Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Uninvited, unexpected, unwelcome and under our skin, heavy snow is once again 'gracing' the populace of West Yorkshire. Woken by my spouse Karen's singing as she ironed, this morning I jumped out of bed to be greeted yet again by a carpet of snowflakes...... It's no good, I'm going to have to get that flaming... Continue Reading →
One Fine Day We Shall See - An aria in Act 2 of opera Madama Butterfly. A scene where Nagasaki girl Coi-Coi San misguidedly opines to sceptical maid Suzuki that, despite it being three years since last seeing her husband, her marriage remains strong. As fragrant tree blossom cascades gently onto the women, Ms San... Continue Reading →
On the 23rd December Panic Saturday will be upon us. A recent inclusion in the festive calendar, I have it on good authority it's the moniker bestowed upon the last Saturday before Christmas Day. A godforsaken few hours in retail purgatory, that would be worthy of entry in a contemporary re-write of Dante's Inferno. An inclusion in... Continue Reading →
Later this evening, I'm headed out to watch the alternative rock band Shed Seven, who are performing at the Leeds O2 Academy. Hopefully, it'll turn out to be as entertaining as last years pre-Christmas performance I witnessed from the York band. A night that led to me journaling the following parody review:- I ventured out to see... Continue Reading →
..... Save up their money for a holiday, to Selsey Bill or Bracklesham Bay. They'll think about the future - when they'll settle down. Marry the girl with one on the way...... A verse of Paul Weller prose written in the late 1970's, from The Jam's track Saturday's Kids. Just one example of the songwriter's numerous thought provoking anti-establishment... Continue Reading →
Yesterday afternoon, I had a journey into Morley to pick up my dad's ashes. I'm unsure why, but my inaugural viewing of his urn was one I found even more distressing than delivering the eulogy at his funeral. The sign of the finality ashes bring with them maybe triggered this increased level of sorrow. Alternatively, or maybe in tandem to... Continue Reading →
The overwhelming feelings of anger and frustration I felt between my father's passing and his funeral thankfully abated last week. I'm unsure what the catalyst was for this new found tranquillity, but it feels like my old man is perched on my shoulder advocating "Calm down, Gary! Anger is a futile emotion...... Oh, and can you put the Irish Lottery... Continue Reading →
It's 09.28 on Friday 3rd November. Sitting at the dining room table of my East Leeds domicile, I'm snacking on the remnants of Haribo gummy sweets from Halloween, washed down by chilled West Yorkshire tap water. On the red armchair to my right, lolling unceremoniously adjacent to a cream cushion emblazoned with words 'happiness', is my laptop... Continue Reading →
I find mustering a topic and a subsequent narrative content when scribing on a late afternoon far more exacting than attempting the same process earlier in the day. I have lots of ideas in the early hours of the day (if awake), in addition to rarely lacking inspiration later morning. However, as I sit here head scratching... Continue Reading →