Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Day four of middle-aged orphanhood following my mother's passing on Sunday. The matriarch leaving this vale of tears to join my father, whose own death preceded his beloved wife of 57 years four winters previously. Of course, becoming an orphan in your fifties is nowhere near as stark as in childhood. That being said, despite... Continue Reading →
Aside from a sporadic sob emanating from daughter Rachel in the front passenger seat of my car, yesterday's 20 minute journey from my mother's care home to Rach's east Leeds residence was undertaken in near silence. Two hours in the company of our moribund family matriarch, who's now barely able to communicate verbally, appearing to... Continue Reading →
While composing today's observations staring back at me from the corner of my office desk is an adhesive tape dispenser. This red plastic Sellotape holder, which lays adjacent to a desk tidy containing pens, a pencil sharpener and a USB storage device, mysteriously minus one of its scarlet coloured sides. Footnote - Other brands of... Continue Reading →
Wednesday morning, while drawing open a set of bedroom curtains, I noticed three crows perched on the fence panel between mine and a neighbours garden. Although if truth be told, as my ornithology knowledge contains glaring voids they could've just as easily been ravens. Anyhow, witnessing this trinity of black avians chirping amongst themselves upon... Continue Reading →
Keen to avoid depressing analysis of my footballing amours Leeds United's (LUFC) insipid start to the season, in the last couple of days BBC Radio 2's breakfast show has been GJ Strachan's reveille listen of choice instead of my usual morning listen of talkSport. Presenter Zoe Ball's affable brand of chat and hit music from... Continue Reading →
Autumn has crept menacingly towards us in a fashion similar to the slugs making daily visits to feast upon the moribund petunias and begonia residing in my patio pots. These plants as helpless at the hands of the molluscs as we are to whims of the weather..... Well, unless I can find my bloody slug... Continue Reading →
Within the past week or so I've noticed an alarming number of dead squirrels on local roads; quite a few of these Sciuridae not squashed roadkill, or carrion, but 'intact'. Appearing to've been killed by a glancing blow, not crushed by a vehicle tyre. Footnote - When using the adjective 'alarming' above, I was probably... Continue Reading →
Below the mezzanine level coffee house where I'm sitting is an ongoing promotion for MG cars. Well, I'm assuming it's a automobile promotion, not that the MG ZS and a MG HS PHEV cars I'm looking down upon took a wrong turn in the White Rose Shopping Centre car park, subsequently coming to an inglorious... Continue Reading →
Today, I'm back at my goto coffee house writing den at the White Rose Shopping Centre; my first venture here since Wednesday's return from my Caledonian hiatus. Looking down from my mezzanine perch I can see consumer traffic is light, which is inhibiting the usual topic inspiration borne from people watching. Apart from a woman... Continue Reading →