I’ve just got off the phone from a conversation with my son Jonathon, who lives with his charming fiancee Jenny on the outskirts of York. This conversation incorporating our usual inanely random chatter; topics including UPV door adaptations, aspirations for Christmas gifts, his new love of golf and his idiosyncratic grandma (my mum). My son’s…
Month: November 2019
Consistency is Key
It’s Black Friday. Below my mezzanine pew in a Next store coffee house at The Springs, east Leeds, I’m greeted by the sights of ‘70% off – Black Friday’ signages, along with a throng of excited customers seeking to take advantage of the franchise’s benevolence. Even though I’m not in the market for new clothes,…
King James of Kogarah
Yesterday, I was saddened to hear about the passing of Australian writer/broadcaster Clive James. A man whose erudite and witty essays in his book ‘Unreliable Memories‘, like Woody Allen’s comedic tomes in ‘Without Feathers‘ and numerous whimsical Les Dawson monologues, were catalysts for my dabbling in the domaine de l’écriture humoristique. James’ Sunday evening broadcasts on…
This Is Me
It’s Wednesday morning and I’ve just returned home after transporting two family members to Leeds Railway Station. This convivial twenty minute sojourn by car undertaken to a backdrop of tunes from the musicals on Apple Music; anthems predominantly taken from the movies La La Land and The Greatest Showman. Award winning contemporary musical refrains from…
Not An Exact Science
I’ve just returned from chauffeuring my mum for her weekly food shop at the White Rose Shopping Centre (WRSC) in south Leeds; a domain which of late’s become my second home***. This modestly sized development, opened in 1997, a franchise nirvana of retail outlets, eateries, along with entertainment in the shape of a movie house….
Learning A Wonderful Lesson
Since July’s swapping of my residential post code area from LS15 to WF3 I’ve been lucky enough to have travelled to Scotland, Wales and Canada. In the process meeting some fabulously positive, engaging individuals whose company and generosity of spirit has been the very antithesis of the toxicity and negativity that for decades had hung…
The Royal We
The royal ‘we’ – A much used addition to my mother’s vocabulary since I commenced residing in casa Strachan senior back in July. A ‘we’ which, when inserted into a conversation with yours truly, always means ‘you’. “We need to cut back the buddleia in the back garden, Gary!”, “We need to ring Sky and…
White Rose Reflections
As is my habit these days, I’m commencing this blog while in situ of a White Rose Shopping Centre (WRSC) coffee shop. My early arrival, prior to the majority of Christmas shopping hordes congregating in South Leeds’ premier retail outlet, meant not having to spend twenty minutes searching for an elusive parking space. A tarmac…
Eleven Kings
During my fledgling years my main love was association football, as an old Pathe news commentator may’ve dubbed the game in his authoritative BBC English tones. In particular, I was enamoured by the all conquering 1960s/70s Leeds United teams managed by Don Revie. Accomplished exponents of a game that led to a boyhood pipe dream of…