Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Inspiration alludes me as I embark on today's literary journey. Sitting ready to initiate my lexilogical voyage, at the moment the postcode of a topic destination eludes me. This absence of these metaphoric SatNav's (GPS) instructions currently delaying me from getting this show on the road. As it's not uncommon for me to start this creative process bereft of a subject,... Continue Reading →
I've just got back from collecting for Marie Curie Cancer Care in Leeds city centre. The location for this charitable work was the atrium at the Bridgewater Place office complex; which the morning was officially recorded as 9 on the Carol Kirkwood Effing Freezing Scale...... Bearing in mind the scale only goes up to 5, it gives an indication into how chuffing... Continue Reading →
This morning I spent three hours stood in a local store with a MacMillan Cancer Support collection bucket. My first voluntary work of 2017 took place standing just inside the entrance door of catalogue retailer Argos, in a nearby retail park. As with previous charitable collections I'd undertaken, it was heartwarming to witness the generosity of the... Continue Reading →
My wife Karen attended a masquerade ball yesterday evening at a Leeds city centre hotel. It was an event organised by the charity Little Hiccups, raising funds to provide activity days for children with special needs. It was a night where she and friends adorned masks, ball gowns and a benevolent outlook, contributing towards the charities overall fundraising synergy.... Continue Reading →
Yesterday evening I attended the inaugural action group meeting of MacMillan’s Leeds fundraising section. During an informal overview in the setting of a city centre hotel conference room, the Leeds fundraising manager initially reminded the team of the vast array of MacMillan support and services at the disposal of cancer sufferers and their families. Six years into my wife's cancer journey, I... Continue Reading →
Collecting with a charity box/bucket in a supermarket can be a great people watching exercise. By studying the diverse cross section of ages, races, creeds and colours that frequent these stores you soon get an indication of which demographic is more likely to donate. In this scenario I’m referring to people who are more likely... Continue Reading →
Karen returns from a few days break to see her parents today. I had the option of visiting her mum and dad in the People’s Republic of Birtley (PRB) or treating the fences and trellis work in my back garden...... It didn’t take me long before I headed down to Homebase for the wood treatment.... Continue Reading →
In times of seemingly endless negative and disturbing news stories, escalating worldwide political/religious tensions, enduring personal family issues and my en suite light fitting breaking, seeking a pastime to raise the spirits becomes one of life's necessities. With this in mind, not to mention a desire to ‘give something back’ for the treatment and support... Continue Reading →
“Thanks for what you’re doing.” Five shorts words (six if you count you’re as you are) that a supermarket customer felt compelled to convey to me yesterday. A short sentence of appreciation bestowed while donating to the cancer care charity I was stood collecting for. It wasn't the most eloquent sentence I'd ever been... Continue Reading →