Yesterday evening I watched a recording of a BBC Four broadcast of the John Wilson Orchestra from the Royal Albert Hall; a performance forming part of the 2019 Proms season. The Gateshead-born conductor’s orchestra treating their audience to a selection of music from Warner Brothers movies. John Wilson was educated in the same Low Fell alma maters of Breckenbeds Junior High and Heathfield Senior High as I was. That being […]
This is my second attempt at commencing today’s narrative. The hundred or so words I originally penned disappearing into an e-ether after, while hindered by having to wax lyrical on my mobile phone instead of laptop, inadvertently deleted the draft. They say a bad workman blames his tools. However, in my case earlier, it was me being a tool that was the catalyst to brief ineptitude at my art. Not […]
As a fan of it’s excellent first series, the other day I began watching the second series of drama Killing Eve on BBC iPlayer. The story of the hunt for a psychopathic Russian hit woman played by Jodie Comer; the Scouser winning a Best Actress BAFTA for her convincingly evil portrayal in the season one. Last year, on learning of the actresses surname my first notion was whether she’s related to […]
As I start this monologue, yours truly lounges unceremoniously in a dining room armchair. Ten minutes earlier I was dining unceremoniously in a lounge armchair?! This maverick misuse of architectural design a juxtaposition of which I’ve a self-indulgent weakness. On commencement of this sentence my wife Karen has kindly wandered from the kitchen bearing gifts of a mug of tea and a piece of velvet cake, which she carries with […]
Yesterday I stood amongst an army of green shirted MacMillan volunteers supporting a charity football game. This emerald clad battalion, along with numerous other like-minded individuals, intent on raising funds for both MacMillan Cancer Support and the Once Upon a Smile charity. The latter an organisation set up by Emmerdale actor Danny Miller to provide families with support during times of bereavement. Two excellent causes who’ll hopefully benefit handsomely from […]
I wrote a few weeks back about my intention to join a local community choir. This a group of engaging individuals I’d watched perform on Garforth Main Street during festivities for the Tour de Yorkshire. My own particular presence in the vicinity to undertake a voluntary collection for Marie Curie Cancer Support. Watching the glee this group of 20-30 amateur warblers experienced from their uplifting pastime, manifesting aspirations for me […]
The 2nd February is Groundhog Day. An occasion citizen’s of Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, observe the behaviour of local groundhogs as they emerge from their burrows. In particular their reactions to that day’s meteorological conditions. Folklore decreeing:- If it’s cloudy on first leaving their burrows spring will arrive before the vernal equinox. If it’s sunny then the groundhog will retreat into the burrow after seeing its shadow. Consequently, wintry conditions will prevail […]
