Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Thirty one years ago tomorrow, at just gone 3am, I became a father for the first time when my son Jonathon made a belated appearance at a Bedfordshire hospital. His arrival followed a harrowing seven hours for his mum, and me shouting myself hoarse with frequent cries of “Heave!”….. An unhelpful yell that, in hindsight, probably made it appear there... Continue Reading →
As I commence this prose, my brother Ian's just left our mother's home where he's been providing me respite from carer to our mater. Him affording me a break from the caring role a huge fillip for his elder sibling. Another boon was my notoriously clumsy brother left the matriarchal gaff without breakage. An achievement... Continue Reading →
Following an upbeat bulletin from physiotherapists, within the last couple of hours my mum (Maggie) has exuded an esprit which's understandably been missing of late. This infusion of verve manifesting from news her mobility, impacted by a stroke nine weeks ago, has improved enough she can now dispense with her zimmer frame indoors. After a... Continue Reading →
Sitting at the kitchen table, around a foot from my right ear the first of three loads of washing is undertaking its final spin. As you'd probably deduce, location within close proximity to this cacophony is hampering evoking blog topic notions. Nevertheless, being the stoic chronicler I am, I'll soldier on despite this distraction. Construction... Continue Reading →
With the advent of a new week, the UK populace's anticipatory notions of upcoming liberty from lockdown have been tempered with bulletins a number of European countries maybe in the grasp a third coronavirus wave. How that'll affect the UK government's blueprint for easing of lockdown protocols is anyone's guess. However, recent history indicates, when... Continue Reading →
As I write, I'm somewhat distracted by the noise of holes being drilled in breeze blocks. This commotion courtesy of downstairs wet room construction being undertaken around ten feet away, between chez Strachan's garage and entrance hall. I've never been party to the noise emitted when a rhinoceros undergoes circumcision without anaesthetic. However, I'd venture... Continue Reading →
I'm late to the laptop this morn. This delay consequential of yours truly undertaking three hours of ironing, along with tidying chez Strachan. My creative sojourn also slightly held back from being unable to locate the aforementioned device; this inconvenience resultant from forgetting where I'd hid laptop prior to bedtime. In the event you're planning... Continue Reading →
Wednesday 6th January 2021 - The United Kingdom is back in COVID lockdown for the third time since the global pandemic breached our shores last March. Today's blog, like numerous other of my narratives in the past nine months, written with one of its objectives that of informing future generations of life on Planet COVID... Continue Reading →
After a perishable food shop yesterday afternoon, along with this mornings procurement/despatch of final gifts, I'm just about ready for the big occasion...... Incidentally, that's Christmas Day, not the Leeds Utd v Burnley football game on Boxing Day. The food shop undertaken after a 20 minute socially distanced queue to access the local Marks &... Continue Reading →