This and that whilst sipping a fine malt.
One of the things I do to contribute around here, given that I am an incomer and sometimes, even though we have been here 10 years now, it still feels a little “exclusive” in parts, is serve as a Governor at the local primary school. It is only a small school but I do see… Continue reading Trying to inspire
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
I count myself very lucky to have lived in a varied and open society for the last forty years. It was something I took for granted and honestly believed that this was the only way for the future. But there are talks of walls going up all over the place - real ones with bricks… Continue reading A Cabal of the Talentless
Time for reflection as we sit down between buffets. 2018 was a momentous year in several respects, but more on that in later posts. Here, I delve into my “world culture” explorations to, hopefully, give you some inspiration as an alternative to the Happy Holidays fodder. First up - the Movies I haven’t watched many… Continue reading A feast of World treats for the end of the year
Some years ago, when on a trip to India, I languished in bed, tired and lacking in motivation, when we were scheduled to join a jungle safari in search of an Indian tiger. Mrs Monkey went on without me. Indian tigers are rare, right? Plus, the forest was dense making the rarest of tigers even… Continue reading Tonle Sap – not to be missed
Winter is firing some serious warning shots across the bows of HMS Blighty, and all that talk of how lovely Autumn is has quickly turned to “Cor, Ginger, dashed parky in the regions”. Perhaps it is the chilly winds of Brexit. I wonder what it is like living in a country where there are only… Continue reading Oh, the wind and the rain…
