Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
One of the sternest challenges when writing a daily blog is unearthing a narrative's subject matter. Consequently, it's not unusual for me to spend part of my morning staring at a blank laptop page, gracelessly slurping on a cuppa until experiencing the aforementioned topic 'light bulb' moment - A notion which I'll only adopt if... Continue Reading →
Today's literary offering is the 2,500th blog I've written and published on my website strachan.blog . To celebrate this achievement I enclose a trio of pieces from the scores I've penned about my recently passed mother Maggie during the six years since yours truly started scribbling these journals. The trinity of essays below are partly... 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 →
I've just returned from a bracing perambulation around the East Ardsley streets once trodden by late entertainer Ernie Wise. I have it on good authority the short fat hairy legged half on comedy duo Morecambe and Wise was schooled in this old mining village. Young Ernest, thankfully not following his jocular partners need to change... Continue Reading →
Entering my second week of isolation in chez Strachan, I sit reflecting on what's been a productive first week with regards ticking off small projects from the chore inventory I've created myself during lockdown. With the rear patio and retaining wall jet blasted, the garage and my bedroom spruced up, both front and back gardens... Continue Reading →
It's Saturday morning and yours truly is seated within the open plan balcony coffee house in the White Rose Shopping Centre (WRSC), which's become a habitual locale for these daily chronicles. Through the glass barrier, which protects cafe patrons and me from plummeting 20 foot onto unsuspecting shoppers below, I witness a group of soldiers... Continue Reading →
To negate against my erratic attention span, which results in most of my books being bookmarked on page 17, or thereabouts, I've recently taken to enjoying literature via the medium of audiobook. Frank Skinner, Stephen Fry, PG Wodehouse, Bill Bryson and Danny Baker just a few of the writers whose prose's accompanied my car sojourns... Continue Reading →
Lately, I've regularly been accompanied with a background narration from an audio book. A literary entertainment medium which I've found solves the erratic concentration levels I experience when physically reading a hardback or paperback tome. Predominantly streamed while I'm driving, this method of audio delivery fuels seedling aspirations I've held for a few months of... Continue Reading →