Category: General

Intellectual Honesty

It was in my first year at college (read Uni these days) that I realised that many people hate to admit that they don’t understand something, or that they are unfamiliar with something or someone.   My school, perhaps unusually, had drummed it into us that it was our duty as students to ask questions when we did not understand, so that we could learn and thereby cease to be ignorant.   That was what education was about: if you don’t ‘get it’ – ask! Continue reading “Intellectual Honesty”

Carolling the “Isles of Wonder”

My instant new version of  “Star of Wonder”

Isle of wonder
Isle of fright
Isle with dignitary blight
Fiscal bleeding
Coe proceeding
Soak us past our present plight.

Actually I prefer a much ruder last line which is more the measure of our glorious leaders’ opinions of the population! (Note apostrophe in correct place)

Treat us as your milch cow shite!

What a nice idea for an article – well done Auntie!

In this year of the Olympics (I’m yawning already and have booked my holiday to Turkey for the first week – and I’m a sports fan!) I was delighted to see this article on the Beeb website and I thought immediately – where would my fellow Charioteers, who all have UK connections, choose?

Read this first and then add your choices!

I’ll start with the Peak District – especially Bakewell and the Monsal Trail. Just for its simple breathtaking beauty.

Two turncoats

For about the last six months or so I’ve been hammering out a decent Knockin’ on Heaven’s Door on my old six-string. By decent I mean if you listen carefully and fade-out the discords, the tune is remotely recognisable. I’ve still a long way to go before I become a busker but it’ll happen eventually. Imagine my surprise and horror when my son came in the other day with an electric guitar that he’d bought. Continue reading “Two turncoats”

Before Video Games – Jan CW Entry

Here for the all knowing judges consideration is my humble offering for Januarys CW competition.

While da rool was no less than 1000 words. I noticed there was no upper restriction. Here in the region of 7020 words is my tale of derring do on the theme of Marking Time.

Before Video Games

Jimmy was a good kid, no mathematician or literary giant, he had a flair for just making things work.

With no distractions such as multi channel TV, play stations or PCs, Jimmy did what came naturally to kids his age, he made his own entertainment. On non-school days, weather permitting, he was out of the house early and seldom seen until tea-time. He was always back before Dad got home, otherwise stern words from Mam would follow. They were the rules and life on the whole was fair.

So it was one sunny Saturday in May 1978. Up with the birds, Jimmy had a bowl of cornflakes with Dad. “Where you off to today then son?”

“Dunno Dad, we might go up to the hills and make some gliders or there’s the beach. I’ll see if George has thought of anything when I call round his house.” Continue reading “Before Video Games – Jan CW Entry”