In Pursuit of Perfection
‘It seems only fair that, having lathered myself into a pitch of excited anticipation for the family wedding on the 16th of this month, I should update you on that significant day.’ … More In Pursuit of Perfection
‘It seems only fair that, having lathered myself into a pitch of excited anticipation for the family wedding on the 16th of this month, I should update you on that significant day.’ … More In Pursuit of Perfection
‘Weddings require us all to make more effort with our appearance, so we primp and preen, and make the necessary pilgrimages to the fancy shops to check out what they have to offer this season… it was a nightmare.’ … More Wedding Season Dilemmas
‘Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow’ – Thomas Obadiah Chisholm – hymn writer 1866–1960 I’ve been writing this blog for over eight years now, and when re-reading the Christmas posts I discovered that I’ve repeatedly returned to the theme of hope. As I pondered what to write in this Advent piece, I can’t … More Hope For The Hopeless
‘a reckoning with the truth of mortality.’ Unknown So a significant birthday comes around later this month and a new decade begins. While I discover that I have to wait another six years to obtain a much coveted bus pass, I will soon be able to procure a ‘senior’ railcard. Consolation or inevitability? At this … More Spectacular 60
‘Having trouble parking?… Get yourself a Sherman tank.’ – Kenny Everett – British comedian Back in the 1980s, the much-missed comedian Kenny Everett had a TV show which once included a sketch I remember simply as, Solve all you parking problems with a Sherman tank. You can still watch it by searching You Tube for … More Tanks a lot!
‘May you live all the days of your life’ – Jonathan Swift (author) Twenty years ago I was madly raising sponsorship for a week long trek I was about to join along part of The Great Wall of China. This was undertaken in partnership with a charity I’ve supported for years and with a bunch … More Another Big One Soon!
‘Words are, in my not-so-humble opinion, our most inexhaustible source of magic. Capable of both inflicting injury, and remedying it.’ – JK Rowling Happy Birthday, to my blog! This is my 100th posting, so it seems the perfect time to celebrate the wonder and power of words which are, after all, the life and soul … More CENTENARY CELEBRATION
‘Praise be to God, the first wine was made from Cape grapes’ – Jan van Riebeeck from his diary entry on 2nd February 1659 It’s a birthday month for the South African wine industry, and with hundreds of wineries there are plenty of opportunities for people to join the celebrations, propose a toast or two … More Cheers!
‘We celebrated Christmas last Saturday. Yes, the full, bulging, indulgent, glittered stocking of festivities…’ … More Missing the Christmas Rush
I don’t have pet peeves, I have whole kennels of irritation – Whoopi Goldberg … More Milestones and moans: 5 things that drive me mad