Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
Recently an acquaintance relayed an assumption they'd formed about relationships, in particular those where one party suffered from terminal illness. They opined, that under those circumstances the partnership would be one of unrelenting cordiality. After all your relationship together is on borrowed time; how could you possibly argue anymore? Their presumption being, despite the patient and... Continue Reading →
In the 1970’s BBC sitcom The Fall & Rise of Reginald Perrin, his workplace quack Doc Morrissey would frequently confess to his patients he hadn’t a clue what was wrong with them, before prescribing aspirin and an assurance of its curing qualities. It seems to me this incompetent general practitioner’s quackery has a far more... Continue Reading →
“Thanks for what you’re doing.” Five shorts words (six if you count you’re as you are) that a supermarket customer felt compelled to convey to me yesterday. A short sentence of appreciation bestowed while donating to the cancer care charity I was stood collecting for. It wasn't the most eloquent sentence I'd ever been... Continue Reading →
It’s been a fruitful two days dans le jardin de la maison Strachan. Not only have I mowed both lawns, undertaken border work, jet blasted a patio and commenced staining the fencing, I also acquired the French translation of 'in the garden at the Strachan home’. Each task was undertaken with Verve and Gusto. Well,... Continue Reading →
The weathers perked up meaning a day of gardening for me today. So it’s out with the lawnmower, my spade, trowel, Jeremy Clarkson lawn aerator and my dad’s chordless hedge trimmer……. All I need now is a garden and I’d be sorted! By the way, that last sentence was a tongue in cheek comment that... Continue Reading →
I’ve just spent two hours dressed in a yellow tabard, wearing a huge daffodil on my head and with a box around my neck containing daffodil lapel pins. To clarify, when I say I had a huge daff on my head I mean a hat in that design, not that I have a yellow flower... Continue Reading →
Karen has endured another week of hospital visits. She had her consultation with her oncologist on Monday, undertakes her four weekly treatment today and undergoes a physio session tomorrow. Sat in the waiting room, my fatigue levels are heightened following another inadequate nights sleep. I'd woken early from a dream and couldn't get back to... Continue Reading →
“How did that gobshite get on the TV?” is probably a question most people have uttered about someone or other while getting their daily fix of the goggle box. On the occasion it was uttered by a normally incomprehensible whisky soaked priest from his well-worn armchair, the target of the addled old man’s barbed question was... Continue Reading →
Referred to by Sir Winston Churchill as "Scotland’s greatest ever ambassador", entertainer Sir Harry Lauder passed away on this day in 1950. Born in Portobello, Edinburgh in 1870 he was the first Scottish entertainer to sell a million records and at his peak was the highest paid entertainer in the world. He started singing in... Continue Reading →