If at first you don't succeed, pack it in.Norman Clegg - Last of the Summer Wine Norman Clegg (Cleggie) was the only character to be present during all 31 series and 295 episodes of Last of the Summer Wine. The series was set in and around Holmfirth in West Yorkshire and chronicled the retirement and … Continue reading The Pessimistic Philosopher
Month: September 2020
Roses
But he who dares not grasp the thornShould never crave the roseAnne Bronte The fossil record tells us that wild roses flourished thirty five million years ago. The first known planting of roses was along the routes taken by nomadic peoples. What a way to mark your progress or your way home. No boring ditches … Continue reading Roses
Fake News Inc.
There is growing speculation that Boris ( I am the man) Johnston has contacted Gerry Adams re the growing controversy about recent legislation he is trying to force through the Houses of Parliament, the basis of which he claims to be the protection of Britain from the EU. Despite his obvious non membership of the … Continue reading Fake News Inc.
Big Tom or Ozzy and other Memories
Nothing is really forgotten; just filed. The happy reality about revisiting memories is that if you can't remember exactly what happened then what you do remember becomes what happened. But always remember that they are just your version of what occurred. Someone else experiencing the same event will remember it differently. They arrive unbidden, no … Continue reading Big Tom or Ozzy and other Memories
Homeless not Hopeless – Memoir
If I was to choose a place and a role to finish a forty year career in human services in England and Ireland I would have chosen the subject of this book. In it I reflect on my time as CEO of Galway Simon Community that provides services to adults and children who are homeless … Continue reading Homeless not Hopeless – Memoir
Fish Chips and Mushy Peas
He turned around in the queue in Mc Donagh’s restaurant. He was looking forward to his usual fish chips and mushy peas especially on a day when the north wind whistled up Shop Street. His wife, as usual, only wanted a portion of fish, no chips. Her health consciousness however would not stop her raiding … Continue reading Fish Chips and Mushy Peas
Dolly
Dolly looked down at us with her soft brown eyes. We held out the sugar lumps on our flattened palms to stop us losing our fingers; our heads turned slightly away, our eyes partly closed in nervous anticipation. She bent her head and dragged her sloppy wet lips across our hands. The sugar was gone, … Continue reading Dolly
Brown Bread and Cheese
The big smiling man vacated the door frame to let me in. Bill you’re welcome. You’re a little bit early. Tom isn’t here yet. “ “Hello Monty. Habit of a lifetime I’m afraid. Drives the wife mad. She’s a last minute woman.” I followed the big man as he padded in soft slippers through the … Continue reading Brown Bread and Cheese
The Stockinged Line
Its half past nine in the lean to shed lined in shade prior to bed. Silent shivering in the stockinged line Shoes displayed to inspect the shine. Heads bowed waiting for the polio tread of Louis’ jab stick passport to bed. For me the leg slap, the sneering frown On your knees boy, down, down. … Continue reading The Stockinged Line
Second Class Post
He pushed open the regulation green door of the small post office. Mary, the postmistress, sat behind the glass of one of two at the end of the small room festooned with official notices about this and that. They were of little interest to him. Behind her, her husband, earphones on, manned the local telephone … Continue reading Second Class Post
The Scribbler Griffin 