This is the tenth part of a fiction serial, in 751 words. Before he left the Hampstead house that day, Clive had some requests for Alison. “Can you get me a secure laptop for research? And I will be needing an AK-47, fifty rounds, and one spare magazine. A black face-covering bal … | Continue reading
I checked the calendar to confirm, and it says it’s the tenth of June. It has been raining so hard since late last night that both of us had a disturbed niight with the noise of the downpour, and the temperature is barely scraping 12C at 11am. (53F) It feels like Winter to me, so … | Continue reading
This is the ninth part of a fiction serial, in 776 words. Alison slipped her high-heeled shoes on, picked up a tiny shoulder-bag, and headed for the door. “The file for the new job is on the coffee table. Look it over tonight, and bring it to Hampstead tomorrow for us to have a r … | Continue reading
Suitable for D-Day weekend, and a sentimental old man like me, this 1938 song was very popular during WW2, for obvious reasons. There have been numerous versions over the decades, and it was also used by the flamboyant entertainer, Liberace, as his personal theme song. Bing Crosb … | Continue reading
After one warm day last Sunday, the weather returned to March, taking it with us like time-travellers. On some days it was actually colder than in last March. Some of my neighbours had their heating on, and a few even lit their wood-burners. Then there was the rain. On and off, n … | Continue reading
This is the eighth part of a fiction serial, in 794 words. During the time he had sat on the bed waiting, Clive had formulated the speech he would make to Owen before he shot him. He had gone over it a few times in his head, and it always ended with him saying “Nothing … Continue … | Continue reading
It has taken me 72 years, but I have finally discovered how to find all those things you had put in a place where you would remember where they were, and then forgot where that place was. The answer is so simple, I’m amazed if hadn’t occurred to me 20 years ago. BUY A REPLACEMENT … | Continue reading
Back to those old paintings to cheer up a dull morning. | Continue reading
I woke up early today, and in a ‘pondering’ mood. So here are some things for us all to ponder. And finally, something historical. | Continue reading
This is the seventh part of a fiction serial, in 875 words. Tapping the folder, Alison explained. “Corporal Owen appears not to want to stay silent. He was informed of the charge against you being dropped, and told he would be posted somewhere very remote if he didn’t play the ga … | Continue reading
The day has started off sunny here, so here is a mix of memes and cartoons to keep the smiles going. | Continue reading
I am posting this a day early due to time zones across the world. Eighty years ago tomorrow, the combined forces of Great Britain, America, Canada, and soldiers from over twenty other allied countries (including Free French) invaded German-occupied France with the largest sea and … | Continue reading
This is the fifth part of a fiction serial, in 799 words. She told Clive her name was Alison. “Leave your kit in the hallway, and follow me”. The room he followed her into reminded him of the office of the headmaster when he was at school. She walked around the desk and sat in … … | Continue reading
Some old paintings jokes and a couple of cartoons. No sunshine yet this morning, but it’s not raining! | Continue reading
This is the fourth part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. If he had expected some kind of group to be inside the building, Clive was mistaken. A female RAF orderly showed him into a bedroom at the end of the corridor, gave him a key to lock it, and told him someone would … Conti … | Continue reading
Julie recently ordered some cheap waterproof (fake rattan in resin) garden/patio furniture. It came in one large box, and considering it was supposed to contain a 2-seat sofa with cushions, 2 small armchairs with cushions, and a glass-topped centre table, I was dubious that it ha … | Continue reading
While I was trying to shift weeds from the patio cracks and sorting out some overgrown shrubs in the garden, Julie set-to with baking our bread for this week. We get a choice, one Seeded, one White. As always, they were delicious! | Continue reading
This is the third part of a fiction serial, in 772 words. The day after he was visited by the Captain assigned to help him, Clive was told he had more visitors. The guard telling him had a strange expression on his face as they walked down to the visiting room. It was more than … … | Continue reading
Yesterday’s issues with logging on to my blog have persisted today. I could not access WordPress from my usual shortcut, and was prompted to log in. When I did so, WP was not happy with my (same) password, and insisted on sending another authorisation code under the 2-step verifi … | Continue reading
My friend Antony sent me this very interesting and informative 17-minute video. It should be of interest to anyone who speaks English and is interested in history. | Continue reading
I hope you all had a nice weekend. Pay attention please, Bradshaw! CLASS DISMISSED! | Continue reading
This morning, WordPress has decided to pick on me for some reason. In the last 20 minutes, I have been asked to log into my own account no less than 5 times, and been sent verification codes to my mobile, only to be told that they are incorrect when I enter them. I have now … Con … | Continue reading
This is the second part of a fiction serial, in 776 words. The Colonel looked irritated, the two MPs looked smug, and Corporal Owen was staring at his boots, unable or unwilling to look Clive in the eye. Colonel Alexander closed a file on his desk. “Well sergeant, I have here a v … | Continue reading
The rain finally stopped by Saturday morning, but out on my walks there is still thick mud, and some deep standing water. It is brighter and warmer today, but who knows how long that will last? I recently read a long-range weather prediction that stated by 2050 it will rain const … | Continue reading
This is the first part of a fiction serial, in 789 words. Sergeant Clive Bilston shook his head and confronted the lieutenant. “That’s a stupid order, and I ain’t taking the men into that compound, it’s a death trap. Let me send O’Connor up on the high ground with his sniper rifl … | Continue reading
So far this morning, it is not raining. That’s one reason for me to smile today. I found some more old paintings humour too. | Continue reading
*** No Spoilers*** One of those ‘small films’ that tends to fall under the radar, ‘The Drop’ is a modern crime thriller with a small cast giving great performances. If you like the gangster film genre and don’t mind some moderate violence and swearing, you will be rewarded with s … | Continue reading
Starting the weekend with some humour to drive away the rain. (Hopefully) | Continue reading
I’m not starting until you all turn off your mobile phones. Poppy Hardwicke, that means you too! Click this one twice to enlarge for easier reading. CLASS DISMISSED! | Continue reading
Yesterday, I was still feeling tired after the long weekend away. It hardly seems possible that such a relatively short trip and some pleasant socialising can leave me still wiped out two days later. It made me think of the times in my 30s when I could drive an ambulance all day … | Continue reading
A mix of cartoons and memes today. | Continue reading
“Stoney End” is a song written by Laura Nyro and released in February 1967 on her debut album ‘More Than a New Discovery’. I heard it on the radio as a teenager, and really liked it. Hard to classify in a genre, the lyrics suggest a Country Music song but it doesn’t sound like on … | Continue reading
Alex and Leroy, please see me after class. CLASS DISMISSED! | Continue reading
Further to today’s post about our weekend away, I spent a lot of time thinking about London yesterday. Sixty years as a Londoner made me love the city of my birth. I knew every district well, and could navigate my way around without a second thought. It was my home town, and I ne … | Continue reading
Tired after a busy weekend, and with rain forecast to spoil most of the day, I need a good dose of chuckles this morning. | Continue reading
After a busy weekend away, I am back on the blog today. I don’t have time to read and comment on all the posts that came in while we were away, so apologies for that. We travelled to Teddington, a suburb of West London 155 miles south-west of Beetley. Julie has friends and relati … | Continue reading
As I am not around this coming weekend, here is something to make you smile while I am gone. | Continue reading
Please hand your papers in by Tuesday. Have a good weekend! Click on this one twice to enlarge for reading. Click on this one twice to enlarge it for reading. CLASS DISMISSED! | Continue reading
Change of day this week, as I won’t be around on the blog from Friday evening until Tuesday next week. (Possibly Monday, not sure yet) So I will not be reading or commenting on your posts, and not posting anything at all on my blog. ————————————————————————————— The heavy rain th … | Continue reading
I can’t resist these old paintings memes! | Continue reading
Today’s subject is clothing, fashions, and national dress. You have your paper and pencils, so please draw an outfit you imagine will be worn in 100 years from now. CLASS DISMISSED! | Continue reading
It’s still not much like the start of Summer here, (torrential rain since yesterday evening) so I need something to make me grin. | Continue reading
Lewis Capaldi is a very popular Scottish singer-songwriter, and still only 27 years old. This song topped the UK charts in 2018, and the US charts the year after. He is one of my wife’s favourites, and she has been to see him live in concert. I haven’t heard that much of his musi … | Continue reading
This is all 40 parts of my recent fiction serial. It is a long read, at 31,050 words. The staff at the care home had been busy. Gold balloons, and a huge card signed by everyone. There was going to be a cake with the raised number one hundred, and a candle topping each zero … Con … | Continue reading
I was 18 when I bought this record in 1970. It just appealed to me, and I played it a lot. But I never looked into the band, ‘The Ides Of March’, and didn’t buy any of their other records. It’s a hard one to assign to a genre. Loud, lots of brass, guitar solo, … Continue reading … | Continue reading