You never know what you’ll find on an instruction sheet when you buy a gadget. Once upon a time it would identify the component parts and explain what each part did. If it was made in the UK it would have assembly instructions (if it needed assembling) and operating instructions. These would be written inContinue reading “Even the man on a Clapham omnibus could understand these basic instructions”
Author Archives: Robin
From home phones to mystery emails – grifters keep trying
Why do scam artists (actually that’s an insult to real artists, sorry Vincent, Renè, Michelangelo, Pablo, Salvador et al) think that anyone over 70 is as dumb as Trump, and you’d need to get close to the bottom of the IQ ladder before you’d find a candidate, and an easy mark for a grifter. FiveContinue reading “From home phones to mystery emails – grifters keep trying”
Blame those responsible not the NHS front line workers
We all know the National Health Service is under tremendous strain. Staff shortages; not enough time for GPs to spend with patients; hospitals having to leave new patients on trollies because there are not enough beds on the wards. Who is to blame for all this? In fact that should be who is responsible forContinue reading “Blame those responsible not the NHS front line workers”
Pick a puzzle to keep a sound mind in a not-so-sound body
There’s nothing like a good puzzle to keep your mind active – over the years I’ve tried them all: crosswords; wordsearch; Sudoko; even a GCHQ quiz book and that modern phenomenon Wordle. The best of them all, however, is the puzzle to end all puzzles – the jigsaw. I remember as a little child havingContinue reading “Pick a puzzle to keep a sound mind in a not-so-sound body”
Don’t judge a book by its cover, or a TV show by a snippet
Once upon a time the only real way to discover when new programmes were being broadcast was either by buying the weekly Radio Times (which included BBC TV programmes as well as ITV programmes); or buy a daily newspaper which had all TV listings. If a new programme was being introduced you had to relyContinue reading “Don’t judge a book by its cover, or a TV show by a snippet”
Turn on your tv and switch off your mind as you binge watch
It is amazing how much our attitude to watching TV has changed over the past half a century. Then again think of the way entertainment changed between 1875 and 1925. By 1875 Music Hall was the big thing. The working classes flocked to see and hear variety acts ranging from Little Tich to Marie Lloyd.Continue reading “Turn on your tv and switch off your mind as you binge watch”
Beginning a brand-new adventure still going strong half a century later
We all have those times when we make a decision and then suddenly realise we have made a commitment which requires a great number of actions in a very limited time. The first time Marion and I faced such a situation was in the first half of 1977. I had been offered a reporter’s jobContinue reading “Beginning a brand-new adventure still going strong half a century later”
Friendship’s Mystery, To My Dearest Lucasia
by Katherine Phillips Come, my Lucasia, since we seeThat Miracles Men’s Faith do move,By wonder and by prodigyTo the dull angry world let’s proveThere’s a Religion in our Love.For though we were design’d t’agree,That Fate no liberty destroyes,But our Election is as freeAs Angels, who with greedy choiceAre yet determined to their jokes.Our hearts areContinue reading “Friendship’s Mystery, To My Dearest Lucasia”
Time to stop passing the buck as the NHS slowly sinks
There is a lot of talk these days about pharmacies (what most people call the chemist shop) being more involved in the overall aspect of health, including giving advice and even becoming a first step when you feel unwell. This doesn’t mean the local chemist can give you a full medical examination and then prescribeContinue reading “Time to stop passing the buck as the NHS slowly sinks”
A year of delight at home again in my beloved country
I left you all dangling in the first half of last year after I quit the glamorous (on the surface) life of a London cinema manager and moved our little family from the South East of England to the North West of Wales. I was back not only in Wales but in the job IContinue reading “A year of delight at home again in my beloved country”
Robin's Nest 