Category: General

This may be a bit rambling – the discussion on the OU blog set off a couple of thoughts.

First thought; talent. It would seem reasonable to say that people are talented in different areas. Such a statement seems to raise no controversy when talking about footballers, tennis players, ballet dancers, opera singers, carpenters, mechanics, engineers, or any other physically expressed talent. It would also seem clear that the great majority of people can be brought to a basic level of competency in most things – for example, my early training in the Army was as a tank crewman, so I am reasonably competent with a hammer, a screwdriver and an adjustable spanner, (as well as a 12-pound sledgehammer and a crowbar.) It also seems to be the case that most people, given the opportunity and instruction, can be brought to a higher level of competency in some things. It is, however, equally clear that some people have the basic equipment which allows them to excel in one – or more – particular thing – Andy Murray, Dame Kiri Te Kawana, Auguste Rodin, Michael Phelps – I can play tennis, sing, make models and swim, but… Continue reading “Talents”

Thought I’d write a bit about life, the universe and everything. Been knocking abround this old world for close on sixty years and, though I moved out of the slow lane many years ago, I can’t say that I really live in the fast lane, apart from the odd time when I pull out, cruise along at speed for a bit, then drop back again 🙂 Continue reading “Life in the Centre Lane”

Leander Club, Henley on Thames

One morning, not too long past, and we were very cold and sad. We made our way from Leander car park, across the bridge and gathered outside St Mary’s Church to say goodbye to a very dear friend. Continue reading “Families at War”

One last one for the Bull (sadly missed)

Oklahoma?

Oklahoma, where the names go swirling down the drain
And the blog elite, can all feel beat
When the comments vanish, it’s a pain,
Oklahoma, ev’ry day the spammers fill the screen
You do nowt but talk, and we all walk
Making MyT something that HAS BEEN

So many have now left the site
And Onesite cannot get it right
And when we say
There’s no chance in hell you’ll try
We’re only sayin’
You’re doing nowt, Oklahoma!
Oklahoma, GOODBYE!

Apologies to Rogers and Hammerstein

Later that same night.

The avatar photo was taken at the Company Chinese New Year bash in Hong Kong.  Earlier that year I had taken a course of singing lessons – a little late in the day, some might think, but, hey, what the hell!  I try to set myself the task each year of learning something new – not just the little things we all learn each day, even at my semi-advanced age, but something substantial that takes some effort and will help to stop my brain turning to porridge.  Easy enough when I get a job in a new country; learning the language will fill the bill, but for other years I like to try something different.   Anyway, that year it was singing.   Continue reading “My avatar”

I read this phrase yesterday; “…the art of debate…”

Where is the art in debate?

Well, since it now appears to be a DnMyT instant tradition, you’re getting my first blog on MyT, particularly since it would appear that CWJ has signed on. Hope it’s true!

I agonised about publishing this at the time but eventually plucked up the courage. I got three comments but they were from squarepeg, Stefania and Marya so I had quality on my side, to be fair. The comments have been expunged by MyT, of course,  but I will always remember the kindness that the three of them showed to this newbie.

I have, I hope, tightened up the first attempt a wee bit.

A few days ago, I became the proud owner of one of Coldwaterjohn’s highly -prized virtual quaichs, just because I had gone  to school in the county town a few miles to the south of the cultural and artistic hotbed that is Pitlochry and its Festival Theatre and, as a result, being able to identify that town in his photo.

The photo set me to thinking of my school days and matters thespian. It brought back memories of the superb Shakespearian production that I was lucky enough to witness in my Fifth Year. Every year, the local Repertory Theatre put on a performance of one of the set texts for the  simple reason that it would guarantee them a couple of sell out matinees when all the local pupils got dragged along to see it.

Continue reading “The Scottish Play”

Leaving the apartment complex this afternoon we found a seagull on the pavement with a badly damaged wing. While we were wondering what had happened to it,  the answer flew past us to perch on a fence nearby. A bird of prey and a very attractive one too. Some research on Wiki suggests it might have been a merlin. They winter in North Africa and it may have been starting on its journey back north to its breeding grounds, stopping off in Gibraltar for a quick snack. The seagull was bigger than its attacker, but had obviously been hit in mid-flight. There was nothing to be done but to move on and let nature take its course. I was not looking forward to walking past the scene on our return, but there was no trace of anything. Could that merlin have moved its prey elsewhere to feed?