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 many passing (sic) visits I have come across encountered some well-known faces. I…

Spring has sprung….dammit

Whoever put together the WordPress ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’ was getting positively frisky by this stage: “Turn, turn, turn. For many of us, winter is blossoming into spring…which season do you most look forward to?” Here in France, the four seasons are quite distinctive, which I suppose makes a pleasant change after our ten…

T(w)itter Ye Not

‘Social Media’. Harrumph. Why am I even talking about this? Because WordPress ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts wants to know, that’s why: “The social network. Do you feel like you ‘get’ social media, or do you just use it because that’s where all your friends and family are?” Should you happen to be a WordPress…

Pet hates

Pets? You ask me about pets? Well, WordPress does, in today’s instalmemt of ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’: “Menagerie. Do you have animals in your life? If yes, what do they mean to you. If no, why have you opted not to?” Are there animals in my life? Living, as we do, in the depths…

Easier said than done

Without a word of a lie, you could have knocked me down with a feather on that dark and stormy night when I saw this in WordPress” ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’: “Cliché. Clichés become clichés for a reason. Tell us about the last time a bird in the hand was worth two in the…

Not a lot of people know that…

O wad some Power the giftie gie us To see oursels as ithers see us!  – Robert Burns: ‘To A Louse’ Perhaps this day’s instalment of WordPress’ ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts’ takes its inspiration from these famous lines from Scotland’s national poet. You’d certainly be forgiven for thinking so: “Far from normal. Take a…

The Vital Card

Today’s instalment of WordPress’ ‘365 Days of Writing Prompts is one of those worthy but dull ones, specifically about healthcare provision: “Right to health. Is access to medical care something that government should provide or is it better left to the private sector? Are there drawbacks to your choice?”∅ Rather than enter into an earnest…

Don’t Panic

Most people who know me would agree that I’m of a generally calm, nay taciturn, mien. In Dad’s Army terms, I’m more Sergeant Wilson than Corporal Jones: So this latest offering in WordPress’ 365 Days of Writing Prompts held few fears for me when I first approached it: “In a crisis. Honestly evaluate the way…

Ice cream is life

Can I write a post about ice cream? Well, I can try. Do you want to read a post about ice cream? That, gentle reader, is entirely up to you. All I would say is that blogs, like ice cream, come in an ever-increasing variety of flavours and, also like ice cream, if you don’t…