Miscellany

28 entries in this archive

Adalia Bipunctata (a two-minute read)

This is a snippet story about green gardening using Ladybirds by Post to fight in The War Against Greenfly.

At this stage, the battles are just starting but we are confidant the our Ladybirds will succeed.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Hoopoe Calling ( ten minute read)

The first version of this mini-treatise was tapped out on my iPad while sitting on our veranda in Tenerife during a recent winter sun break.

It began with a morning chorus of the birds in our garden and expanded to uncover a few new surpises.

Ah, Tenerife, ‘The Island of Eternal Spring’ is indeed full of suprises.

The images were provided ‘royalty free’ from the Internet. Much of the other information came from Google.

This final version was self-edited using the ‘Read Aloud in ‘Microsoft Word’.

Please forgive typos etc.

If you spot any, please make your own judgement as to meaning and read on. Thanks.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Time to Chime (a five minute read)

This piece was written for Writers’ Circus on the topic of ‘rings’.

It is a fictionalised version of a meeting with a former choir buddy who deserted us to ring bells.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

The Beast of Camusdarach ( a seven minute read)

This is another tale tapped on my iPad on the veranda in Mallorca last month.

It is a memory of my 14 year old self at a BB Camp in 1962, a mere 62 years ago.

Jump in your Tradis and join me.

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

Where or When

This is a story which came to me on the veranda during our recent winter sun break on Mallorca.

It is based on a recurring vibrant memory of Glasgow Fair Friday in July 1964.

Please do not take offence at the nickname assigned to Sidney Goldman. He accepted it, even welcomed it as it gave him a chance to add his Jewish comedy routines when performing to an audience. And Sid loved and audience - as did Willi.

Put on your time traveller’s bunnet and read on.

For ease of reference, here are the You Tube links which will take you quickly to the songs referred to in the text:

Song of the Clyde

https://youtu.be/iZX0h4X7s1c?si=Cju7wFMJ6vxsj3CP

My Way

https://youtu.be/qQzdAsjWGPg?si=bMJ1rUbRMESk2CP_

Fever

https://youtu.be/JBANWpzsHts

Nice work if you can get it

https://youtu.be/FB1MxIZrmCk?si=0-J9eZfgbeTjb64I

Begin the Beguin

https://youtu.be/sYHXTJxoZqo?si=tFrwnRLfd-uNNK1C

Fly me to the Moon

https://youtu.be/ZEcqHA7dbwM?si=_N4wEdZ5l4kZIiY-

I can’t tell a waltz

https://youtu.be/QI8z5gBNDWk?si=DXiP4S-LJrE2iR9A

Jimmy Shand medley

https://youtu.be/vhxtmqYyI_w?si=0tUl6Exs0Ee0FnxV

The Day we went to Rothesay-O

https://youtu.be/xvHgHxu4cbQ?si=9Zdwb4EQPuozGmhn

Where or When

https://youtu.be/tbnA78ravpY?si=JI2l1NgwHCKZc-ft

Will ye no’come back again

https://youtu.be/JyaCv41-VM8?si=8TzvKmObS66QMVwa

Auld Lang Syne

https://youtu.be/i4pN0zn16jk?si=8mbB5vF9BijRcttg

Click to download PDF Click here to download the PDF.

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.

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