Born 113 years ago, Douglas Bader would grow up to be a Royal Air Force (RAF) fighter pilot and flying ace responsible for more than 20 aerial victories during the Second World War.
But his success stalled in August 1941 when he was forced to bail out of his plane over France, and he was subsequently captured by the Germans, ending up at Colditz prisoner of war camp until its liberation in 1945.
Read more: Douglas Bader - hero , flying ace and an inspiration to reach for the sky
My father passed 8 years ago on the 4th of August. Needless to say. it will be like so many other days, a day of loss. Just before dawn the other night, there was the hint of a thunderstorm. Not big. Just a rumble in the sky and some distant lightning.
Mum ( Redhead) lay snuggled in bed with her male manx cat and he purred and asked for a reassuring rub on his belly and a kiss. A nudge from his head to remind her that he was there.
It took me back to the days when Dad used to say to wake up in the early hours and ask Redhead " Would you like a cup of tea? " and they would sit together and chat and enjoy the dawn hours together, with a nice cup of tea.
Read more: Purring. Protective and Passionate - a real furry fairy story
In October, 2022, after months of negotiation and speculation, the World’s Richest Man purchased “his favourite social media platform” for $44-billion US dollars — because he could, and because he could bring change.
The change he subsequently brought, was the change that was truly desired by a silent (but truly silenced) majority.
And it was Good…
…but he was not done changing…
Read more: FROM TWITTER TO X: Musk's Dark Vision for an "Everything App"
As sports descends into a quagmire of politics, trans rights, flag burning and racial divides, it seems to me that we need to look to historic events to be reminded of what sport is really all about.
To represent your country or town, school or community is an honour. It is a moment that should be filled with pride. Not only for the players, but also the spectators who fill the stadiums and cheer for their favourite.
I watched a film last night called " 83" - about the Cricket World Cup victory by India. What a story of sportsmanship, unity, mateship and determination. How sad that we now seem to be following 1984 from George Orwell instead of the inspiration of Kapil Dev's 1983....
Read more: 1983 was about Winners. 1984 is about Losers. Howzat for a headline?
A truly bizarre phenomenon is currently observable amongst Westerners. In truth, it has been apparent for some time, but it is now quite prevalent, and utterly perplexing. It is primarily witnessed on social media, although it undoubtedly exists beyond. The extraordinary concentration of users “hiving” on digital platforms has allowed for the recognition of common thought-patterns, ideological attitudes and behaviours; and detection is now relatively easy: there are anti-human humans amongst us, and they are none the wiser. This observable phenomenon, although complex in origin, can be both condensed and extrapolated from the simple idea of ‘Tribe versus Cult.’
To appreciate the real insanity underpinning and defining this cultural phenomenon, it is necessary to explore the notion of ‘Tribe’, and ‘Cult’ in the relevant context.
Back in the 1990’s I was asked to “ help out “ at an educational facility in the " balmy " southern city of Invercargill in New Zealand. Just a few months, over winter, to be a relief teacher for someone who was “ sick. “ I obliged.
When I fronted up, I discovered that my predecessor was on sick leave because of a nervous breakdown from teaching the classes that I was taking over. Strange how that fact was left out. As the cool April weather closed in, the days shortened and the southerlies blew in from Antarctica, I began one of the most memorable attacks of frostbite I have ever had. OK, chilblains, but you get my drift.
Read more: The Deep Cold of Down Under - a Tale of Rugby, Vampires and Boomerangs
I think it’s safe to say that adventures of the more daring kind are often hatched during enthusiastic exchanges fuelled by the romantic powers of the wine bottle. This little sojourn was no different.
A drunken sailor is part of folklore and on this particular night, I was a born-again landlubber turned pirate encouraged by the delights of the fermented grape.
Why did I say yes? You may well ask. But say Yes I did, and it began a journey that I will recount over the coming weeks. A journey that began in a conversation with a few friends.
Read more: On the Wunderlust II - Part 1. Come Aboard with Chaucer
Few blades hold as storied a history as the Kukri knife. Hailing from the rugged terrain of Nepal, this distinctive weapon has etched its mark across centuries of warfare and played a crucial role in the daily lives of the people as an agricultural implement.
The roots of the Kukri knife reach deep into the rich tapestry of Nepalese culture and traditions. It is believed that this unique blade design was first forged during the medieval period, with some evidence pointing to its emergence in the early 14th century. Drawing inspiration from earlier curved blades and machetes prevalent in the region, the Kukri gradually evolved into the formidable tool and weapon we know today.
My wife and I are rapt in long distance train travel. It is the only way to see another country in comfort. You live in a luxurious hotel on wheels in the company of other like-minded souls and do trips to the hinterland of wherever the train decides to stop for a sightseeing tour. No airports, no changing hotels.
In 2008 a mate of mine and our wives embarked on a trip to India run by the same English company that did the Trans-Siberian; GW Travel. The tour was called Viceroy of India Darjeeling Mail. The real attraction for me was the Darjeeling Mail part, the most famous steam train journey in the world and an item on my bucket list. The names of places we visited are all the old fashioned ones. I can’t come to grips with the more enlightened names of places I learned about in school and have stuck with me ever since.
India may seem a strange place to go as a tourist. At school we learned that India was a place of masses of, disease, poverty and pestilence. The text books were wrong. The bad parts are worse than that and the good parts are never mentioned apart from the Taj Mahal monument at Agra.
Read more: The Ultimate Steam Train Journey - an Indian Journey
When I was starting out in real estate sales, I learned a lot.
The first thing was being given the listing of the unsellable house. It is something that happens when you are new on the job: you are given a listing that no one else wants.
My unsellable house was a cracker. It had lime green shag pile carpet; a bright orange kitchen and covered in wallpaper with bold patterns of mission brown and orange. The toilets were red. Outside, there was a huge collection of garden gnomes.
It had been on the market for years and as soon as people saw the large collection of garden gnomes, they would not venture inside. The few that did waded through the shag pile green carpet into the kitchen, shook their heads and said " Move on. "
Life has become complicated of late, hasn't it? Simple things have become difficult and that which once was taken as a given, has suddenly become rather tainted by political intrigue and manipulation.
Nothing is straightforward anymore. What we say, what we cook, how we cook, what we drive, what we think. All have been brought under scrutiny and are weighed on the scales of left or right; not on the scales of justice. It has become so political.
All around the world, we are being told to do the right thing. And it is subjective what this infinitely elusive " right thing " is.
To me, life is about having a life worth living.
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