There was a time you could hold the Daily Mirror up to the world and see real life reflected in it. Hold it up now and all you will see is the fantasy life of plastic people who, we are told, are celebrities. To my mind a celebrity is an outstanding person in their fieldContinue reading “The Mirror crack’d from side to side”
Category Archives: My blog
An Elegy On The Death Of Kenneth Patchen
by Lawrence Ferlinghetti (1919-2021) A poet is born A poet dies And all that lies between is us and the world And the world lies about it making as if it had got his message even though it is poetry but most of the world wishing it could just forget about him and his awfulContinue reading “An Elegy On The Death Of Kenneth Patchen”
Following up on a historical story
If you work on a weekly newspaper long enough it is likely some of the people you meet and write about will go on to be famous in the field of their choice. While working in Rhyl many of the people I knew socially, or met as part of my work, were either already knownContinue reading “Following up on a historical story”
Oh mummy, that’s not Boris Karloff
Celebrating the New Year in the Austrian Tyrol was quite a start to 1971 and my time in the classroom was finally over, almost six years after I parted company with my arch-enemy – the demon headmaster of my old grammar school. I still had to sit for my NCTJ Proficiency Certificate but that would,Continue reading “Oh mummy, that’s not Boris Karloff”
The Masque of Anarchy
by Perry Bysshe Shelley (1792-1822) I As I lay in Italy There came a voice from over the Sea And with great power it forth led me To walk in the visions of Poesy. II I met Murder on the way – He had a mask like Castlereagh – Very smooth he looked, yet grim;Continue reading “The Masque of Anarchy”
Never mind the windmills – look for the memories
Noel Harrison once sang about “The Windmills of your Mind” – a place where you turn and keep turning like the sails of a windmill, chasing yourself in circles. In a way our minds really are like this, labyrinthine corridors with doors wherever you turn – each requiring a special key before you can openContinue reading “Never mind the windmills – look for the memories”
Alone
by Edgar Allan Poe (1809-1849) From childhood’s hour I have not been As others were; I have not seen As others saw; I could not bring My passions from a common spring. From the same source I have not taken My sorrow; I could not awaken My heart to joy at the same tone; AndContinue reading “Alone”
Once
Michael Rosen, born 1946 – and still going strong Once there was a boy who wanted to be beautiful and a girl who wanted to be strong. The boy was worried that he wasn’t beautiful enough. The girl was worried that she wasn’t strong enough. One day they went out to seek their fortunes. ButContinue reading “Once”
Nothing beats a Beetle on an icy mountain road
When you write a feature piece for a newspaper you need a hook to hang it on. After all you cannot do a piece on a school trip abroad and present it as an essay “What I did in my holidays”. I was lucky with my feature on the Rhyl Grammar School trip to aContinue reading “Nothing beats a Beetle on an icy mountain road”
Television
by Roald Dahl (1916-1990) The most important thing we’ve learned, So far as children are concerned, Is never, NEVER, NEVER let Them near your television set- Or better still, just don’t install The idiotic thing at all. In almost every house we’ve been, We’ve watched them gaping at the screen. They loll and slop andContinue reading “Television”
Robin's Nest 