Here I sit trying to decide which kind of weather to moan about, and having to choose between two options. Last week we had exceptionally cold weather, and for some regions of the UK snow brought chaos to roads, railways, and electricity supply. Over in the East, in Beetley, we h … | Continue reading
Well here they are! I never went to a finger snap party, and now I really regret that. I find it hard to believe that Sly Stallone agreed to this cover. Maths at my school was never like this. This got me thinking about the film ‘Deliverance’. Space-themed music from the early da … | Continue reading
Tomorrow we will be visiting family to celebrate our grandson’s ninth birthday. As I will not be around on the blog that much, I am changing the day I usually post this. ————————————————————————————— I have to mention the weather, which has turned incredibly cold. No snow yet in … | Continue reading
I couldn’t fail to notice that while I was away this week, WordPress returned the Comments boxes back to normal. No more strange Block Editor configuration, and no need to log in to comment or reply. How long will that last, I wonder? | Continue reading
Carol is back to blogging with news of her new cookbook just in time for Christmas. Please follow the link to discover more, with buying links too. | Continue reading
We got back at 5:30pm last night after a tiring and emotional trip. I regret I will be unable to catch up with all of your posts over the last couple of days, so I am starting again from this morning. Attending a funeral is never going to be anything to look forward to, but … Con … | Continue reading
I am reblogging Stevie Turner’s latest post to show everyone that it is possible to get a great ranking on Amazon. Keep writing good stuff and publishing your work, and one day I might be reblogging your success story! | Continue reading
This is all 22 parts of my recent fiction serial in one complete story. It is a long read, at 17,254 words. It was just cold enough for knee boots, but at least it wasn’t raining. Not wanting to work all day in boots, she took her larger shoulder bag and popped some flat leather … | Continue reading
We have to attend a funeral on Thursday morning, which will involve us stopping overnight in a hotel quite close to London on Wednesday. So there will probably be no posts from me or comments on blogs I follow tomorrow or Thursday, just so you know. Don’t worry about Ollie, he wi … | Continue reading
The first thing I noticed when I started to comment on posts today (including replies on my own blog) is that all comments boxes have now been migrated to ‘Block Editor Style’. Yet again, there was no warning of this from WordPress, and being very cynical, I am now wondering how … | Continue reading
“‘Bye Pete” Last Friday night I was sleeping soundly when I was woken by a vivid dream in the early hours of Saturday morning. The dream had taken me back to an event in the 1980s that I had never written about on this blog before. On Saturday afternoon, I was having a coffee wit … | Continue reading
We arrived home last night, just before 5pm on a rainy and very cold November night. It had been so good to see one of my oldest friends, Roland, after more than a year, (and his wife Christine) and their lovely new house created from a barn conversion in Suffolk, 70 miles south … | Continue reading
Following on from yesterday’s post about issues with replies to comments, this appeared to be fixed (for now) just after 8pm last night. Thanks to everyone for your advice and suggestions, I am sorry I was unable to reply to most of them. What made me enraged yesterday was that I … | Continue reading
This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 870 words. After she had spoken at both meetings, the final list of demands was sent to those in charge. It had to be delivered by a soldier, as only they had access to the armoury where the group of leaders were in hiding. The … Con … | Continue reading
As of 2pm today, WordPress has decided that I have to log into my blog own to reply to any comments on my posts. Despite being logged in already, I followed the instructions only to be advised that I had to subscribe to my own blog to leave a reply. I feel like I am … Continue re … | Continue reading
This is the twenty-first part of a fiction serial, in 746 words. For close to a full minute after sending the message, Julia felt as if she couldn’t breathe. Her stomach was turning somersaults, and she had to fight off a full-blown panic attack. Then she realised that nothing ha … | Continue reading
I would like to wish all my blogging friends in America a very Happy Thanksgiving. Here’s hoping you all have a wonderful celebration, whatever you are doing today. | Continue reading
This is the twentieth part of a fiction serial, in 757 words. Once they were in the room undisturbed, Julia shared everything she had learned with Aileen. It made her happy to see her friend’s face relax, and she looked younger than her years. “So it’s safe? Those bastards kept u … | Continue reading
A touching soul ballad that I first heard (and immediately bought) at the age of 14. If anything, I like it even more now than I did then, and it is rightly considered to be a classic in the genre. Covered many times by other singers, this is the original version. Aaron Neville i … | Continue reading
This is the nineteenth part of a fiction serial, in 743 words. Three weeks after her promotion, Julia was still working through the hundreds of file folders Harriet had stored on her laptop when one of them made her stop dead. It was labelled ‘Biological warfare’. Checking that n … | Continue reading
Not as old as some songs I feature here, but 50 years ago is very much ‘Retro’ as far as I am concerned. A timeless classic from The Eagles that was and still is my favourite song from that band. Desperado. Lyrics：Glenn Frey Music：Don Henley Desperado, why don’t you come to your … | Continue reading
These historical photos are definitely best described as ‘creepy’! An actor’s promotional card. I wouldn’t hire him after seeing this. This Santa is genuinely scary! Did granny move while the shutter was open, or is it actually a ghost? These 1920s circus performers are supposed … | Continue reading
I first heard this song when I was 9 years old. I think it must have been on the radio, but my dad later brought the record home, and once it was in the house I played it all the time. I liked the tone of her voice, and didn’t recognise her as a ‘Country … Continue reading Retro … | Continue reading
This is the eighteenth part of a fiction serial, in 810 words. Despite being shocked at the news of being promoted many grades into Hariiet’s job, Julia soon realised the benefits that promotion gave her. She got to attened the inter-departmental meetings where secrets were discu … | Continue reading
I was not quite 13 years old when I heard this record in late 1964. I immediately knew I had to buy a copy, and soon added it to my collection. Chuck Berry was a talented songwriter, guitarist, and singer. His work is well known, and needs no introduction here. Seven years later, … | Continue reading
This is the seventeenth part of a fiction serial, in 738 words. The next time they had two days off, Aileen was once again asking Julia if she knew any further details about the incursion into the facility. Still annoyed at the mixed messages being passed to those working inside, … | Continue reading
We finally lost the crisp and clear sunny weather that I had been enjoying. On Friday evening, it was replaced by torrential rain that lasted until almost 2pm on Saturday. That was accompanied by dark skies necessitating having the house lights on by 1pm. On Ollie’s walk, the riv … | Continue reading
This is the sixteenth part of a fiction serial, in 810 words. It wasn’t long before Julia had to type up Harriet’s departmental report about the incident that had happened two nights earlier. As she was working, Harriet reminded her that she had signed the official secrets act, a … | Continue reading
Because they always cheer me up. A keeper at London Zoo with two chameleons on his hat. A man using a hippo to pull his cart. (Not something I approve of, but it was a long time ago.) A little girl and her cat. This man is proudly showing off his pet raccoon. A small … Continue r … | Continue reading
A song released in 1956 when I was a child that I remember so well from family parties in my youth. Antoine Domino Jnr was born in 1928 in New Orleans, and found fame using his nickname, ‘Fats’. He had many hits on both sides of the Atlantic, and is considered to be one of … Cont … | Continue reading
This is the fifteenth part of a fiction serial, in 789 words. Sitting in their room, Aileen and Julia had no idea what to do. The alarm continued to sound, even though the noise of gunshots became more sporadic after a few minutes. There was a public address system, but nothing w … | Continue reading
I am going back all the way to 1940 with this popular song from the time. That was 12 years before I was born, but my dad loved The Inkspots so I heard their songs as a child when he played their records. In 2023, it might seem like just a strange old-fashioned song, but … Contin … | Continue reading
This is the fourteenth part of a fiction serial, in 828 words. During the time she had spent underground, Julia had become aware of some of the many security protocols carried out by the people on other floors. She had learned of these by typing up reports for Harriet that mentio … | Continue reading
Some days just go well. And when that happens, I think it is worth celebrating. My first job today was to take Ollie to the Vet in Swaffham to have his teeth looked at. That went surprisingly well, it really did. 1) He was able to jump into the back of the new car for … Continue … | Continue reading
This is the thirteenth part of a fiction serial, in 778 words. Typing up the next of Harriet’s reports, Julia could see that things were far from good outside. The spores were not going away, and although there had been some success with the poison sprayed from the drones, it was … | Continue reading
This is the twelfth part of a fiction serial, in 806 words. With one year underground approaching, there was talk of some celebration of the anniversary. But few of those living in the Command Centre had any appetitite for even a subdued celebration, so it was decided to abandon … | Continue reading
We live in a world where appearance has become everything. Plastic surgery, Apps that alter images and flatter people in photos are common, and with the rise of A.I., it is going to be easier for everyone to disguise their real features, should they wish to do so. Travelling in A … | Continue reading
This is the eleventh part of a fiction serial, in 790 words. Six months in, and the place was starting to feel like home. The moment Julia realised that, it sent a chill up her back. She knew her way around completely now, and also the names of not only her colleagues in the depa … | Continue reading
This is the tenth part of a fiction serial, in 803 words At the end of the first month in the bunker, a series of briefings were held for the occupants. Julia was told she didn’t have to go, as she was already aware of the terrible news that would be told to those attending, … Co … | Continue reading
A change in the weather after Wednesday cheered me up. It turned a lot colder, but with bright sunny days accompanied by blue skies. It felt more like the Novembers I remember from my youth. ————————————————————————————— We had to bite the bullet and buy a new fridge freezer on T … | Continue reading
This is the ninth part of a fiction serial, in 753 words. After two weeks, Julia had got into a routine. She found it hard staying awake during night shifts at first, but Harriet’s eagle eye would soon spot her nodding off and she would be aroused by a shout of “Calder!”. Once sh … | Continue reading
This is the eighth part of a fiction serial, in 774 words. The food was surprisingly good, and Julia ate much more than she would have at home. Everyone around the dining tables was very subdued, and some had obviously been crying. For her and Jackie, the shift rotas started with … | Continue reading
As if all the messing around and constant glitches were not enough to drive me crazy, WP has come up with a new one this morning. Once I started to reply to comments on my blog, a screen insert appeared over the reply box suggesting I leave my email address to subscribe to beetle … | Continue reading
My friend Antony sent me a You Tube clip. In these troubled times, it does no harm to watch something peaceful. Just over two minutes of a totally relaxed pet Marmot being washed in a bathroom sink. Does that sound crazy? It is as close to meditation as I get. | Continue reading
This is the seventh part of a fiction serial, in 759 words. The female army officer drew herself up to her full height. “My name is Colonel Price, and I am in charge of the female facility in this place. Make no mistake, what you are going to experience here is life-changing. You … | Continue reading
There is something about bad weather that makes even the most routine trip seem to be longer and unpleasant. Yesterday was one of those days. I had to attend an eye clinic appointment in the center of the city of Norwich at 14:45 yesterday. Waking up to heavy rain, my regular rou … | Continue reading
This is the sixth part of a fiction serial, in 766 words. Following the two soldiers into the tunnel entrance, the first thing that Julia noticed was a distinct background humming noise. She presumed that might be generators, or the buzzing of the numerous lights that lit the way … | Continue reading
This is the fifth part of a fiction serial, in 809 words. When they got back to her flat, the driver went in with Julia. He followed her into each room as she collected her things, making sure she didn’t leave any notes, or attempt to contact anyone. Having no idea what to pack, … | Continue reading