This and that whilst sipping a fine malt.
How did it come to this? A week is a long time in politics, apparently. Imagine the impact of 10 years. After 13 years of a Labour Government, dear international reader, The Conservative Party took power in the coalition of 2010 and have been in power ever since. But the Tories have always spoken with… Continue reading How it came to this.
https://media.giphy.com/media/2Faz9OUQfOcltIJTG/source.gif Three days after Christmas and the Monkeys have become hibernating mice. Mrs Monkey is curled up in bed reading. I am curled up on the sofa underneath a faux fur rug and a cat, reading. It is late morning and no-one feels like moving. Coffees have been made and drunk and we’re waiting for… Continue reading Searching for the elements of beauty
It was a beautiful summer morning. Life was going about its business and noon was approaching on 31st July as I walked my mother down the quiet corridors. Suddenly she looked frail and weary and the arm I rested around her shoulder for a few strides seemed impossible comfort. She hadn’t slept for 30 hours… Continue reading August 2020
Football comes back and there’s bound to be lots of grumbling about it taking over TV diverting airtime from the daily re-runs of old crap. I have already seen an ongoing rant about football contributing less to the economy than the Arts but getting more coverage. It seems to me that people who don’t like… Continue reading The Main Event
Way back in the days of bus services, long summers and local rumours, village shops with news stands the length of one wall, recreation grounds with wardens chasing you off the grass, where even the smallest village had a library, news filtered to us through the NME or Rolling Stone that a new release was… Continue reading Rejoice!
We’re entering Week 5 of lockdown and some things are becoming clearer. Firstly, we know how damn lucky we are to live where we do. Lockdown must be insanely tough if you are confined to an apartment or flat and I do feel for those who are feeling imprisoned this way. Even with our generous… Continue reading 5G makes my hair grow …
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
Whilst we are now in lockdown I thought it might be fun to revisit some old adventures. This one is from October 2013 (Jeez, have I been a blogger that long ?!). Reproduced here untouched though I might have worked on a photograph or two these days. Enjoy - I hope.) Not much happens quickly… Continue reading Overnight to Jodhpur – Fi enters the Bull Ring
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
