Category: Vicissitudes of Life

A robin has recently taken up residence in our Willow-Leaved Pear tree in our front garden. It is astonishing that this tiny bird can produce such a loud and complex song, which we can even hear faintly through the double-glazed kitchen window. I have penned a few lines in an attempt to celebrate his presence…… Continue reading The Robin

This year saw me reading at six reading events: please see the News section for details and a few photos. I am always thrilled and grateful for such opportunities to practice my reading skills and share the stage with my New Street Author chums. 2024 also saw There Was A Soldier continue to sell since…… Continue reading 2024: Round-UP

Bruce Springsteen might be, to many of my blog readers, a well-known, 70+ years of age rock star; to others, he might be more than a comfortably-off musician: “A great American artist” is a description that I heard recently. On the other hand, Bruce Springsteen’s music might pass you by, swept along in a pantheon…… Continue reading The Spirit of Springsteen

The first thing that I noticed about the distinguished-looking gentlemen who met us at the entrance to the garden of the Quaker Meeting House was his yellow scarf, visible above the lapels of his smart overcoat. After a very wet and chilly March morning, the afternoon of the memorial meeting remained cool enough for overcoats.…… Continue reading A Meeting to Give Thanks

Our favourite bench was vacant on the morning of that sunny day in June earlier this year. We tarried for a while, admiring the broad view back towards Caswell Bay and, further to the west, a tantalising glimpse of Pwlldu Bay storm beach and the ominous bulk of Pwlldu Head thrusting its dominant presence out…… Continue reading The (Mostly) Muslim Hiking Party

The Walkers We first saw the two walkers from our vantage point overlooking the storm beach at Pwlldu Bay on the south Gower coast. The surprisingly sunny October afternoon found us in Tee shirts and walking trousers and boots. The walkers were dressed from head to foot in dark Gore-Tex gear, as if they had…… Continue reading The Walkers

I sincerely hope that my readers are well, mentally and physically. All we can do is to look forward to recovering our freedom. There were over one thousand visits to the post Close Encounters: Part Two (Close Encounters: Part Two). Thank you to those of you who converted a visit to reading the post. Your…… Continue reading Poetry Reading: Part One

Chance Encounters: Part Two How to explain the lengthy hiatus in blog posts? I have been immersed in editing my third novel, a story based on true events surrounding my grandfather and grandmother during the First World \War. Now that the manuscript is being scrutinised by my wife and also by members of New Street…… Continue reading Chance Encounters: Part Two

Chance Encounters: Part One The path along the south Gower coast is very popular. We often find ourselves greeting many walkers, sometimes even in Welsh, on our regular routes. These encounters with strangers are usually no more than fleetingly polite, as we pass one another on the often-narrow path. On three occasions last summer, an…… Continue reading Chance Encounters: Part One

Fado: Music of Destiny “The music is by the door,” they told us. Earlier this year A and I spent a few days in Lisbon. Set near the mouth of the wide river Tagus, the capital of Portugal is, perhaps, not as grand as Madrid, its neighbouring capital on the Iberian Peninsula. The culture of…… Continue reading Music blogpost #2