I have been stricken with COVID since Christmas Day; the virus an unintended festive present from my fragrant beau Sarah… Well, hopefully the pathogen wasn’t intentionally passed to me by the shapely West Yorkshire lass. Although with her mischievous sense of humour, I wouldn’t totally rule it out. The Ossett lady was similarly afflicted last…
Tag: blogging
Strachan Christmas Traditions
If I am not on his naughty list, in eleven days Santa will have broken into my flat. With a bit of luck, though, not to ransack its festively decorated chambers or quaff my favourite single malt whisky. No, the chubby red-faced bloke’s modus operandi will be to impart yuletide cheer in the shape of…
“Well, my Aunt Edith saw me do it!”
If you do not follow my regular self-indulgent (although sometimes insightful) postings on social media, you will not know I recently had my first sale from my Etsy store ‘GaryCatures’. An online retail outlet peddling copies of original caricatures I started drawing in COVID lockdown. These cartoon depictions an amalgam of stars from the movies,…
Gunpowder, Treason & Plot
This morning, as I am off work this week, yours truly made a cameo appearance at the Next Chapter writing group meeting which I’ve been unable to attend since cutting short my retirement. My submission for the workshop, where the topic hook was ‘fireworks’, is below. A spoof ‘horrible history’ biographical vignette relating to Guy…
Hibernation
Apart from the odd journey to keep the engine ticking over and stopping the battery going flat, Victor (my VW campervan) has been placed into hibernation for the winter. When I say hibernation I, of course, do not mean I’ve driven him into a huge box containing water, lettuce and shredded newspaper like Blue Peter…
Godza
Earlier in the week, while mingling with attendees at a friend’s funeral in Gateshead, an old mate commented he’d noticed I’d not been as prolific with my blog writing lately. I responded the situation a consequence of taking up of a part-time job role; meaning opportunities to pen my unreliable prose had diminished markedly. The…
‘League One Leeds – A Journey Through The Abyss’
‘League One Leeds – A Journey Through The Abyss’ by author Rocco Dean; Reviewed by Gary Strachan I first visited Leeds United’s Elland Road home on 19th September 1970. A rite of passage allowing me to witness the most successful Leeds side to grace the LS11 turf. An overcast autumn Saturday seeing a John Giles penalty…
Ghosts of Halloweens Past
Yesterday witnessed the celebration of All Hallows’ Evening in numerous countries across the globe. A time of fancy dress, imaginatively sculptured pumpkins and hyper kids not sleeping after eating six bags of Haribo gummy bears, four lollipops and eighteen sherbet dips. Blimey, I’m showing my age there. I’m not even sure you can still purchase sherbet dips….
Recharging by the Nidd
I am back in Wakefield after a two-night sabbatical aboard Victor the Volkswagen campervan. Despite their best efforts to sully our odyssey, the weather gods were unable to break our spirit. It takes more than sporadic rainstorms and diminishing temperatures to crush the verve of my partner Sarah and me. While Knaresborough campsite in situ,…