20th Century
John Alldridge Meets Douglas Bader
In September 1955, the Manchester Evening News sent my uncle to interview Group Captain Douglas Bader – Jerry F There was a time — not so long ago — when for seven weary months I [more…]
Literature
Hobbies
South Devon, Part One
It takes a week to cycle from Penzance to Berwick. It took me 40 years. Because on the way, I wanted to include every town in England, in what amounted to some two years of [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred And Fifty-Six
Monday Good morning from a dry but grotty Westminster. It looks like it’s going to rain at any moment, but the forecast is for a dry day. Today’s big question is, did the Camel actually [more…]
Fiction
Those Who Play With Fire, Chapter Sixteen
Dave was up at 08.00, Sally watched him from the bed, “what are you doing?” “We are going out today, had you forgotten?” “No, I didn’t realise it was an early start, where are we [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 31st October 2024 The Panel: Darren Jones (Labour) Andrew Griffith (Conservative) Munira Wilson (Liberal Democrat) Sir Tom Hunter (Entrepreneur) Sir Craig Oliver (Author and Journalist) Venue: Guildford Chief Secretary to the Treasury Darren [more…]
Fiction
Jinnies Story – Book Seven, Chapter Nineteen
The morning flight from Barbados to Antigua touched down a few minutes early having benefited from a tailwind. The only luggage that Jinnie, Trevor, Belinda and Brian had was Belinda’s trusty attaché case containing her [more…]
20th Century
Close Approach of Mars to Earth
In September 1956, as Mars approached its closest to Earth for 34 years, John Alldridge summed up what we then knew (or thought we knew) of the planet for the Manchester Evening News – Jerry [more…]
Fiction
A Glancing Blow
It was the Dean’s Verger who brought the note up to the organ-loft. The Cathedral bells had been clanging and humming through several hundred changes for at least half an hour, and were beginning to [more…]
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part Five
I have been mostly impressed with the Welsh NHS, dentistry provision less so. Got a doctor’s appointment within two days last week, none of this telephone queueing/go online bollox. I simply asked the receptionist to [more…]