly) which could be worse.  If any of you would like info on how to get her and stay here, I'll be happy to send it to you.

I could tell you about my adventures at Apple, but George, John, Paul and Ringo fans would be bored to tears.  And since this is the George newsletter I'd better keep it so.

I was at Apple a few days ago when an Apple employee (who shall remain nameless for his own sake) came out on the steps and smiled saying, "Ah, all the American tourists have gone home!"  I innocently said, "Pardon amoi?"    Enough.

Anyone who says the Beatles are a moody lot, I can vouch for!  One minute Ringo is pushing cameras away and the next minute he's busy signing autographs galore.  George is friendly most of the time, though on occasions he becomes so fed up he's rude.

All of you Captain Hook lovers, Geoge has a lovely pirate flag atop Friar Park.  Really cracks me up each time I see it.  All those headed for Henley-on-Thames -- beware of the dog!  He hasn't bought it yet, but that sign's been up for ages.  I believe he's getting a big fierce bulldog.  In answer to the comment "I thought he didn't like dogs!" I can honestly say he dislikes snoopy fans even more.  In the meantime, while George is dog searching, Terry Doran is doing a superb substitute job.  In fact, I'm taking him a collar and chain next trip up.

My first trip to Friar Park was a total fiasco.  First Terry called us "crap".  Then he took my box of "good news" candy for George without a ta or thank you.  Then we were taking photos of the convent and grounds so our whole trip wouldn't be a waste when someone whistled at us like we were dogs.  Who's a dog?  I should've bit him!  It was George and he told us in plain English to "go away," which we did after a few mumbled choice words.   I was so mad at him I bought a John and Yoko poster!

I understand why George was so mad though.  A few days earlier at Apple, he came on an annual yearly visit.  On his way in some French boys decided they didn't want him to rush in, as George usually does.  So one of the boys jumped on his shoulder.  George was furious!  He threw the guy off and in a Liverpool Teddy Boy voice said, "I wouldn't do that if I were you.  I'll bash your face in!"

I've seen George twice since then and both times he's been very nice and friendly.

As for the other Beatles, my apologies to Paul for all those tourists who went trapesing up to Scotland invading his property.  Can't you people relaize why he went there?  Well, he's coming home now, I guess, so Heather can return to school.  John's been in L.A. since I came here.  Ringo is all about London.  I've seen him at Apple quite a few times.

P.S.  George is a better housekeeper than Paul!  Also I saw a travel poster for Japan,  It said, 'Yoko's been there!  Have you?"

George's trip to New York

Does anyone know the girl in the background?  Could she be Sandi Morse?

Sometimes when I'm researching Beatles fan club stuff,   I stumble upon something to share with you all.   This article's author is not listed, but it was published in the July 1970 issue of the Harrison Herald.


Geroge's Trip to New York

Geroge arrived in New York City on April 27th (1970) accompanied by Derek Taylor.   George, Pattie, John, and Yoko had finally received their U.S. visas.  Pattie did not accompany George to New York because she was in Los Angeles.  She has been commissioned by a London art dealer to buy some of the things being auctioned at the MGM film studios   George was in New York mainly for business purposes.    When he arrived, he was lonely so Pete Bennett (George's director of activities) arranged for him to spend some time with the Hall family.    Mrs. Hall is a reporter for a local newspaper in Yonkers.  He was interviewed and Mrs. Hall had the article printed in the paper.  Also during his New York stay, George went on a shopping spree.  He bought shirts and a white denim outfit at Kauffman's on E. 24th Street, and a pair of work shoes at Hudson's on Third Avenue.  He rented an electric guitar at Manny's Music Store.  He looked at tractors at Mount Vernon.  He did an interview for the ABC-FM radio network and almost went to see "Oh Calcutta!" but he was too tired from his shopping spree.

On May 1st he went to the fan club office to see Sandi, Rusty and anyone else who happened to be there.  Sandi said she was at her desk working and when she looked up, George was just standing there in the doorway in his faded denims, barefoot with his shoes in his hands.   He came in her office, sat down and just started to talk.   Before leaving the office, he took with him some "Govinda" posters which he flipped over, some Yellow Submarine books and Fan Club booklets.

Later Sandi and Rusty accompanied him to the hotel Pickwick where he was staying.  Rusty proceeded to take about 70 photos of him.  He serenaded them with the guitar he had rented playing stuff from "Abbey Road" and things he made up on the spur of the moment.  He played some records and Sandi interviewed him for "Datebook."  He changed his shirt and put his hair in a ponytail apparently for Rusty's benefit since she was taking photos.  Sandi asked why he wouldn't smile for pictures and he said, "You don't have to smile outwardly to be smiling inwardly.  I'm always smiling."  He said he's sure the Beatles break-up in only temporary while they do their own albums.  (He started doing his on May 20th with the assistance of Badfinger and Ringo.  Phil Spector is producing the album).  Apparently, after his visit with Sandi and Rusty, George went to the studio where Bob Dylan was recording.  During the 12 hours, he was there, he and Dylan cut an entire LP together which is supposed to be fantastic with both Beatle and Dylan songs on it.  He also was in N.Y. to find out why his Radha Krishna Temple and Doris Troy records were selling in America.  He accomplished a lot during the short time he was here.  He went back home on May 4th. 

A trip to England in 1969

We have all seen Pat Kinzer's great photographs of George Harrison at Kinfauns in 1969.   And if you have her book, Do you Wanna Know a Secret, you have read about it.   While the book is one of my all time favorites, it doesn't go into a lot of detail about that trip, most likely because she didn't get to spend as much time with George as she did in 1968.  So I have typed up from the Harrison Herald the story of when she and her two friends went to England and got to see George.      

Harrison Herald

September 1969

By Pat Kinzer

I had a wonderful three weeks in England this year, as many of you know.  I could never begin to tell you all about it in the newsletter.  However, I have prepared a 13 page trip diary telling about the trip in detail.  If you would like a copy of this, you’ll welcome to it.  All I ask is that you send me a long, self-addressed stamped envelope with 2 6 cent stamps on it.   Since I can’t tell you about everything happened in this newsletter, I made up a list or two of some “interesting” things which is meant to be slightly humorous…but if you don’t laugh, that’s okay because I’m not exactly a born comedian!  Also, I’m printing an exert from my trip diary telling all about the day we (Pat, Lynn and myself) went to visit George at his home.  And now for my humorous lists:

Happiness is:  Heathrow Airport with sun shining for a change…staying in a hotel around the corner from Apple…George’s ponytail…Getting some sleep for a change….2 pm at EMI…”Orangie” orange juice…Paul’s green mini…Kevin and Mal both coming to the EMI door at the same time and realizing that someone’s either coming or going…Chasing Ringo up the stairs to get a good picture, and then running into him and ending up with a close-up of his right eyeball…leaving Paul’s house before the cops come around the corner…Hyde Park on a Sunday….realizing that it was Paul behind the wheel of the car that almost ran you down…seeing John and Yoko giving the peace sign with their hands as they drive away in their white Rolls…running around like idiots in the grass at Hyde Park just to let off some steam and relax…a light burring in the window of Apple late at night…touching John Lennon and realizing that he’s real after all…Ringo saying “Excuse me” when you’re standing in front of him trying to take a picture…George’s Mercedes parked outside Apple…singing “Hare Krishna” outside EMI while watching playback of the song they just recorded…looking at all the mail Mrs. Harrison gets and thanking God that I don’t get that much…Hearing “Remember Love” for the first time on Mr. and Mrs. Harrison’s stereo…the round-about and the policemen in Penny Lane…taking a “ferry across the Mersey”…standing outside the house that George was born in….seeming the primary school George, Paul and John went to and being thankful that I never had to go there….looking at George’s nephew Ian in amazement because he looks just like George did in baby pictures…the Esher train station after riding trains from Liverpool all day just to get there…talking to George at his home and not having to introduce myself because he already knows me…George’s eyes….watching George crack up after being asked to sign a Postcard of Esher…talking about Thames Ditton singing “Little Boxes Made of Ticky Tack”…Mal Evans supplying water form EMI for taking pills and fixing contact lenses…Pat mistaking Heather for Linda on Paul’s intercom system…getting winked at by Mal…shaking to death all the way up Claremont Drive and then wondering why I was shaking…Ringo….John….Paul…George…

Misery is…lugging 8 suitcases from one end of England to the other when there’s only three of you to carry them…warm Coke…being so sleepy you don’t’ know if it’s 5am or 5pm…riding a London bus…the rising cost of room service in the hotels….a copy guarding Paul’s house until after Paul has gone…tipped thirty cents for a twenty-four cent taxi ride and not realizing it until later….sore feet…missing the Hare Krishna march in Hyde Park because you didn’t hear the announcement of the date change due to the fact that you were at Hyde Park waiting for it to start—on the wrong day…getting lost in the Tube when you’re starving to death…finding out that George spent the whole day at Apple and you didn’t know it because you were out seeing lousy movies just to pass the time….seeing George’s car outside of Apple and finding out that it was only Terry who was there…sleeping thru the alarm when you have to check out of the hotel by noon…walking five miles when you’ve only had four hours of sleep the previous night…walking around dark alleys in Liverpool late at night…to miss seeing Jackie Lomax at Apple because you were busy watching the Rolling Stones on TV…seeing the Beatles leave EMI after the last recording session…watching the nude scene in “Hair” when you’re entirely too close to the stage…hearing guitars coming from Savile Row but not being able to find where they’re coming from…getting on the plane to go back home.

Here is the exert from my diary about the day we went to George’s:  Monday August 4, 1969

Got up about 9:00 and ate breakfast.  Mrs. Damon (the lady we were staying with in Surrey) took us to Kingston so Pat could rent another movie camera.  From Kingston we took a bus to Esher, bought postcards and flowers and then went straight to George’s house.  Since Pat and I had been there last year, we found it without any trouble whatsoever.  Then we got there, Terry Doran was out washing George’s Mercedes in the garage and politely tried to pretend we weren’t really there.  Went to the door and Lynn rang the bell.  Margaret (the housekeeper) answered.  I asked her of George was in and she said he was but he was busy getting ready to go to work.  I told her I’d sent him a registered letter and that I was his fan club president from the States so she said to wait a minute.   She came back and said he’d see us for a few minutes and asked us to wait.  A couple minutes later, George came out.  I introduced Pat and Lynn to him (I had forgotten to introduce anybody last year).  He was wearing fared blue jeans, a sort of blue pinstriped shirt, a black jacket and black shoes.  His eyes are just as piercing as they ever were!  I asked him if he’d gotten my letter and he said he thought he did.  We knew he was in a rush to get to work, so I started to give him all the gifts and letters from various people.  I was about to hand him a note (without any envelope) from Pegi and he asked me if I had to give him small bits of paper because they get lost too easily.  So I merely explained that Pegi wanted to write a book about him and Pattie, just as people, and she just wanted to have his permission first.  He said she couldn’t write a book about him because she didn’t know that much about him.  He said he couldn’t even write a book about himself let alone someone else trying to do it.  He took the gifts in the house.  Lynn handed him the flowers we got, and he took them and asked her if they were for Hare Krishna.  Then I said we saw them recording the Hare Krishna song the other day and he said they were just listening to the playback.  He then commented that we were having good weather for our trip this year.  I said that anything was better than last year’s cold wave.  He then asked how we got the money to come to England every year.  I said we saved all winter!  All during this time we were taking pictures.  I asked him if he’d mind singing a few things and he said he didn’t.  I gave him a birthday card for club members that I had half-designed, and asked him to write the message on it, which he did.  Pat gave him some postcards of Esher to sign and he took one look at them and said, “Esher???” and cracked up.  He signed some pictures and scraps of paper for me and five Beatles Monthlies for Lynn.  Pat took some movies of him which I’m dying to see.  I only took about 5 pictures of him, but Lynn took 19 which is great since she’s our club photographer!  George was really rushed for time (he was eating breakfast when we got there).  We only stayed for about 15 minutes.  When we took the last pictures of him, he said, “Not don’t’ come back next year and get me to sign the ones you just took!”  We thanked him for his time, said our goodbyes, gathered up our junk and left.  We walked up Claremont Drive taking our good old time and taking pictures.  We were almost at the end of the road when Terry and George drove up the road real fast (rushing as usual) to the studio.  We ate lunch in the Wimpy Bar and then went shopping before going back to Thames Ditton.

Concert for Bangladesh reviews

I enjoy reading the concert reviews from the fans and I don't recall ever reading any from the Concert for Bangladesh.   I found these gems in the October 1971 issue of the Harrison Herald fan club newslettter.   

Harrison and Friends in Concert

From Susan M. –

It was fantastic!  I’ve never seen George look so good.  His white suit was gorgeous.  His hair looks good on him now—even his beard I didn’t mind.  He seemed so nervous at first but as the show went on he relaxed.  He kept turning his back to the audience and kept his eyes on his guitar a lot.  When he first came out to introduce Ravi he got a standing ovation.   He had on brown pants and vest and a grey shirt.  After Ravi, they showed a film on Bengladesh  (sic).  It was so sad but I hope it got the message across to the audience.  Then came the band—whicih consisted of Ringo and Jim Keltner on drums, Leon Russell on piano, Klaus Voorman on bass, Eric Clapton and Jesse Davis on lead guitar, Billy Preston on organ, plus Badfinger and Derek and the Domino’s and others.  And of course there was George—gosh was he ever beautiful.  They went right into “Wah Wah”.  The audience was really good, you could hear the music clearly – there were only screams or applause at the beginning or end of each song.  The songs included “Something” “While my guitar gently weeps,” “Awaiting  on you all”  “Hear me Lord” “My sweet Lord,”  “Here comes the sun”, “Beware of Darkness,” and of course “Bengla Desh” (sic).  Ringo did “It don’t come easy” and got a tremendous reaction.  Billy Preston did “That’s the Way God Planned it” and Leon Russell did “Jumpin’ Jack Flash.”  I forgot to mention that Ringo looked terrific—dressed all in black and his hair was back and he has a heavy beard.  The surprise guest was Bob Dylan.  The reaction from the audience was unbelievable.   It was such a feeling seeing Ringo, George, Dylan and Leon Russell all on one stage sharing the spotlight.  I mean you really had to pinch yourself to see if it all was real.  Anyway, I will never forget that day as long as I live.  I can’t wait to see the film of it and hear the album!  Oh, I forgot to tell you something – towards the middle of the concert, George started introducing the band.  He mentioned that he hoped he hadn’t forgotten anyone, and then Eric Clapton said into the mike, “and George Harrison.”  The audience gave such an ovation, and George turned his back on the audience—he’s so modest!   George is truly wonderful and he has proved that for once and for all by doing such a beautiful thing.  As one disc jockey said – George is a superb human being and is one of the highest in the forms of humanity.

  

From Julie A.

Before the 2:30 afternoon show was to start, George stepped up on stage as if popping out of nowhere.  He announced that he was thankful everyone had come to help the cause for which this show represented.  He further announced Ravi would be on first and that he and his friends would be out a little later.  The show got underway at 2:45.  Ravi and his troup appeared.  They did 2 numbers lasting 15 minutes each.  Then the stage went black.  Suddenly, 2 large projection screen starting showing a movie.   George’s recording of “Bangla Desh” was played over the PA system and used as a soundtrack to the rather gruesome movie which showed all the people in East Pakistan suffering.   Suddenly a stream of spot lights focused on each of the performers.  Ringo, wearing a single-breasted black suit with short wide lapels appeared seated at his drum kit all the way in the back.   There was another drummer seated alongside of him.   George had Billy Preston laying organ on his right and Leon Russell at the piano on his left.  Out front, center stage was George with Eric Clapton and Klaus Voorman.  Badfinger sat all the way to one side with 3 guys playing horns standing beside them.   A group of 5 or 6 girls formed a small vocal chorus behind Billy and his emence  (sic) organ.   Going right into “Wah Wah” George really belted it out.  Seemingly in an almost non-stop fashion, he went right into “While my guitar Gently Weeps.”  Puffing almost out of breath, he proceeded to introduce everyone.  Ringo got a standing ovation.  George was wearing a very little beige suit with a long sleeved orange shirt.   George did “Something” with Eric helping out on the guitar.  He also did “Here comes the Sun”  on an acoustic with  a member of Badfinger helping out.    Ringo did “It don’t come easy.”  About mid-way thru the show, George says to everyone, ‘and now I’d like you to meet my good friend Bob Dylan.”  The audience went wild with applause.  He was on about 20 minutes doing some of his better known songs.  George, Eric, Leon and Ringo backed Dylan.  Ringo banged on a small silver tambourine while George, Eric, and Leon backed on guitars.   At this time all the other performers had walked off and just the 4 of them were up there with the stage to themselves.   Dylan finished his part and faded off stage quickly.  The others came back on stage and did a variety of other numbers.  At 4:50 George went into “My Sweet Lord” which was also played on acoustic guitar.  The show ended with George doing “Bengla Desh.”  While the other members played on, George went over, picked up his jacket, said his ta’s to everyone and dashed off the stage.  I remember during one of the fast numbers, George started doing a little of the “Harrison shuffle” for which he is famous from AHND days.  The show ended exactly at 5:09 but the audience stood, clapped, whistled and stomped the floor shouting “more more!”  This went on for about 20 minutes.  Finally convinced that no one was returning to the stage, some people began to file out of the Garden.  The teaming rain that was coming down outside didn’t seem to dampen anyone’s spirits as they flowed out the exits.

Writing on

Tonight have a story to share with you from the George Harrison chapter of the Beatles fan club.  The newsletter was called the "Harrison Herald" and this story was written by Val, the London correspondent for the fan club.    The story appeared in the April 1971 edition of the newsletter, so the events in the story took place the end of February through March.   At that point in Beatle history, the Beatles had been broken up officially for about a year and they had been going to court and things were looking pretty ugly between Paul and the other three.    The fans weren't sure what to think about all of this.  And it is hard for me to put myself there in early 1971 when it was going on.   I know the outcome of everything.   But reading about the Paul suing the other three in the newspapers must have been somewhat of a shock to the fans.    So the fans in this story did what fans do...they started a petition.   

John Lennon and George Harrison in May 1971 -- a few months after this story took place.

Writing On

By Valerie

Harrison Herald – April 1971

So much has happened since the last time my column was printed in the newsletter.    Consequently, I’m going to just tell you about one of the best times I’ve been to George’s.   I was at his house twelve times in the past month.    Anyway, the last time I saw him was the best.  I went up there with my friend Carolyn.  We first went to John’s home, really gorgeous, and then to George’s.   I had this wild idea of a petition in support of the partnership, etc. and I wanted John, George and Ringo to be the first three to sign it.   John loved it and signed right away, with a very pleased look in his eye.  The petition reads, “We the undersigned, present this petition in support of keeping the partnership form being dissolved.”    

  Anyway, George was next.  I was afraid he’d be angry with me for coming up so often (I’ve been labeled by all as the only Henley Scruff), and I really regretted going up to him until he came over.  He and Pattie and some other guy were pulling branches off a dead, overgrown tree when he spotted us walking up the road. He squatted on the ground to look to see who it was, under the branches.  He didn’t look too pleased and started to stab the ground with a stick.   I wanted to leave then, but Carolyn had to call him.  I was really frightened of his yelling at me, because I didn’t want to spoil my great relationship with him.  But, he was so sweet and gentle.  When he came over I casually pulled out the petition and explained about it, and that I didn’t expect it to help or hinder the decision, etc, but it was more or less just to show them that we, the fans, still care.   Contrary to public opinion.   He read it and almost burst out laughing.   I felt like such a fool.  But being such a nice person, he didn’t laugh, but smiled greatly and to avoid breaking up he stuck out his tongue and fell back on his other foot.   He then looked right into my eyes and said, “But you see this won’t help one way or the other.  See it’s a legal matter, and this won’t’ make any difference.”    I agreed but looked disappointed all the same.  He said, “Don’t worry about it girls, because we’re all looking for a solution.  And if Paul wants out, there’s nothing to hold him in.   We’ve all gone through so much these past two months that we just want an end to the whole thing.   And anyway, Paul won’t come out any better than the rest of us.  He’s in it just as far as we are.  All he wants is for a new receiver to be in (the new receiver had been okayed by the judge two days before).    Then, we all said together, “And it looks like he got that!”   We all laughed over this and George said “So this is a very sweet idea, and we appreciate it, but my signing this wouldn’t help, and it wouldn’t be good for me.  Do you understand?”   One thing I love about George is that he must get his point across, and wanted us to understand why he didn’t want to sign.  Is aid yes I did, but Carolyn said, “But don’t you care, being he was one of your best friends?”   George looked at us both for a moment before saying, “Sure I care, we all do.  But we have to leave him to sort out his own life.”   Carolyn then said, “Then you think Linda is to blame?  Or rather has a lot to do with it?”  He quietly said, “Yeah, sure” and looked down at the ground as though to say, “end of discussion.” 

  I changed the subject by saying “Working hard?” as he was working on the grounds.  He smiled, relieved perhaps, and said “Uh, just clearing the grounds here and there.  A few things need doing.”   I had a poster of him, which I had just made up from a small photograph of him that Carolyn took.  She had given him a copy of the photograph a long time since.   I asked him if he’d mind signing it and he said, “Oh, of course.”   I held it up and he wrote on the top, “To Val, with Love from George Harrison.”  I was so pleased.  I guess he knows my name.  Anyway, I suggested to Carolyn that we let him get on, and I said, “Well, thanks so much for being so nice to us.   I really appreciate it.”  He said, “Yeah, well thanks for everything, Tarrah then.”   Then we left.

One other time we were visiting him, I asked him about hitting the policeman. He said “Well, I got off lucky.   Of the crime I was charged with, I was guilty.  But I had no other choice.”  He said that there was traffic in the back of him all blowing horns to get through.  The light changed just as he was in the middle of the intersection.  The cop tried to make him go back but other cars were already in back of him.  He had no choice but to drive slowly.   The cop backed way and walked into his car, which was slowly moving and this happened three times.  George said the way the court worded it, he had no choice but to plead guilty.  He doesn’t care much, as he can always have friends drive him around.  Oh, nearly forgot another thing he said about the split up, “But in any case WE won’t be dissolved.  It’ll take two-three years to legally dissolve the partnership, and by then it’s 1973-74, and the thing ends in ’77, so it’d hardly be worth Paul’s trouble.”   Also on his birthday, I took a cake (chocolate) up to his house.   Well, I guess that’s all for this time!