Another day in ‘solitary’. Well, sort of ‘solitary’: I still have Jane for company. I thought of scratching off the days on the walls of my cell, but thought better of it as I would undoubtedly be required to repair the marks with Polyfilla and re-emulsion them in the Spring. My, how January drags on.Continue reading “Blog 76. Picnic Anyone?”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
Blog 75. Start Pumping That Iron.
Well, I never thought I would ever be reporting this: it is undoubtedly a tergiversation in Shacklepin behaviour, so marked that I am still reeling under the realisation that I have done it. I won’t keep you in suspense any longer, better out than in: I have ordered an exercise bike. Those who know me,Continue reading “Blog 75. Start Pumping That Iron.”
Blog 74. Keep Taking the Tablets
Well, if you are reading this, then congratulations: you have survived Covid 19, a particularly unpleasant virus that has dominated the year 2020 and made it a thoroughly miserable one. The virus may still be with us, but I hope that – by this time next year – we will at last be free toContinue reading “Blog 74. Keep Taking the Tablets”
Blog 73. …For Mighty Dread Had Seized Their Troubled Minds…
Merry Christmas one and all. It is now Christmas Eve and, if our Christmas is not turning out quite as jolly as we are used to, then let us make the most of what we have. Reasons to be cheerful: vaccines against Covid 19 have been found and a programme of immunisation is under way;Continue reading “Blog 73. …For Mighty Dread Had Seized Their Troubled Minds…”
Blog 72. Keep Your Bottom Clean.
I knew I was getting old when I was in HMS NONSUCH and responding to one of the many machinery breakdowns that characterised my time onboard. I was sliding down one of the near-vertical ladders onboard, gripping just the side rails, with my feet off the treads like you see in those American films, whenContinue reading “Blog 72. Keep Your Bottom Clean.”
Blog 71. I Don’t Like Sundays
“Deck the halls with leaves and holly”. As I quote these words, with just a touch of irony, I bet most husbands know what I am alluding to: the annual grumble associated with extracting the boxes of Christmas decorations from their obscure stowage in the loft, the acquisition of a suitably shaped Christmas tree, mountingContinue reading “Blog 71. I Don’t Like Sundays”
Blog 70. Too Many People
Everyone is my friend today. And every other day. I know this because, when I conduct any business or meet someone, they call me by my Christian name and introduce themselves in the same vein. Emails start with, “Hi, Horatio” and end “Best wishes, Pete” (or whoever), as if I had known my interlocutor allContinue reading “Blog 70. Too Many People”
Blog 69. Mañana
I finished the breakfast fruit salad and placed the spoon down with great satisfaction.“Thank you, darling, that was delicious. I’m really looking forward to this breakfast”.I rubbed my hands in anticipation.“You’ve just had it. That’s it. No food until lunchtime now”.“But, but…”, my little face fell.”You said yesterday we were having poached eggs on potatoContinue reading “Blog 69. Mañana”
Blog 68. Know Where You Stand.
I have had the most appalling news, the aftershock of which is still reverberating through the Shacklepin household. I really do not know to whom I can turn, but I only hope that by unburdening myself to you, dear reader, that I will be able to come to terms with the import of this shockingContinue reading “Blog 68. Know Where You Stand.”
Blog 67. And it rained all day…
“And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock”. So wrote St Matthew nearly two thousand years ago, but it is still apt: it has rained cats and dogs all day, it is dark and windyContinue reading “Blog 67. And it rained all day…”
"A Very Vintage Chap..." 