We seem to have been spared the excessive flooding that hit some parts of the country, but I still need something to smile about as it is raining hard here. | Continue reading
This is the first part of a fiction serial, in 846 words. Janet regretted her main talent in life, that of finding completely unsuitable and horrible men. It must have run in the family, as her father had been a real bastard too, abusing both her and her mother. So why did she li … | Continue reading
This is the last photo post from our recent holiday. All the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them, which will take you to Flickr. On the Thursday, we drove the 70 minutes to the outskirts of the ancient city of Lincoln to see my cousin Ian and his wife Annie. Ian was in … C … | Continue reading
I woke up to heavy rain, then the sun tried to come out and almost blinded me through the window. Now it’s raining again. | Continue reading
Some of you might be surprised to find this song on my list, but I liked it the moment I heard it. I bought the CD single in 1992, and it is the only Red Hot Chili Peppers song I own. “Under The Bridge” Sometimes I feel like I don’t have a partner Sometimes I … Continue reading S … | Continue reading
Every year when we visit Sutton-on-Sea, we always take the time to drive the 8 miles south to the small seaside town of Chapel St Leonards. It is unashamedly down-market, and popular with families for reasonably-priced holidays. Also fuctioning as a retirement community where hou … | Continue reading
A few serious quotes and some memes today. | Continue reading
Just south of Sutton-on-Sea lies the suburb of Sandilands. This is an affluent part of the area, and that is reflected in much higher property prices. One afternoon, I went for a long walk while Julie stayed in the cabin, coming back through Sandilands then along the promenade. ( … | Continue reading
Mablethorpe is an ancient market town on the Lincolnshire coast, just 3 miles north of where we were staying. Since Victorian times it has been developed as a seaside tourist town, popular with working-class holidaymakers from the Midlands. Entertainment is traditional, with beac … | Continue reading
Thanks to Gavin from New Zealand for this. There is no egg in the eggplant, No ham in the hamburger And neither pine nor apple in the pineapple. English muffins were not invented in England, French fries were not invented in France. We sometimes take English for granted, but if w … | Continue reading
Despite the huge building site on the southern side of the beach, little has changed if you head north. (All the photos can be enlarged by clicking on them, which will take you to Flickr) Traditional Beach Huts are still very popular. People own them, and use them for days on the … | Continue reading
I found some more of those signs! | Continue reading
One afternoon we visited the donkey sanctuary at Huttoft. (All photos can be enlarged by clicking on them, which takes you to Flickr) Run by volunteers, it gives a good home to donkeys that have been abandoned, are terminally ill, or require daily medication. This lovely place ch … | Continue reading
The small seaside town we have been going back to for many years now is undergoing some changes. Shops in the small high street are closing down, yet the town council are completely renovatiing the seafront area in a bid to attract more tourists. Last week was the latest in the y … | Continue reading
While I was away on holiday, Frankie Beverly died. That name might not be familiar to many of you, but he had been the lead singer of one of my favourite bands, Maze. From 1977 to 1993, Maze released nine albums, and I bought them all. The distinctive, soulful voice of Frankie wa … | Continue reading
We got back from out holiday this afternoon, and have just been out for an early dinner. I am pleased to report we had a very enjoyable time, and loved being back in our happy place on the east coast in Lincolnshire. I have missed far too many posts to catch up, so I will … Conti … | Continue reading
This will be my last post until the 16th at the earliest. I will be offline while on holiday and starting fresh when I get back. (WordPress permitting) See you all soon! Me! | Continue reading
Looking 50 is great if you’re 60. ~Joan Rivers Age is a high price to pay for maturity. ~Tom Stoppard No man is ever old enough to know better. ~Holbrook Jackson Time may be a great healer, but it’s a lousy beautician. ~Author Unknown When I was a boy, the Dead Sea was only sick. … | Continue reading
I decided I missed my blogging friends on Twitter, and the film and cinema sites I followed. So I am back on the platform, keeping a relatively low profile. Today I started to try to find and re-follow as many people I can remember from before. So far I have managed to find over … | Continue reading
A strange week weather-wise. Lots of humidity, a couple of cold days, and one of blazing sunshine and a high of almost 80F. Some nights sleeping wrapped up and feeling chilly, others being blasted by a fan at the end of the bed. We checked the forecast for where we are going on T … | Continue reading
Here are some memes to enjoy, on the day of rest. | Continue reading
Another song from 1965, sung by the late Wison Pickett (died 2006) and a huge Soul music hit at the time. Still sounds good to me! I’m gonna wait ’til the midnight hour That’s when my love comes tumbling down I’m gonna wait ’til the midnight hour When there’s no one else around I … | Continue reading
In 1965, I was only 13. But I heard this record on the radio, and just knew I had to buy it. The Yardbirds were an English rock band, formed in London in 1963. The band started the careers of three of rock’s most famous guitarists: Eric Clapton (1963–1965), Jeff Beck (1965–1966) … | Continue reading
With my current raft of blogging glitches still unresolved, I need some smiles this weekend! | Continue reading
This is a record of my request to WordPress for help with numerous glitches, and how they dealt with it. Or didn’t really deal with it. I think I was suitably polite! Me: August 31st For some days now, when I get an email notification of a comment on one of my blog posts and … Co … | Continue reading
This is a 4 minute 40 second video from an American lady who lives in London. She is just giving her own opinion after living here for two years. It may be of interest to my American friends, and to anyone thinking of visiting London or anywhere else in the UK. | Continue reading
Here is my recent fiction serial as one complete story. It is a long read, at 27,658 words. This serial was very popular, attracting an average of 70 views for each episode which amounted to almost 2,500 views. Many readers followed every episode and left comments, which was much … | Continue reading
The season has well and truly changed in Beetley. The school children have gone back after the summer break, so things are very peaceful now on my walks. Yesterday I sat on a bench by the river bend, noticing how shallow the water is after hardly any rain. There were dragonflies … | Continue reading
Here’s a Thursday mix for you. | Continue reading
Most readers of this blog will know that I am a huge fan of the American band, Steely Dan. If push came to shove, they might be the group whose records I would take to the proverbial desert island. So here is another one from their back catalogue, released as a single, and also o … | Continue reading
Wednesday already? The week is flying by! | Continue reading
If you say it quickly, 1999 seems like not that long ago. But it was 25 years ago that I heard this song on the radio, and bought the CD it was from. It was the only one of her recordings I ever bought, and I lost track of her raspy voice soon after. So … Continue reading Songs I … | Continue reading
This is the final part of a fiction serial, in 937 words. Anatoly Sokolov adjusted the patch over his left eye and threw open the hatch of the T-34. Most of the windows on the remaining houses and apartments were displaying some kind of white cloth, and the infantry who had advan … | Continue reading
This is another song previously featured on this blog that might well do so again in the future. Crowded House are a rock band formed in Melbourne, Australia, in 1985. Its founding members were New Zealander Neil Finn and Australians Paul Hester and Nick Seymour. During the 1980s … | Continue reading
This is the thirty-fourth part of a fiction serial, in 790 words. Otto wasted no time getting his life in Berlin back to how he wanted it. Using his numerous contacts in the city, he had men repairing the roof and windows within two days, while others carried the furniture back u … | Continue reading
Let’s get the week underway! | Continue reading
This is the thirty-third part of a fiction serial, in 780 words. Otto got leave to go home to Berlin because of his wife’s distress. But such things were frowned upon, and considered a weakness, so he was not in the best of moods when he arrived on a very cold evening. “You must … | Continue reading
September already? I can’t decide if time has gone quickly this year, or if it has felt about right. We stalled most of our year waiting for Julie’s knee surgery that is still unlikely to happen until 2025. At least we still have our 6-day short holiday to look forward to this mo … | Continue reading
This is one of those songs I liked better at the time, and not so much now. (Though it is of its time, undeniably) But at that time, I liked the band, bought the album, and enjoyed the songs. Including this one. Maybe it was the loud brass, the strong vocals, the instrumental bre … | Continue reading
Everyone needs a smile, even on a quiet Sunday. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-second part of a fiction serial, in 760 words. Helga Fischer was getting annoyed with her husband. He hadn’t managed to get any leave, and was very slow to reply to her weekly letters. She would sit in the old chair at the lovely desk and write them, and she kn … | Continue reading
After my worst ever blogging weekend of (continuing) glitches, I need something to cheer me up. | Continue reading
This is the thirty-first part of a fiction serial, in 835 words. As Belle was being handcuffed by a surly policeman, she could hear the weeping and crying of Rachel and Hannah downstairs. Knowing better than to resist or argue with the Gestapo man, she accepted her fate as she wa … | Continue reading