Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
28th November is a notable day for women’s rights. On this day in 1893, New Zealand created history when it became the first nation to allow women to vote. Also on this date in 1919, Lady Astor became the first woman to sit in the House of Commons ........ Although, apparently she required a further... Continue Reading →
Yesterday, Karen excitedly advised me that she'd received an email, from Ticketmaster, advising tickets for singer Adele’s 2016 tour go on sale next week. I haven't seen her so giddy since I told her last week I'd read her hometown of Birtley, in County Durham, had been nominated in the 'Town Baths With Best Chlorine... Continue Reading →
Fifty two years ago yesterday Lee Harvey Oswald, the alleged sole killer of the US President John Fitzgerald Kennedy, was himself murdered in the basement area of a Dallas police station. Oswald was murdered live on TV by Dallas night club owner Jack Ruby. NBC viewers watched on as the New Orleanian was shot, whilst... Continue Reading →
I’m endeavouring to catch the recently released movie The Lady In The Van at some point this week. Based on a memoir of Leeds born writer/performer Alan Bennett, it tells the story of a transient woman who lives in her van on the writers drive in London for 15 years. I was told by an... Continue Reading →
Microsoft Windows 1.0 operating system was released on this day 30 years ago. The company’s first graphical operating system was released to mixed reviews. Some people said it was good, some said it was alright, whilst Mrs Trubshaw at number 47 said it was “Like my arse!”……… Which is just about as mixed a reviews... Continue Reading →
Last night England played France in a football game at Wembley Stadium, London. Prior to kick off, there was a moving tribute paid by footballers and the crowd of 80,000, to the 129 innocent people barbarically murdered by terrorists on Friday evening in Paris. The tributes included the laying of wreathes by royalty and dignitaries,... Continue Reading →
I spent last weekend in Dunstable meeting up in the company of some old friends and workmates. Around 20 years ago, I lived on the outskirts of the Bedfordshire town with the affluence of Buckinghamshire to the west and the effluence of Luton to the east (only kidding Lutonians, its great really!). I lived there during... Continue Reading →
Recently it was the 30th anniversary of the death of American comedian Phil Silvers. The man who famously portrayed Sgt Bilko, in the iconic Phil Silvers Show in the late 1950’s, passed away following a heart attack at the age of 74. Silvers was born on the exact same day as my paternal grandmother in... Continue Reading →
I'm basing today's narrative on an interesting tale I read on Twitter yesterday......... Well, as interesting as a story of 140 characters can be anyway! This yarn revolved around a woman’s bizarre experience listening to an audio disk during a time consuming drive. As the story is based on a true 140 character tweet, this... Continue Reading →