Irony alert! Remember Alanis Morissette, the Canuck chanteuse who sang emotively about irony? It's like raa-ainnn on your wedding day,It's a free ride when you've already paid, It's the good advice that you just didn't take,And who would have thought? It figures. Now many have pointed out that most of Alanis' examples aren't irony at …
Category: Uncategorized
Bali — Hi!
We interrupt this flow of birdie navel-gazing to report from the island of the Gods, Bali. Don't fret -- normal service will resume shortly and once again we'll maunder on about raptors, Archie and all that jazz. But, to quote George, it's been a long cold lonely winter. And a long cool wet summer before …
Raptorwatch
It's winter now -- and following the freakishly wet summer we've just endured, we're experiencing some deep cold, such that Archie's water bowl freezes overnight and we keep the fire going all day. When it comes to local wildlife -- particularly the feathered kind -- I expected a bit of a dearth, with all the …
Beer, bards and the Boss
Here's something my mate Matthew and I used to talk about sometimes over a couple of beers at the Railway Pub in West Hampstead, London, around 1995. When we weren't talking about cricket, or girls, or books, or history (he's a historian), we talked about music. Specifically, 'pop' or rock music, to use those inadequate …
Nestwatch 4
It’s a matter of some wonder – and a little concern – that this birdy couple has constructed its home so close to the path where you’d think it was vulnerable. I’m grateful, of course – that’s how you get to take photos without having to resort to scaffolding and ropes. It reminds me a …
It’s not you, it’s me
Look, I know you come here for inspiration and the wisdom you need to negotiate life’s little ups and downs, but the fact is, I’ve been busy, OK? When I started this blog, I sincerely vowed that it wouldn’t be one of those fly-by-night, limp-as-lettuce, no-consequence attempts at online content provision. And by and large, …
In literary circles
Exciting news arrived recently that an old mate has published a book. It’s quite a thrill when someone you know produces writings that impress a publisher sufficiently to pay real cash to gather them into a glossy volume, and to market said volume to the masses in the conviction that it will repay their investment. …
That other Don
Yesterday afternoon it was into the old German sports car for an expedition to the Bowral, NSW, childhood home of Don Bradman. It was a lovely drive: turning off our familiar King’s Highway (amusingly called the B52) instead of zooming on to Canberra, we traced our course via Lake Bathurst (where no lake could be …
Hob-nobbing with the stars
Burying yourself in the countryside to wait out the odd pandemic is all well and good – and we’re grateful for our lot, believe me – but every now and then, you feel the need for a bit of a break. You know: crisp white tablecloths, polished silverware, a glass or two of champers, and …
Testing times
Frankly it’s a miracle that we’ve made it this far with the blog without so much as a mention of cricket. I blame COVID-19 and the fact that it’s put the kybosh on pretty much all sport in front of a large audience. But with Test Match Cricket resuming in the UK today, perhaps now’s …
You must be logged in to post a comment.