Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
A splendid brunch, thought provoking works of sculpted art, along with the aesthetically pleasing amalgam of nature's autumnal colour variations, were amongst yesterday's compatriots. This gratifying trinity of gifts bequeathed to my wife and I during a sojourn to the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, on the outskirts of Wakefield. Fairly recently I concluded that I've not given modern art the appreciation it deserves. My opinions... Continue Reading →
This week I commenced re-writing a tome I originally penned in spring 2010. Having read the opening chapter for the first time in years, it was clear if this work was ever going to get past the dust gathering stage these 360+ pages would have to be extensively re-vamped. Despite containing light-hearted, moving and poignant ideas, it was apparent to me the... Continue Reading →
Wintertide At The Roundhay Fox Parkland situ alehouse Stout of porter and constitution Thou comforting embers aglow Warming soul and spirit from unwanted chill.Wintertide sanctuary from Theoi Meteoroi Sustain thy children until time of bell Till adieus fall silent from thy ears And the Peroni pipes cease. ———————————————————- The Road to Recovery 2014, bereft of... Continue Reading →
I’m starting this narrative sitting in a waiting room at the oncology unit St James’ Hospital. An unexpected attendance at the Leeds Teaching Hospital, after a family member was earlier given an emergency referral by his GP. A cautionary move seeking an oncologist opinion about the tumour complications he was experiencing. I assume it’s his tumour the female GP wants a second opinion about... Continue Reading →
In the 2017 blog Desperately Seeking Creativity, an elusive light bulb moment is desperately sought by a Englishman; a catalyst to inject sparkle to a thus far uninspiring narrative. In the 1985 movie Desperately Seeking Susan, Madonna plays the free spirited Susan, who is desperately sought by Rosanna Arquette’s character; a catalyst to brighten up her hum drum life. The last paragraph has... Continue Reading →
"Marge, don't discourage the boy. Weaseling out of things is important to learn. It's what separates us from the animals…… Except the weasels." The sage like words of Homer J Simpson, penned by Matt Groening and his team of writers for an episode of the inimitable comedy The Simpsons. Why have I just quoted one... Continue Reading →
American writer and literary critic, Edgar Allan Poe passed away on this day in 1849, at the age of 40. The cause of death remains a mystery, with delirium tremens, heart disease, epilepsy, syphilis, meningeal inflammation, cholera and rabies all mooted as potential culprits to his demise. The only thing historians are pretty certain about is... Continue Reading →