Earlier this year I wrote a piece about the Oscar winners that I have seen on the London stage. I counted up a dozen, 11 I had seen in London and one more (Jeremy Irons) in Stratford-on-Avon. Since writing those words I have found another theatre programme: “Antigone” at the Barbican, a production I saw… Continue reading A 12th Oscar Winner on the London stage
I was at a funeral the week before last. It was in Harlesden, a place I had not visited for over 20 years. The deceased was the sister of an old college friend. I had invited him to something last month but he couldn’t make it. His sister was very ill, and she died at… Continue reading A funeral changes everything
Two weeks ago I began to draft a piece about the previous weekend’s sport, but didn’t finalize it. It recorded a sporting weekend where every result went the way I wanted. England won the UEFA European Under-21 Championship with a 1-0 win against Spain on the Saturday evening (8 July). That match also featured a… Continue reading Two Sporting Sundays (July 2023)
How much do you remember about your dreams? How many can you recall, right now? During a recent conversation a friend was telling us about a very strange dream that he had had. He could recall it vividly, a few days later. As I listened I couldn’t think of any recent dreams. There are themes… Continue reading The scariest dream I ever had
[Contains swear words] In the late 1980s, for reasons I will not go into right now, I drove with my father to a place near Queens Park, London NW6. I followed what had become a familiar route: up Wood Lane (W12), right at the Pavilion (a pub), past the North Pole (another pub) and on… Continue reading A few of the places where my father worked
Following on from this earlier piece, here are another 10 jokes from Tony Blackburn’s “Sounds of the 60s” show on Radio 2. Most of them come from the few minutes just before 8am on the live broadcasts when he and Dermot O’Leary discuss their week. Tony Joined the origami society; they sent a lovely letter… Continue reading Tony and Dermot, a second selection of jokes
A third reflection on the 10,000 photos that I can access any time In two earlier pieces I have reflected on the 10,000 photos that I can access any time. They are either personal to me or were sent my way, as prints or digitally. I am trying to break this theme into smaller chunks,… Continue reading 10,000 Photos: Part 3, before 1986
A further reflection on the 10,000 photos that I can access any time In an earlier piece (“10,000 Photos: An Introduction) I began reflecting on the 10,000 photos that I can access any time. They are either personal to me or were sent my way, as prints or digitally. I could have let that earlier… Continue reading 10,000 Photos: thousands of duplicates
An initial reflection on the 10,000 photos that I can access any time How many photos can you access easily? I’m talking here about photos that are personal to you in some way, or sent for you to see, not photos taken by complete strangers with no connection to you. My estimate, for all the… Continue reading 10,000 Photos: An Introduction
I have posted many items on this Blog about the fortunes of Leeds United, the team that I have followed since childhood. There was usually at least one post per month in the club’s last two seasons in the Championship, before being promoted to “The Promised Land” of Premier League football. I have posted less… Continue reading When your fate is in your own hands
