Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
On Friday lunchtime I stood proudly as part of a voluntary team collecting on behalf of 2022's Marie Curie Great Daffodil Appeal. My second voluntary role of the year (I'd undertaken a similar role the previous week) a brio augmenting episode made even more worthwhile by the magnanimous patrons of Morrisons supermarket, Morley. I've not... Continue Reading →
I write this piece ensconced within a home in the village of Gawthorpe. This area, famed for it's imposing white water tower, sits on the outskirts of Ossett. The West Yorkshire market town which gave us the band Black Lace, who in turn gave us the novelty 'classic' tune Agadoo. The much maligned refrain which,... Continue Reading →
In recent times notions relating to my late father have been amongst the numerous visitors to my mercurial mind. My cerebrum in receipt of thoughts relating to the old fella who four years ago passed away, depriving my brood of his inherent warmth, kindness, wisdom and love of family. Amongst memories appertaining to the patriarch... Continue Reading →
Dark grey clouds provide the landscape as I look out from the deck of my newly constructed ark. A vessel built on a whim two weeks prior to the arrival of the seemingly endless precipitation which's dogged West Yorkshire of late, Unlike Noah, there's not two of every animal on my buoyant new abode which... Continue Reading →
Yesterday evening, in between writing an absurd 'True or False' round in preparation for tonights Zoom quiz with buddies, I watched two Sky Arts recordings of live concerts by multi million album selling bands. Both musical bonanzas performed by British groups in two historic and cosmopolitan European capital cities. Incidentally, this isn't a riddle, I'm... Continue Reading →
Yesterday I was deeply saddened to learn the nonagenarian grandmother of my good friend (Samantha) had passed away. As would be expected, the granddaughter grief stricken when delivering her stark news via telephone. Sam's forebear Brenda spent ninety plus years wandering this vale of tears. Those four score and ten plus summers played out around... Continue Reading →
Last night, while meandering aimless through what'd been up to that juncture a pretty mundane dream, my night visions verve was upped a notch by a visit from my Great Uncle Hector's ghost. Initially I didn't recognise my late forebear as his face was masked by a cricket helmet. His identity only unveiled when he... Continue Reading →
One of the sternest challenges when writing a daily blog is unearthing a narrative's subject matter. Consequently, it's not unusual for me to spend part of my morning staring at a blank laptop page, gracelessly slurping on a cuppa until experiencing the aforementioned topic 'light bulb' moment - A notion which I'll only adopt if... Continue Reading →
Yesterday was the 6th anniversary of Sir Terry Wogan's passing. That final January day seeing the genial Irishman join a crop of A-list celebrities who'd shuffled from this mortal coil during that inaugural month of 2016. Tel's departure to the great broadcasting station in the sky providing evidence the grim reaper wasn't done with his... Continue Reading →