Human Interest
The Italian Job, Part 9
The morning came around all too soon and again, after a simple breakfast, we packed the car, said our goodbyes to BF and the children, gave them all a huge hug and it was Alison’s [more…]
21st Century
A View (Some Miles Away) From The Greenhouse; We’re All “Far-Right” Now.
Recently I had occasion to visit the observatory at Langdale, a torturous ninety minute drive from home, along some of the very worst roads in Cumbria. It was almost all for naught, although the clouds [more…]
Economics
A re-cap of economic fundamentals
References to ‘GDP’ proliferate in the business press and news. Perhaps it’s worth considering what it means. The letters stand for ‘Gross Domestic Product’, intending to signify the entire output of the economy of a country: the outputs [more…]
Hobbies
Postcard from a Shepherds Hut
* You may have already guessed this last bit… June 6th is a bit of a special day in the life of Yours Truly as it’s my birthday and Mrs ABS had planned a 3-night [more…]
Elections
Rules for the election
Just as the Grauniad predicted, see it might have been prescient, Bridget Phllipson goes head to head with Lucy Powell for the title of deputy leader of the Labour Party. Number 10 favours Bridget while [more…]
Literature
An Old Man’s Musings Part Forty
Waiting for MOT (passed) I was browsing my volume of the Dylan Thomas Notebook Poems 1930-1934. I came across this piece which I had never seen before. I admit it shook me; in 1934 he [more…]
Animals
Larry’s Diary, Week Two Hundred And Ninety-Six
Monday Good morning friends. The sun was peeping through the window when I woke up this morning, so I trotted down to the back door. By the time the man had opened it, the sun [more…]
19th Century
The Shock of The Modern
Besides excitement and trauma, might the shock of the new also provide a synapse re-ordering adrenaline burst that remodels the brain? As a little boy the make-believe near-future modernist world of Thunderbirds (and the like) [more…]
Fiction
Downfall, Chapter Six
As they ate breakfast Dave explained what he wanted Sally to do, a porter came up to the table as they were finishing, a visitor was waiting for them in reception. Dave asked for him [more…]