Travel
Postcard from Iceland
A fat lot of help the Sultan of Oman was. About as much use as a chocolate teapot in the Al Hararis Plain during the hottest hour of an Omani desert day. Creepy sleepy sniffy [more…]
Literature
Democracy
An Appointment at Noon
The Medical Officer and the young lieutenant inspected the work of the firing party; “She’s still alive, the volley has failed to kill her said the MO,” the young lieutenant looked down at the sagging [more…]
Arts
Always Worth Saying’s Question Time Review
Question Time 25th January 2024 The Panel: Alex Burghart (Conservative) Jonathan Ashworth (Labour) Bronwen Maddox (CEO of Chatham House) Sonia Sodha (Columnist and Author) Konstantin Kisin (Satirist and Podcaster) Venue: Gillingham Despite, or perhaps because [more…]
Fiction
Jinnie’s Story – Book Six, Chapter Fourteen
Jinnie checked her phone again, Nigel and Camilla’s Virgin flight had taken off on time from London and was expected to land about 10 minutes early. Glancing at the dashboard clock she saw she had [more…]
Diary
A View (Miles Away) From The Greenhouse; 1,000 Cuts, The Destruction Of A Nation
Took a little ride out with the camera club up to Ashness Bridge and then walked up to “Surprise View” where I came across this handsome fellow taking a (probably) well earned break from his [more…]
20th Century
Report From Israel, 1957 – Part Five
In 1957 my uncle, John Alldridge visited Israel for the Birmingham Mail. This is the fifth of his reports. – Jerry F Eilat, Gulf of Akaba You can’t go home (they said) until you’ve bathed [more…]
Hobbies
A Postcard from Tewkesbury
Finding ourselves at a loose end a few weeks ago Mrs Reggie and I decided it was time for us to have a day trip to somewhere we haven’t been to previously. Tewkesbury is less [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred And Eighteen
Monday Hi folks, I’m back! Now my scribe has returned from his cruise it’s back to business for your favourite cat diarist. I have had a very pleasant Christmas and New Year break in a [more…]
Literature
Farmhouse cooking
Gran toils on In the foreman’s house The old black range is always lit Her foreman husband, live in hands With horses plough and reap and sow. Flour comes in half stone sacks Making bread [more…]