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Phil & Nikki are not, as most people seem to think, Husband & Wife, nor are they, as others think, Father & Daughter. (but this really winds Phil up)
Nikki is very happily married to Husband Jonathon, (they celebrated their 21st Wedding anniversary in 2003, they have a very nice house and a Lovely Daughter named Claire.
Phil has a not so nice house and lives alone. Is that sad? No, says Phil but it can get a bit lonely at times!!!!!!!
Phil was happily married, twice, his first marriage was to a young lady from the Isle of Wight by the name of Janet. The marriage lasted a few years but Janet Left and returned to the Isle of Wight and remarried.
Phil's second attempt at marriage was to Lyn Clark who hailed from Farlington nr. Portsmouth.. but again it was not to be and after a messy divorce Phil made the decision not to marry ever again.
He then met, and fell in love with, a Southampton girl by the name of Lesley Patricia Knight and spent many happy years with her only to be told on new years day at 0120 hrs that it was all over!!!! - This came as a total shock to Phil as they had lived together for 23 years.
Nikki is very artistic in lots of ways and when time permits, out come the oils, canvas, paint, needles, camera or whatever and away she goes creating yet another masterpiece.
Phil & Nikki have a lot in common. Not only with "Flickers Golden Oldies" but both are avid animal lovers.
As of November 2005, Nikki has four animals, and Phil has none.
Nikki has and A full grown Rotweiller called "ROONIE", and a younger Rotweiller called "Roxie", and two Kakariki's
ROONIE was found roaming the streets of London and was rescued by the lovely people at Battersea Dogs Home. He had only been in the establishment for a couple of days when we decided to visit Battersea just to see what it looks like in the flesh! - Well, both Jon and Nikki, fell in love with ROONIE.
Phil was overjoyed because he had spotted ROONIE before Jon & Nikki and had already made his mind up. After a few stringent formalities they were told they would be the new PROUD owners of ROONIE - and he turned out to be a wonderful pet and companion to Phil's little Terrier, "Lucy" before she passed away on 23rd December 2003.
Whilst visiting a local drinking establishment to listen to a fellow entertainer we became aware that there was a need for the pub dog to be re-homed.
Phil asked if they would consider selling her and they agreed to let her go as they knew we would love and look after her as they wished that they had the time to do themselves. So, into the equation came "Roxie"
Sadly, "Scruffy" was taken from us on February 11th 2003, she was 21years old and lived life to the full, but became so frail that everybody concerned agreed that she be released from this world and be allowed to join the ever increasing list of treasured pets that have given us so much and demanded nothing in return.
Cally has now gone to join Scruffy and so The grant household are catless at the moment.
R.I.P. Scruffy x x x - (if you are a close friend we are sad to inform you that Harry passed away at the end of February 2000 and has gone to join Cobbie, Bella, Mole, Lucky, Chester, Sally, Lucy Cally etc. in that big kennel in the sky. (R.I.P. Harry).)
On the 23rd December 2003 we lost "Lucy". "Lucy" Coming to terms with the loss of such a gorgeous friendly loyal friend will be very very hard for everybody who was concerned in giving her the good life that she had enjoyed in her 17 years on this earth
All animals owned over the years by both Phil, and Nikki & Jon have been rescue dogs, one way or another.
Many years ago whilst returning from a gig in Manchester, Phil & Nikki were amazed to see a little Puppy running frightened out of his wits darting in and out of the traffic. Although it took them both three quarters of an hour to catch him, catch him they did and he was brought to safety and lived happily with Phil (and Lesley) until recently when he was called to that big kennel in the sky. He looked just like an Australian Dingo and because he came from Manchester he was named "Chester"
Both Phil & Nikki love horse riding, although it is Nikki who is the authority on them. This is due to her Working with horses from a very early age. She left home at 17 to work at the stables at the top of Portsdown hill.
Phil's knowledge is limited to being able to sit on the correct side (The Top), and to be facing the correct way (mostly).
His knowledge of the correct phrases used to control the animal are, to say the least limited. When his horse decided to gallop when not instructed, although he did correctly apply gentle pressure on the reins, he chose not to use the accepted "Whoooow". Instead he burst into lengthy dialogue at very high volume and to be honest we, the onlookers didn't really believe the horse fully understood what message Phil was trying to convey.
Phil, although brilliant as a performing artiste on stage, is, sadly totally obsessed with his computer and spends every waking minute at it.. He doesn't actually achieve much but nevertheless, still sits there pressing the keyboard and creating hyperlinks and updating this Website .
Nikki started horse riding again, in May 2000 and lost 4 stone whilst on the Rosemary Conley Programme. In fact she looked so good that we were getting requests for a members only section !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On Easter Monday 2002, Nikki had a bad fall on "James". where she was badly kicked three times on the head, and lower back. The kicks to the head were not a problem as she ALWAYS wears a British Standard Hat, but the kick to her lower back caused severe bruising and many trips to the local Hospital....
In November 2002, "James" left the stables and so Nikki's regular horse riding went on hold!
Nikki has now enrolled at a Gym in Portsmouth and is training regularly to keep fit and claims to be enjoying it?!!
Newsflash! - Nikki has begun riding regulary again and so the local hospitals have been informed... Watch this space
Oh Well, as Steve Swindley says, MORE LATER........
