In the Spotlight with.. pete lashmar

[pete lashmar]

LOL I always thought he was quite small Great stories there and lots of memories, must have been fun back in the 80s doing your job x

Oh I loved my days in the west end and got to see so many shows. I remember being at Her Majesty's helping set up all the bars while Phantom was in rehearsals and then watching the first ever preview. They were having problems so turned a paying audience away and we were given 2 comp tickets and my mum & dad came to see it and we were just stunned at it. Then when I went back years later as the stage door keeper it was like being home again.

 

[Jock Og]

Hello Pete! How are you? I would be interested to hear what was your favourite era of the eighties prime time soap DALLAS and also was there a 'jump the shark' moment, in your viewing? Perhaps the changing face of the matriarch Ellie, Bobby alive and well in the shower after Pam's dream concludes or as late into the show's life with the softening of J.R. and the introduction of all the newbies, in an attempt to fill the void left by Pam, Ray, Donna plus Sue Ellen.

 

[Sarah]

Hi Pete

Congratulations on your choice of favourite Dallas character

Sorry to be morbid, but what was it like living in Portugal when Madeleine McCann disappeared and is it still widely discussed there?

Thanks!!

 

[Angela Channing]

Hi Pete, thanks for all your answers this week, I've enjoyed reading them. I hope your week in the limelight has been a pleasant one. I have a few final questions before your spotlight is dimmed:

1. You have described some great jobs that you have done but what was the worst job you’ve had?
2. What do you miss about life 10 years ago?
3. What do you like but are usually embarrassed to admit?
4. Other than work or home, where do you spend most of your time?

 

[pete lashmar]

Hello Pete! How are you? I would be interested to hear what was your favourite era of the eighties prime time soap DALLAS and also was there a 'jump the shark' moment, in your viewing? Perhaps the changing face of the matriarch Ellie, Bobby alive and well in the shower after Pam's dream concludes or as late into the show's life with the softening of J.R. and the introduction of all the newbies, in an attempt to fill the void left by Pam, Ray, Donna plus Sue Ellen.

Hi @Jock Og . My favourite era of Dallas is season 3 (DVD) from Mastectomy through to season 8 (DVD). Although the original mini series set everything up so well, I wasn't over keen on the stand alone episodes and that's when I feel the show was really building up. I found the changing of Miss Ellie far more of a jump the shark moment than Bobby returning. To this day I just don't understand why they didn't write the character out for the season and then look at things a year down the road. I really feel that it harmed the series.

As the years go on I find that I have more and more problems with the show's bosses, I feel they took the audience for granted, certainly in the later years by writing popular characters out and bringing in ones that were either poorly conceived or poorly acted - and in some cases both.

I watched the show to the very end but on rewatch never go to series 14 anymore, 13 was bad, but there were some elements I enjoyed.

For me Dallas is that core cast, once Jenna was brought in as a regular I feel the show started to slide.

 

[pete lashmar]

Hi Pete

Congratulations on your choice of favourite Dallas character

Sorry to be morbid, but what was it like living in Portugal when Madeleine McCann disappeared and is it still widely discussed there?

Thanks!!

I wasn't here the year she went, but her parents are not looked upon fondly by the Portuguese people and the Brits over here.I think many people have many opinions on both the case and the parents.

Personally I simply can't understand how a mother can call a newspaper before she calls the police. I can't understand why a mother would wash her favourite toy, I can't understand how someone was put on every media front page as the abductor and was then proved completely innocent days later.

So many lives were destroyed by the case, but my big issue is why Kate McCann didn't answer any of the questions the police asked her, saying no comment to more than 51 questions - that for me makes no sense at all.

They still come over occasionally and are fast tracked out the back of the airport, the residents of Luz have no time for them at all, they feel that they have destroyed the tourism there, which is probably true, but the case did that, not necessarily the parents.

I have my views on the case but they are still hugely conflicted.

 

[pete lashmar]

Hi Pete, thanks for all your answers this week, I've enjoyed reading them. I hope your week in the limelight has been a pleasant one. I have a few final questions before your spotlight is dimmed:

1. You have described some great jobs that you have done but what was the worst job you’ve had?
2. What do you miss about life 10 years ago?
3. What do you like but are usually embarrassed to admit?
4. Other than work or home, where do you spend most of your time?

Hi @Angela Channing , thanks for your questions. I've really enjoyed this week and going back over some great memories.

1. The worst job I had was probably working in the bulb factory in Holland. Although we had amazing times living on a holiday camp it was the coldest winter and there was no heating in the factory. So we were up at about 0500, all dark and cold, then driven to the factory where all the flower bulbs came through on conveyor belts and we all stood in lines either wide taking all the mud and dirt off them, they then dropped into crates which were then stacked up. We had 30 minutes for lunch and the radio station played the same 10 songs every day. It really was a terrible job - but the experience of living in Holland was something I will always have fond memories of.

2. You know I really miss the days before bloody smart phones. People spoke to each other, called each other and didn't have their heads stuck facing downwards looking at their screens. I see it every day here, people on holiday, a family out for a meal and they are all looking at their phones and no one is communicating with each other. I never take my phone out with me, if someone needs me I'll get back to them, but life is too precious and smart phones have turned people into zombies. Nowadays, instead of asking what special offers bars and restaurants have on, the first question is always "what's the wifi password?" - makes my blood boil.

3. oooh....crap TV - I can't do stuff like Kardashians or similar, but I do love shows like Below Deck and am a massive Big Brother fan, both the UK & US. To be honest I get a lot of stick for still loving Dallas, but really don't care, I've never been someone interested in being in the "in" crowd lol.

4. I'm ashamed to say it's in the bars here. Not always drinking, but in the winter season we all meet up, have a coffee and a chat. During the winter there isn't a lot to do - even more so this year. But we also spend a lot of time taking the dogs out and having a good run on the beach - the dogs that is, we are usually far too full up on fresh air to run anywhere lol.

 

[Angela Channing]

Hi @Angela Channing , thanks for your questions. I've really enjoyed this week and going back over some great memories.

I'm glad you enjoyed it because I've enjoyed reading your full and open answers to every question.

 

[Long Lashes]

am a massive Big Brother fan, both the UK & US.

Me too I still miss watching it.

Did you have a favourite UK BB series and a favourite winner?

Did you prefer the civilian BB or the celebrity version?


Just one more question . Can you remember how you came to SC/ TT?

Thanks Pete for answering all my questions this week, I hope we've not kept you too busy.

 

[pete lashmar]

Me too I still miss watching it.

Did you have a favourite UK BB series and a favourite winner?

Did you prefer the civilian BB or the celebrity version?


Just one more question . Can you remember how you came to SC/ TT?

Thanks Pete for answering all my questions this week, I hope we've not kept you too busy.

Hi @Long Lashes,

I will always love BB2 in the UK and Brian will always be my favourite housemate. We met, briefly, a few times as we both worked at Stansted Airport for different airlines. He worked for Ryanair and I worked in the call centre for "Go". I went to every eviction that year and the final - loved every minute of it.

I love CBB but adore normal BB, it's longer and you get to see people change and grow (not always for the better).

I think I found myself here from a link from Ultimate Dallas a few years ago and can't believe it's been 3 years already - how time flies!

You've not kept me busy at all, I've thoroughly enjoyed this week and hope everyone that takes part does.

 

[Long Lashes]

I will always love BB2 in the UK and Brian will always be my favourite housemate.

BB2 was a great series with a good mix of personalities. I actually cheered when Brian won he was very endearing and naturally entertaining, he also had the ability to make me howl with laughter.

We met, briefly, a few times as we both worked at Stansted Airport for different airlines.

How interesting to hear this.

I went to every eviction that year and the final - loved every minute of it.

What an experience that must've been, the eviction nights in the earlier series were the best.

You've not kept me busy at all, I've thoroughly enjoyed this week and hope everyone that takes part does.

Glad you've enjoyed this week and its been great hearing about your life. Lets hope life gets back to some normality next year and you can return to DJing.

 

[Karin Schill]

Hi @Karin Schill, hope you're well and thank you for the questions.
I have never visited Southfork, but when we went to Florida last December I did think about popping over and looked at connecting flights. However, once again, as a non driver it would have been a very tricky trip and Pete, my partner doesn't have the same love for the show as I do. But one day Karin, one day!!!

I'm sure you'll get to Southfork one day!

Also thanks for answering my questions. It sounds like you've lived an interesting life so far.

It's not a documentary but if you haven't watched the movie The Longest Day (1963) about D-Day I can totally recommend it to you, as it is one of the most realistic movies I've seen on the topic. I think they even used the same soldiers to climb point the hoc for the movie who had climbed it in real life some 18 years earlier!

 

[Ome]

A big thank you to everyone who took part in this thread
and to Pete for sharing with us a special part of his life.

I hope you enjoyed this week as much as everyone else did.

We have had some fantastic question, with equally fabulous answers.​