Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Comedian, entertainer and failed moustache grower Groucho Marx died on this day in 1977. Coincidentally, a man who did almost as much for the cigar marketing industry, ex US President Bill Clinton, is 69 today! Born Julius Henry Marx, Groucho was famous for his eccentric walk, cigar, grease paint moustache and the fact he had... Continue Reading →
On this day in 1572 Huguenot King Henry IV of Navarre married Margaret of Valois in Paris, France. Their union was a supposed attempt to reconcile the fractious relationship of the country's Protestants and Catholics. Queen Margaret of France It set my mind thinking about possibilities of a similar union in modern day Northern Ireland?... Continue Reading →
Apparently it's National Brothers Week! To celebrate I forwarded the picture below to my brother Ian. The picture was taken in the early 1970’s and it captures the image of when we famously caught a milk bottle whilst net fishing in Oban! At the time it was the largest freshwater bottle ever caught in Scottish... Continue Reading →
I see they are making a Dads Army movie that’s due for release in 2016. It has a star studded cast with Toby Jones, Bill Nighy, Bill Patterson and Morgan Freeman as Cpl Pike. We are told it will pay homage to the sitcom from the 1970’s, featuring the much loved characters of Walmington-on-Sea’s Home... Continue Reading →
I had my weekly telephone chat with my brother Ian this morning. As we live around 100 miles apart we don’t get to meet in person often, so we have a catch up on the phone every Saturday. He’s a right bald git but he’s my bro and I love him. During today’s conversation we... Continue Reading →
One hundred and twenty two years today France became the first country to make it mandatory for all cars and carriages to have a registration plate. It was a move that came after the number of rusting automobiles abandoned at the side of roads started getting out of hand! Because of lack of registration, the... Continue Reading →
In 1961 on this day, the people of Berlin woke to find their city had been divided overnight by twelve foot high barbed wire fences. Within days East German troops, engineers and any citizen called Nigel, replaced the barbed wire with 66 miles of concrete walling! Thankfully, they didn't use the bloke who built my... Continue Reading →
On this day in 30 BC, Cleopatra died after committing suicide by means of a fatal asp bite. She took this tragic step after hearing of the suicide of her lover Mark Antony. There is plenty of conjecture about the cause of Antony’s suicide. Some claim he took the drastic action after losing the Battle... Continue Reading →
Twenty two years ago today movie maker Oliver Stone filed for divorce from his second wife Elizabeth. The legendary film director whose back catalogue includes the movies Midnight Express, Platoon and JFK has often courted controversy throughout his long and successful career. The marital problems didn’t start when he courted controversy. His wife didn’t have... Continue Reading →