I’ve just returned from my inaugural visit to The Springs Retail/Entertainment Park at Thorpe Park, Leeds. A wondrous emporium of clothing, food and coffee provision, bequeathed to this fair metropolis by our corporate masters, innovative architects and a cosmopolitan cast of craftsman. Men who’ve worked around the clock, missing numerous Leeds United games on TV and the ending of drama The Bodyguard, allowing us access to goods our forefathers could […]
Teaming rainfall ensured the team of MacMillan volunteer marshals at the Yorkshire Marathon, of which I was a member, received a thorough soaking this morning…… Perhaps, there’s something in the old adage ‘no good deed goes unpunished’ after all. Although, I somehow doubt it! To steal a quote oft utilised by an old acquaintance, who idiosyncratically makes up his own idioms, at the end of my stint I was ‘wetter […]
As I’ve written some pretty joyless stuff this week I intend attempting to inject some humour into today’s offering. Although being currently bereft of a topic, start, middle and end, as yet I’m unsure in what way that whimsy will manifest itself. I’m determined, though, to redeem myself for prose that in the last few days has trebled Samaritans call volumes. Not to mention led to staff at Harry’s Noose […]
As I put pen to paper, there’s a royal wedding playing out on the goggle box in the far corner of casa Strachan’s modest living room. The Duke of York’s youngest daughter Princess Eugenie and a chap called Jack, who both Mrs Strachan’s senior and junior opined “Seems a lovely lad!”, the soon to be betrothed couple. I’ve never met, or am likely to meet, the groom to enforce the […]
One year then, dad!…… One year since we lost you……. One year since we last witnessed that warm smile…… One year without your words of wisdom……. One year robbed of that calming persona that underpinned the family dynamic. One year which has no doubt seen profits at the Connie Club and the bookie’s on Bradford Road’s plunge……. One year since I last heard the habitual query “Have you still got […]
Tomorrow marks the first anniversary of my dad’s passing. Twelve months during which I learned for the first time in my half century on this screwed up planet what loss truly meant. A valuable lesson formed from emotions resultant at never again being able to share the company of a dearly loved family member. This last year has taught me deprivation of anything other than a cherished individual’s existence isn’t […]
The four-weekly visit for her oncology treatment is once again upon my wee missus. A scheduled sojourn that appears to come around faster ever month. Incidentally, that isn’t a complaint. The diminutive County Durham lass and her clan are grateful for every goddamn second at these visits, as it means her tenacious fight continues. The battle not yet lost to the faceless nemesis who’s blighted her existence for almost eight […]
