Author Archive

I noticed a track on the pavers this morning, left during the night, by a snail who either (a) had drunk too much coffee, or (b) was on his mobile phone – you know the meanderings made by people while talking, or (c) was completely lost in the dark. Unfortunately, my linguistic ability in escargotti…

My wife and children wake up each morning to Wordle, such that it has now become part of their daily ritual. So far I’m resisting the TREND, WASTE, and SNARE. I must admit though – they’re not bad at it, with an average success rate of four attempts; though threes are not uncommon, and twos…

Contrary to my eye’s observations and mind’s conclusions, rainbows are actually complete circles, and not arches nor semi-circles. In other words, we can only see half of them, because the other half sits below the horizon. It’s a fun fact, but not perhaps for those who like to chase them and dream of finding pots…

My son bowled in to my bedroom, wide-eyed and open-mouthed: “Look at this!” I’d never seen a bull ant before. He’d found it wandering near the coffee machine on the kitchen bench. It was an inch long, with a strong armoured body, and impressive sting sac. He quickly googled to discover that it belonged to…

Ears pricked up on the occasion when Einstein was called upon to deliver a eulogy at the graveside of one of his colleagues. Surely the sage of science, who had seen further than most into the realms of reality, would have something remarkable and insightful to say. “Brief is this existence, as a fleeting visit…

Who hasn’t seen the glistening dew, lighting the fresh-cut lawn? Who hasn’t heard the birdsong trill, greeting the blush of dawn? Who hasn’t sensed the waft of the grind – the dance of the coffeed air? Who hasn’t tasted sweet lemon meringue – the curd and crusted paire? And thought: What World is this? And…

It’s lovely to see the exuberant and unbridled enthusiasm of the person who takes up a new hobby. They buy all the gear, and subscribe to all the magazines, and attend all the meetings, and infect those around them with excitement and passion, and ‘eat, sleep, and breathe’ the new love of their life. And…

Rain was moving in from the south, and I was sitting outside, waiting for the drops to fall. When they did, I was determined not to go inside until I felt a raindrop on my tongue. (I’m not sure what my neighbours thought of me, sitting there with my head tilted back, and mouth open.)…

The Munich Agreement, signed in September 1938 between Germany (Hitler), France (Daladier), Italy (Mussolini) and the United Kingdom (Chamberlain), was meant to prevent the escalation of war in Europe, but became a source of great grief for Czechoslovakia and regret for some of those who signed it with good intentions. In fact, such was its…

One of the rites of passage in the aging process, is to commence on a course of mild blood thinners. Apparently all persons over the age of fifty ought to enjoy these medicinal sweets every day, to keep their circulation in good working order. I have no objection, but I do feel for the next…