“Whenever you find yourself on the side of the majority, it is time to pause and reflect.” Sage-like words from late American writer Mark Twain, in which he relays his mistrust of the mainstream. In particular, opining his cynicism toward the validity of the masses’ thoughts, along with the folly of following what they advocate. Profound…
Month: April 2017
Green Army
This afternoon I plan my first barbeque of the year. Nothing flash, just a piece of marinated chicken each accompanied by salad, potatoes and sides. I can list the sides as well, but I suspect you’re as disinterested in knowing those accoutrements as finding out I’m planning a barbeque. Yesterday, I undertook some voluntary work collecting…
Just My Imagination
This morning I read a social media posting by a woman who’d had the misfortune of losing her mobile phone. In the post, she mentioned it was her belief she’d mislaid the device outside a McDonalds restaurant the previous evening. God bless her, she was so desperate to get this particular phone back she was…
Just Ask Andy Dawson’s Barber!
Yesterday evening I ventured to the Leeds City Varieties theatre in the company of my twentysomething son Jonny and his mate Josh. It was good to see them both as a) my son lives in York so I don’t see him much, and b) Josh is really tall and, since someone nicked my ladders, I’ve needed my upstairs…
The Taunting Blank Page
“White. A blank page or canvas. So many possibilities.” Words bequeathed by American composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim. Prose to re-assure the creative mind not to fear that chaste surface in front of them. A proclamation that the untouched parchment is at your mercy. Affirmation that the blank folio has no control over the creator’s process when constructing their art….
No Smoke Without Fire
Last week I spent a convivial evening at my parents home. Situated in a West Yorkshire village which was once a thriving coal mining community, it’s a setting you can always rely of a homely welcome. There’s invariably a warm glow in my mater and paters domain, the unfortunate consequence of having a mother who’s an addicted arsonist. In…
Facial Hair Conundrums
After managing to prise my eyes open with an invigorating visage wash this morning, I caught sight of my face in the bathroom mirror during the subsequent drying process. Although an amalgamation of Shield soap and warm water had returned the use of my eyelids, it was clear that the guy looking back was not in a state of full…
All Fools Day
It’s April Fools Day. As a consequence today will be littered with inane pranks, silly stories and tiresome practical jokes…… In other words, it’s business as usual at maison de Strachan. I find some practical jokes quite funny, such as filling hollow Easter eggs with toothpaste. However,, with Easter still a fortnight off our modest domain is currently bereft of chocolate…