Working alone at the Holywell office of the Flintshire Leader had its good points and its bad points. In many ways I have always had an independent streak. I prefer to control my own life. Take transport, for instance. I hate going anywhere by train or bus because it makes me reliant on other people:Continue reading “Back at work and the pressure’s on”
Category Archives: My blog
When the Pals marched off to war
Today marks 104 years since the start of the Battle of the Somme when almost 20,000 British soldiers died just on that one day of a battle which lasted over four months. My grandad, Harry Lloyd was there with his Pals because when the call for volunteers went out in 1914 from the Earl ofContinue reading “When the Pals marched off to war”
I’m a handy chap in the kitchen
I have always enjoyed cooking. I don’t just mean knocking up the odd meal of fish fingers and chips (although the time I did do that I was accused of burning the fish fingers). No, I mean the real thing. The reason I probably enjoyed it can be pinned down to two things – IContinue reading “I’m a handy chap in the kitchen”
Hair and gone with a quick snip
This afternoon I feel like Samson, not when he slew the lion with the jawbone of an ass but as he was after Delilah gave him a swift back and sides and robbed him of all his strength. Yes, I have had my first haircut since lockdown began. I didn’t even have to leave theContinue reading “Hair and gone with a quick snip”
From Moggies to Jags and more
I have always liked cars. Note well the terminology – “liked” NOT “loved” because I am not a petrol head seeking to gain an image through the vehicle I use to get around. Cars are a useful means of getting around. Faster and safer than a pushbike. Faster and safer than a motor scooter (notContinue reading “From Moggies to Jags and more”
Advice to the Grub Street Verse-writers
by Jonathan Swift Ye poets ragged and forlorn, Down from your garret haste; Ye rhymers, dead as soon as born, Not yet consign’d to paste; I know a trick to make you thrive; O, ’tis a quaint device; Your still-born poems shall revive, And scorn to wrap up spice. Get all your verses printed fair,Continue reading “Advice to the Grub Street Verse-writers”
The girls I have loved and lost
The Sixties is a country far, far away. It is a land where once we lived and loved, danced and sang, dined and drank. I certainly remember a lot of dancing and drinking, girls and music. Different music for different girls. Hazel was the Troggs – Hi hi hi Hazel, although any Troggs number willContinue reading “The girls I have loved and lost”
If music be the food of love . . .
How often do you hear people say: “You either loved the Beatles or you loved the Rolling Stones. It had to be one or the other, you couldn’t like both.”? I’ve heard it over and over again for over 50 years and these days I hear it from people who weren’t born at the timeContinue reading “If music be the food of love . . .”
All at sea and having fun
Despite college and work and the theatre I did manage to get some social activities in. The Rhyl Yacht Club was a regular watering hole for Roger and myself. We had others of course, including the Clwyd opposite the club where we were both members of the darts team for a few years. But FridayContinue reading “All at sea and having fun”
Newspaper bosses kept it in the family
After my first trip to the print works Peter began to take me there on a regular basis and I got to know not just the printers and journalists but also the directors. What had begun in the 19th century, as a publishing company, Woodall, Minshall and Thomas, at Caxton Press in Oswestry, and laterContinue reading “Newspaper bosses kept it in the family”
Robin's Nest 