PodOBlog: Prologue
4 September 2025
Welcome to my PodOBlog launch!
I’m told that SEO is everything and blogging is de riguer so I’ve styled these as letters to my father. He was a brilliant man, loved penning letters and we communicated almost daily by any means. His letters became legendary. He wrote a bloody good Christmas round robin and just before he died, self-published a book of his life called A Three Bedroom Semi in Penketh. Receiving his letters and postcards was fantastic (unless they contained a hard truth!) and below, you can read his Albert Bartlett potato letter to Waitrose.
Dad was always in my corner and loved my change of direction from ballet teaching into Podiatry.
My blog aims to entertain and inform in a style that he might have enjoyed.
Oh, and before you go, here’s his voice in an email to family. Margaret is my magnificent step-mum.
-----Original Message-----
Sent: Sun, 26 Jun 2022 13:15
Subject: FW: Baking Potatoes
Whilst you were all enjoying yourselves, I was engaged in a stressful struggle with Waitrose and Albert Bartlett Potatoes.
I just want you to know that I do not waste my time whilst Margaret is away.
I sent them the attached email which initially drew a blank. But I persevered and can report that they both eventually conceded.
I have received a £2 voucher to replace the spuds. But I think I might spend it on a cruise instead.
I thought you’d want to know this.
Yours with prejudice
Phil
Sent: 20 June 2022 17:58
Subject: Baking Potatoes
Good afternoon,
My wife and I decided to take advantage of the good weather by having a barbecue. She had previously purchased some Albert Bartlett baking potatoes from Waitrose in Northampton.
When I opened the packet, I discovered 4 potatoes, 2 of which are shown in the attached photograph. You will see that the one on the left which I can only describe resembles somebody's bottom, was useless and the one on the right was too tiny on which to waste charcoal.
Whilst this may be amusing, we are regular customers of Waitrose online and often purchase Albert Bartlett potatoes. We have usually been very pleased with the product but I have to say that these baking potatoes fall a long way short of our standards.
I suggest that you have a critical look at your quality control procedures and, as an act of good faith, send us what you consider to be quality baking potatoes.
Kind regards
Philip Kay
