Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Fourteen years ago today, the supersonic aircraft Concorde said an emotional farewell, when it flew its final commercial flight. The iconic aeroplane's journey from New York to London, which landed at Heathrow airport at 4.05 pm, was laden with celebrities and the bloke who looked after the dartboard on quiz show Bullseye. The immediately identifiable... Continue Reading →
Some ancestral object d’art may not have the aesthetic allure of a Capability Brown landscape design, or an Italian Renaissance painting; however that shouldn't diminish its importance within the fabric of your family history. Before I move on I should clarify that, to the best of my knowledge, my family have never owned a Italian Renaissance painting. Its inclusion... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, I was asked by someone what my favourite lessons were at school. As they concluding over thirty years ago, I don’t recollect much about my schooldays. That being said, I was just about able to recall History, PE and English as my most favoured classes. I was an average student, but probably could have done better academically if I'd found the topics... Continue Reading →
It is said that individuals recollect certain historical events by recalling what they were undertaking on hearing of or witnessing that particular event. For instance, it is said that everyone can remember what they were doing when news was broadcast of US President John F Kennedy's assassination in November 1963. That isn't strictly true as, despite being alive then, I have no memory of the incident. That's hardly surprising, though, as... Continue Reading →
Midday, 17th September 2016. Two guys sit in an automobile on the driveway of a semi-detached house in a Bedfordshire town. Their plan to utilise Saturday's free time embarking on a journey back in time. Unlike a fresh faced Marty McFly and eccentric elderly scientist Doc Brown in the movie Back to The Future, the two... Continue Reading →
I’ve just returned back to a sun drenched Casa Strachiona after a thankfully brief shopping trip with Karen. Our presence at an out of town shopping centre was at the request of my Geordie consort, with the express desire to acquire greetings cards for up and coming family occasions. So on a beautiful summer morning we braved... Continue Reading →
Saturday 19th September 1970 probably doesn’t register in the conscious mind of most people as anything special. Potentially, if you are a rock music aficionado, you may know it as the day of the first Glastonbury Festival held at Michael Eavis's farm in Glastonbury. A keen rock fan may also register the date as one... Continue Reading →
The number 400 is not an overly special number for anything in particular. At least not for any one thing that immediately springs to mind. The only thing that immediately jumps out at me, apart from Karen who’d for some reason was hidden in a cupboard, are 400 metres is the distance of the circuit... Continue Reading →
Clad in my Rat Pack wannabee trilby, I'm formulating this narrative sat under a parasol in my back garden. The delightful perspectives created by the surrounding flora and fauna encompass me; bringing an almost dream like inner calm. When I say Rat Pack wannabee I'm referring to a desire to display their cool personas in... Continue Reading →