On this day in mid-1960’s my younger brother Ian made his inaugural appearance into the world. Born at our Leeds home, our kid arrived shortly after Cassius Clay’d knocked out Sonny Liston during their second World Heavyweight Championship fight. With Clay (latterly Muhammed Ali) winning by first round KO, Ian didn’t […]
In the absence of a COVID-19 vaccine, to fill in a few vacant hours yesterday I pondered what might be a fit for purpose alternative ‘medicine’ to help protect me from the ubiquitous pathogen. Hare-brained I know, but if the gaffer across the pond can indulge in such tomfoolery in […]
Unless scenic walks, queuing outside a supermarket, or standing in an empty shopping mall and cacophonously screaming “Aaaarrrggghhh!!” is your bag, under prevailing lockdown edicts entertainment rations outside of the home are indeed meagre. Even the chair of the Entertainment Rations Are Meagre Society (ERAMS), Clive Tyretread, who’s seen some […]
As I start this episode of GJ Strachan’s prevailing existence, an angry West Yorkshire breeze is doing it’s damnedest to blow the eight digitalis, which until yesterday stood vertically with sentry-like authority, into the next village. The gusts rendering flaccid the Plantaginaceae, which pre-zephyr proudly patrolled my borders with an upright gait. Sadly, now […]
Moments prior to the contest commencing, five gladiators eyed each other suspiciously, behaviour manifesting from apprehension of what awaited in the fight ahead. This upcoming event only affording victory to one person….. To the victor the spoils!!….. Unless of course there was a two way, three way, four way or […]
This literary composition progresses with a soundscape of the late spring breeze emanating tenderly through French door. It’s gentle rustle through stalk and leaf bestowing a serene backdrop to my penmanship; this gift of Mother Nature (MN) enhanced further by witnessing a bee collecting pollen from cerise digitalis flutes. During […]
My preparations for a music quiz I’m facilitating on Thursday evening are almost in the can. The running order a heady brew inclusive of five shortish quiz rounds, where I’ll portray the role of quizmaster, interspersed with performances of acoustic refrains by three of the inquisition’s main protagonists. Keen my […]
While wearily awaiting topic inspiration for today’s blog, I’m currently overwhelmed by a feeling of lethargy. Returning to slumber, instead of rising from my pit when first waking at around 7.45am, I inadvertently snoozed until 10am. This additional sleep somehow rendering me bereft of gusto, along with manifesting emotions of […]
It goes without saying, COVID-19 has resulted in innumerable changes to our existences since the global community sauntered aimlessly into 2020. The premature loss of loved ones, livelihoods severely impacted, children’s educations disrupted, and shortages of tissue to wipe ones posterior, just a few of the unwelcome imposters humanity’s faced […]
