Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
During a post-lunch walk around the estate in which casa Strachan resides I bumped into an old acquaintance. Aware of my recent cardio issues, during our brief chat, he magnanimously offered his good wishes for a speedy and full recovery. During the conversation they enquired what the experience of undergoing a heart attack felt like.... Continue Reading →
On Monday afternoon I took a first recuperative walk since being discharged from hospital, embarking on a short meander to the end of the street and back. Only a few hundred yards in distance and undertaken on flat terrain, it was hardly Hannibal's trek across the Himalayas; however I was heartened to witness an improvement... Continue Reading →
A foreboding grey sheet envelopes this morning's east Leeds sky. Looking out from my recuperative billet, leafless deciduous trees and a visually unappealing brick building from Colton Retail Park lugubriously return my gaze. The pallid outdoor canvas providing such dimmed natural light that, despite the clock showing 10.07 am, there's a requirement for table lamp... Continue Reading →
As I peer north westerly out of living room window in the direction of neighbouring West Ardsley, I'm greeted by a cloudless blue East Ardsley sky. I'm currently in situ at my parents home in the village west of Wakefield, about to embark on another day where the hog remains on terra firma. This recrudescing routine involves writing... Continue Reading →
Yesterday afternoon, within the welcoming environment of our parents home, my sister Helen, her husband Steve, daughter Megan, my wife Karen and I cordially lunched with mater and pater. As ever, the quality of the buffet lunch didn't disappoint. If food critic Egon Ronay had have been present he would have undoubtedly bestowed a glittering review on... Continue Reading →
I had a wee sojourn over to chez Strachan senior this afternoon, catching up on the progress of my recuperating pater, along with undertaking a few gardening chores. I was encouraged to hear that the old man is getting his appetite back. A much needed dietary requirement following a month in hospital living almost exclusively on cheese toasties and... Continue Reading →
I'm pleased to report that after 31 days and a few false dawns, today the head of the brood is being discharged from the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). It will be a slow re-introduction back into the wild, as Occupational Therapists have recommended we slowly wean him from hospital conditions back into his domestic routine. With this in mind, initially he will have his... Continue Reading →
It's Monday morning. Seeking inspiration while perched on a dining chair in my parents dining room, I mull over what week commencing 10th July has in store for the Strachan brood. With the octogenarian family head still stricken post-surgery, we know our itinerary will include visits to the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). Additionally, on Friday, I've a scheduled 100 mile... Continue Reading →
Sixteen days since his admission, my dad remains in situ at the Leeds General Infirmary (LGI). This enduring recuperation an unavoidable consequence of the major surgery he underwent last Wednesday. It's been a tough time for the undemonstrative Yorkshire gent. His malcontent exacerbated by his struggle to tolerate his role of patient in the latest episode of the drama The Strachan... Continue Reading →