It’s been a fruitful two days dans le jardin de la maison Strachan. Not only have I mowed both lawns, undertaken border work, along with jet blasting a patio, I've also learned the French translation of 'in the garden at the Strachan home’. Each task was undertaken with Verve and Gusto. Well, apart from learning the... Continue Reading →
Quirky Is As Quirky Does
On Christmas Day I was fortunate to have the opportunity to liberate quite a few gifts from their wrapping paper incarceration. Trinkets which made me grateful I've such thoughtful family and friends. Bestowals whose number were heavily stacked by redolently scented cosmetic creams and sprays; circumstances sowing seeds of doubt in my erratic mind I'd... Continue Reading →
Bloom & Grow Forever
With Christmas Day hurtling towards us with the speed of a linen basket escaping a pair of The Grinch's three week worn underpants, I'm concerned to be still awaiting delivery of half the festive gifts I purchased online in the middle of November...... In hindsight, perhaps it was misguided to order my daughter Rachel a... Continue Reading →
Festive Distractions
Chestnuts roasting on a open fire Jack Frost nipping at your nose Yuletide songs being sung by a choir Folks dressed up like Eskimos. Excerpts from this morning's list of distractions to yours truly's literary flow. As you can imagine, attempting to concentrate on penning a narrative whilst your nose's being nipped, in conjunction to the... Continue Reading →
This Is Me
It's Wednesday morning and I've just returned home after transporting two family members to Leeds Railway Station. This convivial twenty minute sojourn by car undertaken to a backdrop of tunes from the musicals on Apple Music; anthems predominantly taken from the movies La La Land and The Greatest Showman. Award winning contemporary musical refrains from... Continue Reading →
Return of the Strach
It was a return whose profile paled into insignificance compared to, say, the prodigal son in the New Testament parable, or the rekindling of Robbie William's career with band Take That. Neither was it an event which'll shake the British music industry to its very foundations; producing vast column inches, penned with prurient glee by... Continue Reading →
Carrying The Reminders…..
Yesterday in my essay Face Value I wrote of yours truly's recent reacquaintance with a few vinyl albums of my youth. These original long playing records evoking memories from my fledgling years; melodic antiquities which I've habitually revisited of late. These vivid recollections bequeathed by musical imprints indelibly marked on the tapestry of my life, manifesting visions... Continue Reading →
Face Value
Among the many emotions manifesting from exposure to certain pieces of music are memories evoked by its lyrics and/or melody. Anthems that are indelibly etched on our life canvases, bringing to mind memories of joy, sadness, despair and wonderment at why there's a brass band in our living rooms. Recently I've been enjoying listening to... Continue Reading →
Life In An Episode of ‘Sorry!’
It's Tuesday and I'm still afflicted by the catarrh laden cough I penned about in Sunday's literary offering, Untuned Catarrh. A fact leading to my disenchantment growing ever stronger, as I'm still not able to get through the night without regularly waking myself by coughing up phlegm. Taking into account the overnight capriciousness of my middle-aged... Continue Reading →