"Unprovided with original learning, uninformed in the habits of thinking, unskilled in the arts of composition, I resolved to write a blog”
Not the most pleasant headline, but this is a true travel story about an experience at a leading British hotel chain during a city break in Liverpool. I travel a bit more now that I am retired, and love nothing more than a short city break, mostly in the UK, but occasionally further afield. I... Continue Reading →
As often as not, in fact far too often, you sit yourself before your computer screen, in complete command, hoping to finish that play you’ve been writing, or complete the book you are working on. You write a line, and then nothing. You stare at the screen, but nothing happens. You procrastinate. Perhaps write another... Continue Reading →
We lunched on the Rock Just Patricia and me On champagne and lobsters And some cake from Dundee Our uber was a sailboat Crossing the sea Fetching the family For afternoon tea The painting was commissioned from Rob Hain, an artist from the Scottish Borders region, noted for his empathy with and affinity to the... Continue Reading →
Morag is the name of our temporary Edinburgh landlady. I know nothing else about her, as the letting agents, with whom we contract, are excessively discrete about their clients. So all we know is that she is Morag Her apartment, which she has let to us for the month of the August Edinburgh Festival, is... Continue Reading →
To my horror, I spotted a mouse dashing across the kitchen floor. It should not have been there. It should never have gotten into the property. I employ three rather fierce cats who regularly patrol the perimeter. They are not allowed in the house; they live in the garage. However, their regular patrols have kept... Continue Reading →
I carry no torch for Megan and Harry. Their pursuit of privacy, via a thousand red carpets, endless celebrity appearances, royal bashing interviews and curated photoshoots is, in the end, quite nauseating And now they have released the dancing duo of the delivery room, in a clip which really should have been kept for their... Continue Reading →
A most pleasant horse and carriage ride, in the Belgium sunshine, through the ancient cobbled streets of the mediaeval city of Bruges, trotting past quaint shop windows piled high with chocolates, ubiquitous waffle vendors, and pavement cafes bars and restaurants where a 1000 different Belgium beers are served. We are accompanied by the multiple pealing... Continue Reading →
She wa a clippie oon a bus That passed our base at Lossiemouth I bought the fare fer Elgin toown An’ tendered to her a half a croown. The fare it was but one and six An she giv me back a chilling Chorus:Och, she giv him back a shilling She clipped ma ticket wi... Continue Reading →
I have taken up the practice of meditation. At the end of each stressful day of retirement, for about ten to fifteen minutes or so, I attempt to isolate myself from the world and descend into a sort of numb trance-like state, a little like taking a particularly strong opiate pain killer or an equally... Continue Reading →
Amazon asked me to review a recently purchased belt.
For some reason that I am unable to decipher, Tripadvisor has not listed this review. It maybe the rude words engraved on the mirror! This was a most fabulous and completely bonkers hotel. The reception bell was a large eight legged silver gilt rather menacing crab; there was a huge black octopus hanging in front... Continue Reading →
Or if you like, his beliefs are not fixed or certain. There is nothing fundamental in his beliefs. Those he has, can be described as being on a spectrum of beliefs, a bit like gender beliefs. Thus he once bbelieved women could have penises. But he has swung the other way, now he believes only... Continue Reading →
I watched the first episode of this adaption, albeit with an advance widespread and acerbic criticism of the piece, with what can only be described as small expectations. But I actually liked it. It wasn’t that bad at all. It followed the storyline closely enough and was quite entertaining. Of course, it... Continue Reading →
A piece of doggerel It was my favorite bowlMing of courseyou would expect no less for a dog that’s royalNo other dogs could ever use itIn particularThose corgis’ that oft did visitAlas, its now in bits and piecesBeyond repairShattered by a falling heirDepressed am I,I cannot say how deep the grief isMy precious bowlIn thirty... Continue Reading →
The month before Christmas. The City council pull the financial plug on the Nottingham Castle Trust, leaving them without a penny in the kitty and no choice but to liquidate and throw their employees out.Forty-seven redundancies. Forty-seven Nottingham Castle employees were thrown onto the cobbles.What a bleak Christmas they must have faced. For them, a... Continue Reading →
In my donated sleeping bag in Oxford Street I shall miss the Kings majestic Christmas speech And the message of the Pope, Of hope, Or the blessing of the Rabbi Or the man with the Koran But hungry cold and shivering I shall take comfort in listening To the Salvation Army Band
Why did Nottingham Castle close? You’ll get the truth here. I haven’t got a bloody clue why it closed! I simply do not have enough financial information, or financial expertise to make a judgment and, along with most of us, must await the report of the liquidators to the castle’s creditors, or the report of ... Continue Reading →
A horrendously overcrowded jam-packed standing-room-only journey by train from Nottingham to London. Somewhat surprised to get an email from East Midlands Railways enquiring if I enjoyed the trip. My reply is below: “What a splendid journey. We found ourselves lodged in the connecting corridor of two carriages, along with many other of your passengers, far... Continue Reading →
THE KING'S SPEECH (DRAFT) HIS MAJESTY’S MOST GRACIOUS SPEECH TO BOTH HOUSES OF PARLIAMENT MY LORDS AND MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS My Government’s priority is to re-establish equity and fairness in the public realm while strengthening the economy, increasing public sector investment and encouraging growth in our economy, ensuring that the most vulnerable... Continue Reading →
What happened to that peace trainWhat happened to noting to kill or die forTo all that easy if you tryimaginationWhere’s that friend I called out forWho said he’d always be thereAnd where’s the love sweet loveOf which there was so little ofWhy could I not break freeWho destryedl that bridgeAcross the troubled watersEverybody knows That’s... Continue Reading →
Broadsides - A collection of bits and pieces 