Arts
Kenneth Essex’s 101st Birthday Challenge
My name is Kenneth Essex and I will be 101 on 20th July 2021. I intend, starting on 11th July, to do a sponsored walk of two 500m circuits from my house, each day for [more…]
Walking
Arts
Rough Gardening In A Pandemic & 40 Things To Do…….
An eventful couple of weeks on the political front has culminated in a horny Government Minister apologising (and having his apology accepted by the PM), not for shagging his bit of spare, but for “Breaking [more…]
20th Century
Book Review: Mani, Travels in the Southern Peloponnese by Patrick Leigh-Fermor
It is no secret that I absolutely love the writing of Patrick Leigh-Fermor, a man whose life would have been wonderfully interesting even if he had never published a word. I sketched out something of [more…]
Culture
Rough Growing In A Pandemic (The Scottish Question)
The weather has been atrocious. In many ways it’s been a problem in the greenhouse, tomato plants are stressed, evidenced by the yellowing lower leaves and my red onions have bolted, caused, I’m sure, by [more…]
Cooking
Gardening In A Pandemic (Loves Labour Lost)
I’d enjoyed my seaside break but I was, as always, keen to get back and see what was happening in the greenhouse. The answer, at least that first few days, was plenty, including more weeds. [more…]
Arts
Gardening & Walking In A Pandemic (Panacea For Mind & Body)
A quiet time in the greenhouse just now, the frosts just keep coming and I’m loathe to put the tomatoes, as healthy as they seem to be, in the cold frame just yet. I have [more…]
18th Century
A Walk in the Past
Ey-up miduks, as they say here in my adopted city. This ramble all started with a day off. A Friday, to be precise. It was no particular Friday, and there was no particular reason for [more…]
Arts
Gardening In A Pandemic (Who’s Kidding WHO)
The “art” of growing vegetables isn’t all about the act itself. If it were, we’d all be doing it and shops (especially greengrocers) wouldn’t exist. As is probably apparent, I take a somewhat relaxed attitude [more…]
Arts
A Perfect Weekend
It started with a gig Back in July 2017, my son’s band (pop punk – you wouldn’t like them!) were invited to play at the Workington Touch Down Festival. As the money was good, they [more…]