Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Due to inadvertently leaving my laptop at partner Sarah's home on Ossett's outskirts, I'm journaling this literary piece on a cheap tablet procured in July for me and my amour's Majorcan summer trip. A purchase made to mitigate against my Macbook receiving a sun factor 20 cream coating while penning poolside. Despite this device affording... Continue Reading →
"The black pudding's black today, mother!... Even the white bits are black!" An observation made by Eric Olthwaithe (played by Michael Palin) in the 1970's TV comedy series Ripping Yarns; a collection of separate whimsical tales written by Palin and fellow Python Terry Jones. Footnote - For the uninitiated, when writing Python above I'm of... Continue Reading →
Recently I enrolled upon a course of Zoom based writing workshops. These delightful clambakes giving me an opportunity to engage with like-minded individuals who share my love of penmanship, or penwomanship in the case of other participants. Incidentally, despite yours truly's spell checker stating penwomanship isn't a genuine word, as penpersonship receives similarly negative responses... Continue Reading →
Many years ago someone, maybe the UK Overcoat Federation's Head of Marketing, told me "You can never own too many coats, Gary!" Actually, coming to think of it, as I've never spoken to the Head of Marketing for the UK Overcoat Federation, or indeed even know if the role or society exists, I can say... Continue Reading →
I'm penning this missive aboard carriage A on a Transpennine train to Newcastle. Out of the window to my right the flat sweeping green fields of North Yorkshire provide enchantingly scenic views. Looking through left sided windows affords similarly aesthetic landscape for this middle aged fella's tired eyes. They say the early bird captures the... Continue Reading →
I wrote a significant amount of the attached narrative last week as a tribute to a pooch with who I'd forged a strong bond since arriving into my life on his mother's shirttails around a year ago. Due to an amalgam of time restraints, other more pressing issues and author uncertainty around the prose, I've... Continue Reading →
Although monochrome of hue, Victor the camper van wouldn’t have looked any more impressive if clad in chromatic peacock feathers, standing on my drive pre- journey. His bonnet puffing out with the self-satisfied hubris a boxer exhibits when knocking an opponent to the floor. Incidentally, my use of ‘his’ above is merely a term of endearment. There... Continue Reading →
Regular readers to these missives will probably realise I've a penchant for occasionally poking fun at my younger brother Ian's ingrained clumsiness. Observations mischievously portraying our kid as a Closeauesque figure with an honours degree in Mr Beanery from Chuckle Brothers University, Rotherham. I published such a blog last week titled Hurricane Ian – The... Continue Reading →
"I've seen fire and I've seen rain I've seen sunny days that I thought would never end I've seen lonely times when I could not find a friend But I always thought that I'd see you again....." This Saturday evening, at Leeds' First Direct Arena, those chorus lyrics from the refrain Fire & Rain were delivered to around... Continue Reading →