Miscellany

23 entries in this archive

Sound Tracks for 2023

Our Writers’ Circus challenge for January 2024 was to write about ‘Memories of 2023’.

As some of you may know, I love singing.

I have also become ‘addicted’ to YouTube.

Put these two pastimes together and out pops this offering.

I hope you enjoy my selection.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Academicals (ten minute read)

This is another tale based on a conversation with my grandson Drew (aged 8).

The entire story as written is almost verbatim from a journey we made through heavy traffic.

I suppose part of my motivation in publishing it here is to provided a record for my sons Stuart and Craig and perhaps for my five grandsons in the future at a time when they might be interested.

If you are wearying, skip through the indented part and scan the dialogue sections alone.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Glasgow Fair Friday, 1964 (1,000 words, a four minute read)

This tale was stirred from my memory banks by a friend at Writers’ Circus.

At the time, there was a challenge to write 500 words “To make Sir Billy Connolly laugh.”

In by youth I worked in the same shipyard as Billy and our paths crossed when I asked him to sing at a folk night organised by a church youth fellowship I was involved with. He was very funny and I am sure he would readily agree, so were many others we worked alongside at that time.

Here is the tale, from those long ago days when the shipyards were full of characters larger than life.

(I did try to get it down to 500 words but they could not contain the story and do it justice.)

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Edinburgh Snapshots

This is a blog/diary piece was written in January 2018.

Some many months ago I had difficulties with www.thebuzzinbee.co.uk website and without me noticing this piece dropped out of the listings.

It covers our weekend in Edinburgh to celebrate Margaret’s Big Birthday.

I hope it may spark memories and act as a record of thanks for a lovely, lazy luxurious a and tasty weekend in Edinburgh, one of our most favourite places.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Parliamo Italiano?

This is a trilogy of small tales based on a few of my forays into Italy, and the resulting confusion that resulted when I tried to communicate in pidgen Italian.

Thanks again to Kareth Paterson for her editorial improvements.

At least I know one person has read these tales!

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Garden Secrets (2,100 words, 7 minutes)

This is a trio of tales from our family archive.

I am sure that my version of the ‘truth’ of what happened will be disputed.

That, however, is the power of my pen.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Then and Now (3 minutes)

Ah, at last a serious note.

In our Italian class we were asked to prepare ourselves to discuss the topic, ‘Nel Futuro’ (In the Future). The intention was that we would think and write a piece, to prepare us for a group discussion using the future tense.

I set out to write a jolly poem, or so I thought.

What resulted was this pontifical piece, which flew onto the screen in a great rush.

I must assume that it is a reaction from my psyche to watching and listening to the news of the ‘immigration crisis’ that we are told will swamp us.

As I understand it, the UK is the sixth richest nation on earth, after Germany.

If I was being bombed out of my home in Syria, or starved to death in Africa, would I not strive to get to Europe, to get my family to safety, and give them a fair chance at a future?

You betcha I would! If was strong and brave enough.

And so would you, my friends.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Winter Sun Seekers (90 minutes)

This is an account of our trip to Tenerife in January 2016.

It is an almost factual first person tale, sprinkled with Muse dust.

Come away with us to the sun. . .

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Baked Trout Bontroni

As you may know I am keen on fly-fishing for trout.

This is how I prepare my trout. Sometimes I smoke them first.

Enjoy!

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

The Tomato Soup Family

Again apologies for those who KNOW better than me how to make Tomato Soup.

This is easy and cheap, even with the added ingredients.

When M and I were first married we ate lots of soup, from tins!

Now we only eat home made soup, mostly made by me.

I have this soup down to a fine art. I put on Andrea Bocelli and GO!

I can make a five liter pot in under 30 minutes, including tidying up!

Go on, make a pot today!

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

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