This and that whilst sipping a fine malt.
It’s a strange thing, getting older. On the one hand you are grateful for the continued birthdays - the alternative is unappealing - and on the other your body isn’t as rigorous as it used to be. At 65 I didn’t care too much. Everything felt much the same. Somehow at 66 suddenly everyone is… Continue reading The Pedantry Confessions
I’ve been reflecting on this for a while now. The year began with Australia burning. The amount of water that fell on the UK in the space of three weeks was almost unheard of. There is a locust swarm that has been ravaging east Africa for the last few weeks and is continuing heading west… Continue reading Crisis? What crisis?
The Election Bit It feels like it hasn’t stopped raining since the beginning of October and still it goes on. The sky weeps for the state of the UK. I could say that words fail me,but they don’t. I am angry but measured. Those of us on the left are being encouraged to engage with… Continue reading Music to lift your soul
On Monday morning Mrs. Monkey and I woke from an 11 hour sleep. The long days and early starts had been backing up and after having put away a particularly fine bottle of Barolo for my birthday sleep swept over us. Deep, deep delicious sleep. I find this time of year messes with my head.… Continue reading Bring me sunshine
The busiest of summers has kept me from my blog duties and much has happened. We find ourselves facing another General Election since the clown that was appointed PM in the summer is failing to win anything vote-wise due to the fact that nobody trusts him. It didn’t take long for the lying to start.… Continue reading Missive from Albion
No-one knows what really goes on in a marriage, do they? From the outside, I mean. Mrs. Monkey and I had been having an on-off debate for a couple of years. I was convinced that she needed elocution lessons. Sometimes she’d say things that were just not clear, regardless of which room I was in… Continue reading Keep it DOWN!
In the midst of starting our own business little pockets of “me time” are slowly beginning to spring up. So far, the business bit is great fun and going well but if you’ve ever taken the leap then you’ll know how it goes. You plan a day off and then … oh well, onwards and… Continue reading The wonders of Angkor Wat
Hanging in our kitchen are these words. Something to cling on to as the world outside goes to hell in a handcart. And we love all of the arts in our house - well, most anyway. (Sorry, I don’t get opera.) Also, Mrs. Monkey and I have very different tastes in music. Albeit that… Continue reading Worth it for great art
After several grey weeks the sun has been out for a few days now, and though it can still be chilly in the morning, I feel like a bear waking up from hibernation. Winters drag me down, and other folks I guess, but it is undeniable that the sun brings a new energy. This is… Continue reading Can you teach an old bear new tricks?
2019, the significant anniversary year of so much. Auspicious things happened in years ending in 9. For instance, we will commemorate the great Depression of 1929 with our own depression after the end of March. All hell broke loose in 1939. “1984” was published in 1949. 1969 - wow, what a year. Led Zeppelin, Woodstock… Continue reading Auspicious Number 9s Part One
