What is it about writers and cats?
Last year I used to have a daily visitor who would sit with me at my desk, often a warm cushion at my back but always a calming companionable presence. Sadly the animal only known to me as Cat was…
Lewes’ new poetry event in the most pleasant of Pleasant Stores
I spent some time yesterday busying myself around my home town of Lewes, UK, publicising the new poetry event that we are holding at Lewes’ very pleasant Pleasant Stores on the first Wednesday of every month. Pleasant Stores, the shop…
Andy Murray: Well done to the British, er, Scottish, er, human being who just won the US Open.
Andy Murray First of all, well done to the guy. Nice one Andy, you know winning your first grand slam and all that. Congratulations. I used to love watching tennis and even played a bit once but I think I…
My relative, an Englishman, fought in the American Civil War
John Addison (1844-1928) I have visited the USA many times, had a good time there and I am lucky enough to have a number of good American friends so it has been both a surprize and a pleasure to find…
Paralympics 2012 – inspiring and humbling.
David Weir The 2012 Paralympics, just finished, were truly inspiring and enlightening as well as being exciting to watch. I particularly loved those speed wheelchair events with their man and machine testosterone fueled power. It was amazing to see in the races…
Henri le chat – Henri the great
Sidney Anyone, I assume, who has ever had pet cats is often only lucky enough to meet one extra special cat in their lives. Maybe I’m being unkind to the others but for me, my special cat has to be…
Those Tories keep handing out medals in spite of the boos.
David Cameron, British Prime Minister (2010-????) David Cameron was rightly enthusiastic about all those British athletes (Olympic and Paralympic) winning all those gold medals this year. They are rightly rewarded by their medals well deserved. Bradley Wiggins Chris Hoy Eleanor…
Wolfie comes face to face with his American cousins
I came face to face with these people last week. I had never seen them before but suddenly I have some new relatives – American cousins, the Addisons, in fact. They are all my blood relations from a side of…
David Cameron sweeps a few embarrassments under the cabinet table
British Prime Minister David Cameron did some clearing up yesterday in his first cabinet reshuffle – or shuffle as it should be called. The big beasts of his government, Chancellor of the Exchequer Osborne, Foreign Secretary Haig and Home Secretary…
Why are they booing you Mr Osborne?
We don’t love politicians so much that we can’t enjoy it when their PR opportunities misfire – well I can’t anyway. If I find it hard to love any of our British parliamentarians these days then I hold the present…