Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Yesterday evening, a bohemian vegetarian café in Harrogate saw my inaugural attempt at reading my prose in an open mic night. This literary virginity lost when orating a 1000-word narrative parodying my wedding ceremony, in 1988. As I have shared some of the unreliable memories beforehand via blog, not a 100% new monologue. However, following... Continue Reading →
In lieu of the Gods of Time Management, Itinerarius & Diarius, depriving me opportunity to pen a blog this 17th March, I enclose a St Patricks Day narrative penned during Covid lockdown for your delectation/indifference (delete where applicable). Don’t get me wrong, today’s lack of ‘white space’ not borne from plans to overindulge on the ‘black... Continue Reading →
“Let them eat cake!” a callous order from the last Queen of France, Marie Antoinette upon hearing the plight of starving peasants in the late 18th century. This disregard of the disgruntled proletariat contributing towards the storming of The Bastille and the French Revolution. I thought of the late Gallic queen’s comment after Leeds United’s victory at... Continue Reading →
For fifty plus springtides the middle Sunday in March afforded my siblings (Ian, Helen) and me opportunity to bestow a well-earned thank you to our much-loved mum (Maggie). A warm, funny, caring, and loving parent who, along with our equally admirable father, ensured our fledgling years were awash with encouragement, positivity, laughter, and security. The... Continue Reading →
Confronted with a topic prompt of 'colour' for this literary piece, two different storylines sprung to mind. Those options, waxing lyrical about newly sprung colour from spring’s dawning, or, alternately, relaying tales of the colourful language frequently utilised by my Ossett beau Sarah. After a period of contemplation, I decided that although daffs, crocuses and... Continue Reading →
Perched in a south Leeds café, it has been a productive morning writing wise; culminating in me completing a 1,000-word submission for a writing group while. The topic prompt of ‘colour’ stirring my creative juices, subsequently, spawning an endearing yarn about my partner’s colourful language. I may share this pastiche of old potty mouth’s scattergun... Continue Reading →
After abandoning a novel project whose storyline was not flowing as desired, I recently wrote about sitting at a writing crossroads. My decision to postpone the work taken despite spending hundreds of hours constructing the piece. As revealed in the last narrative, a decision which has not left me overly downhearted. After all, I am... Continue Reading →
Due to an ever-growing indifference towards the project, I recently packed in writing a fictional story surrounding the escapades of an emotional support team. GJ Strachan’s lack of enthusiasm borne from realisation he was turning the prose into nothing more than a series of aimless sketches. Subsequently, robbing the story of a believable protagonist and... Continue Reading →
Sunday evening was spent at the Glasshouse International Music Centre, Gateshead. My brother Ian the partner in crime on this soiree evoking musical childhood memories Our mission, which we happily chose to accept before the tape recording self-destructed five seconds later, attending a prog rock performance by Richard Wakeman (RW) of Perivale manor, Middlesex… Admittedly,... Continue Reading →