A walk in the country
It is five months today since I had my brain haemorrhage and yesterday, I felt I needed to mark this with some new act of freedom. I promised myself that I would go on my first country walk since all…
Camellias can lead you astray – plant with care
Gavin the young plantsman delivered a camellia yesterday afternoon. I had always planned to have one in the new garden because one of the saddest things about moving from my old house was leaving behind a giant, promiscuously flowering specimen…
It’s G20 time….let’s change the World.
What shall we spend £10 million on this week? I know, let’s fill London with policemen and turn those anti-G20 demonstrations into a battle. For those who don’t know, we in the UK are going to have a week of…
Lets talk simple English
Is it niddering mansuetude to embrangle olid, griseous recrement and should we be oppugnant and fatidical by exuviating the malison; vilpending these words worn out by their own caducity? (Is it cowardly mildness to confuse foul-smelling, somewhat grey dross and…
One day I will become a Jedi Warrior
I have been invited to a fancy dress party on Saturday and if I am well enough on the day, I intend to go. The theme is James Bond so the choice is endless. I don’t see myself as Mr.…
Politicians stripped bare
Nothing like a good lavatorial joke to make its impact or to bring public figures down to earth. It is said that if you ever feel over-awed by anyone in authority, take Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II for example, you…
Death and the maiden
I wondered yesterday how many people’s last thoughts would have been “oh shit!” There was a scene in that excellent and taboo challenging American TV series, Six Feet Under when one of the central characters was driving through town, on…
Wandering around town
I saw the morning light one day last week and thought I would go for a walk with my camera before breakfast. This might seem unremarkable to all you healthy people out there but to me, that morning, it was…
Things dying and things new born
When Shakespeare wanted to move his action on in The Winter’s Tale, he asked us to join him in a joke…a Shakespearean joke that is, don’t expect to split your sides. A minor character, Antigonus, a Lord of Sicilia, has…
Is skiing worth dying for?
I was looking whimsically at my Rollerblades the other day. Battered, well-worn but dusty, they are sitting in the loft unloved and abandoned. I have made one of those promises, you know the sort, where in a moment of duress…