I'd not intended to put pen to paper today, or should that font to virtual paper? However, as I've an hour to kill before the bus transporting me to Fuerteventura airport arrives, I thought I'd utilise the time productively... Well, if writing these unreliable essays can be classed as productive. GJ Strachan's last night in... Continue Reading →
Burn Baby Burn
Yours truly's lax suncream protection regime, along with complacent disregard of Canary Island solar ray strength, means GJ Strachan has arrived at his day four's dusk with a face as scarlet as an iPhone message emoji. I'd like to clarify at this juncture, though, anger is the very antithesis of my current emotional status. And,... Continue Reading →
So Now You Know!
Day 4 of my Canary Island trip has seen the weather gods bequeath a morning mix of sun and cloud. This meteorological zeitgeist meaning a cooler feel accompanies the writing of today's blog. However, this minor temperate drop detracts not from GJ Strachan's overall enjoyment of the vacation. As TV chef Ainsley Harriet once taught... Continue Reading →
Atlantic Views
The azure blue of the Atlantic Ocean provides a distant landscape to today's poolside prose penning. Fuerteventura pleasingly warm, although an accompanying zephyr from the sea tempers the warmth a degree or two. Apart from the pool bar beatbox the audio backdrop is predominantly the hushed tones of. chattering holidaymakers. Conversations conducted in a multitude... Continue Reading →
Sandal
My brother Ian will shortly arrive for a two day hiatus at my West Yorkshire apartment. News of my habitually clumsy siblings return to the area of his birth no doubt leading to the flat's ornaments quaking in their boots. Of course, the ornamental trinkets don't literally quake in the boots. For one thing they're... Continue Reading →
Tears & Fears of a Clown
For a variety of reasons my literary output has diminished of late; as a consequence of this tardiness my mental health has tumbled like a latter-day Humpty Dumpty. With the art of penmanship acting as my goto anti-depressant, it's proved a foolish self-care strategy if ever there was one! As a result, from today I've... Continue Reading →
Four Years On
Four years ago yesterday a life episode played out which, although shaking my being to the very core, became a positive catalyst for significant life changes on my part. Transformations which have enhanced my life immeasurably; subsequently, augmenting my self-worth and esteem. Let me point out this life event, the suffering of a heart attack,... Continue Reading →
Rosie Outlook
Last Wednesday on a chilled and misty North Yorkshire evening, four days before the birthday celebrated globally by millions, a baby girl was born to my son Jonathon and his wife Jenny,. The arrival's inaugural appearance providing the greatest possible Christmas gift to both parents and their respective broods. A euphoric episode catapulting GJ Strachan... Continue Reading →
Family Xmas Traditions
It’s 18th December and the festive ambience in my apartment intensifies apace. To be honest, though, how could GJ Strachan not be flushed with yuletide ardour after the greeting of ‘Bollocks’ from behind door 18 of my Tourettes advent calendar? Augmenting yuletide spirit further, the unmistakable redolence of mulled wine, a bowl of satsumas, and... Continue Reading →