From 2014. Who would you most like to have round for dinner? The Luggage “The interview: Interview your favourite fictional character.” When I first saw this latest of WordPress’ ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’ looming on the horizon, I must say that it sounded quite interesting. After all, in the sixty-odd summers that I’ve been shuffling…
It would be fair to say that the themes we’ve been asked to choose from for Song Lyric Sunday this week comprise an eclectic bunch. For those who might not have seen Jim’s post, here is the list in its entirety: bike, asparagus, strawberries, eggs, mental health, elderly and military. Surely, you’d think, there must…
Swallowed a dictionary or what? Defenestration An unforeseen consequence of the imposition of the Window Tax in 1696. Lollygag An instruction not to eat with one’s mouth open. Flummox When new evidence throws a murder investigation into complete chaos. Cattywampus What happens at college stays at college. Bungle US Secret Service code name for POTUS.…
From 2015, a paean to the humble chili… Hot Stuff Some people swear that “It’s impossible to eat badly in France”. Well it isn’t. It’s certainly possible to eat extremely well in France – often in the unlikeliest and unpromising places, which is part of the country’s great charm. But restaurant quality is as variable here as…
It’s the first Sunday of a new month, so this week’s task is to feature something by an artiste born in May. As ever, the choice is extensive, but I decided to focus my attention on those born on May 6th, for no other reason than that it happens to be my birthday too. Bingo.…
Working Titles… Bless This House The original working title of ‘Father Ted’ The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air A failed attempt to keep up with the Kardashians Diff’rent Strokes A young man’s guide to puberty. Porridge How to get your oats. Only Fools And Horses Official race programme of Royal Ascot. Happy Days Nostalgia isn’t what…
One of my earliest posts, from May 2013. Never forget where you were dragged up. Youse can take the lad owra Liverpool… So anyroad, I wuz skivin’ around disavvy, as per, lookin’ at dis WordPress business, an’ I seen dee ‘ad this thing called a ‘Weekly Writing Challenge’. Sounded a bit poncey, if yer ask…
For this week’s Song Lyric Sunday we’re asked to feature something that links to Earth Day. It has to be said that rock musicians were aware of, and producing music about, climate change and other damages that we as a species have been wreaking on the planet for a long time – certainly from the…
They said what?…. “I have a head for business and a body for sin” Mae West “Wax on, wax off” An Edam cheese producer. “I’ll have what she’s having” A gullible follower of social ‘influencers’ “Please sir, I want some more” Mr. Creosote “You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!” Witness for the…
From 2017, tales of odd encounters in public toilets… An (in) convenience truth As one possessed of what is disparagingly known as a ‘gill bladder’ – which is to say that my powers of retention are somewhat below average – I have extensive direct experience of public conveniences all over the world, and during my…
This week for Song Lyric Sunday we are asked to feature a song that involves a family member. This was the first idea that popped into my head. I had to check that I hadn’t used it before, and happily I haven’t. A staple of Grateful Dead live shows throughout their career, this bouncy little…
Yeah, right… What is suduku? Doing mental arithmetic in the bath. What is a vagabond? A financial security not worth the paper its printed on. What is an anagram? Magrana. What is cribbage? The act of copying someone else’s homework. What is protocol? A new low. What is subterfuge? Playing classical music on an underground…
From 2017, here’s a list and it’s about music rather than a feeble attempt at humour – just for a change. You Can’t Touch This Most songs are ‘covered’, in the sense that they are performed by someone other than the writer/composer themselves. Some songs are so popular that they get to be covered by…
SLS this week has proved to be a bit of a tricky one for me. Jim is looking for a song by an artiste I have just discovered. Fair enough, but the problem is that there aren’t any I could think of. That’s because almost all contemporary popular music leaves me cold. For research purposes…
From 2015, another musing on my impractical nature… Master of none So, have you missed me? It’s been almost a fortnight since my last post. No? Thought not. I blame the good weather. Not that I have any objection to seeing the sun shine, but it does bring with it certain time-consuming responsibilities in the grass-cutting…
the only deadhead in the hameau 