Gary Strachan – "Write" Said Fred
Whimsical observations from deep within an erratic mind
As I write, I’m sat listening to Simon & Garfunkel’s Greatest Hits on YouTube taking a chilly Monday evening trip down memory lane. Recollections of 1970's journeys, listening to the same album in my dad's Ford Cortina, aimlessly roam my neurological corridors, soothing the soul. Plumped in an easy armchair by the dining room bay window, my normal aesthetically pleasing... Continue Reading →
I have an alternative lieu d’ecriture today. Instead of residing at my trusty dining table with scenic views of my back garden, I’m penning this narrative at the domain of my mater and pater. Sat at their dining table, I’m greeted with equally agreeable views, along with several interruptions of my mum (Maggie) asking “Do... Continue Reading →
In the early 1970’s, every evening at about 6pm my siblings and me would hear the words “It’s time for bed!” It was an authoritative almost regimental order barked from a head perched on a spring loaded torso. To clarify, neither of our parents were the source of this command. I can honestly say I’ve... Continue Reading →
Saturday 19th September 1970 probably doesn’t register in the conscious mind of most people as anything special. Potentially, if you are a rock music aficionado, you may know it as the day of the first Glastonbury Festival held at Michael Eavis's farm in Glastonbury. A keen rock fan may also register the date as one... Continue Reading →
Yesterday morning I got a surprise when arriving at the breakfast table to be greeted with a smile and a cordial “Hello!” from my diminutive other half. The surprise wasn’t the cordiality of Karen’s greeting, moreover the fact we had a kitchen table. We certainly didn’t have when I retired to bed the previous evening!... Continue Reading →
During a recent sampling of Facebook's fare, I was struck by the bizarre nature of some of the apps or themed postings that had rendered on my timeline. For example, I saw a posting which asked the reader to add in 'comments' the main characters name in the last TV show they'd watched. According to... Continue Reading →
It was one of the funniest scenes in arguably the best loved British comedy in the last three decades. A lovable imbecile sat in a café with his mates, basking in the glory of his recent award for saving his employers (the local council) money by using the same broom for 20 years. On cross... Continue Reading →
I’ve just spent the last half hour attempting to fix the soft closing mechanism on one of my kitchen drawers. After a little trial and error, copious use of the word bollocks and finding a family of Bulgarians camped in the drawer recess, I had a mixture of good and bad news. The good news... Continue Reading →
British cycling coach Sir Dave Brailsford attributes part of his charges success, both within the Olympic velodrome with Team GB and on the road with Team Sky, to the philosophy of ‘marginal gains’; or ‘fine margins’ as it is sometimes called. He explains the strategy as such:- "The whole principle came from the idea that... Continue Reading →