A Long Drive
I went for a long drive in 1969 - about 10,000 miles. The drive started as a year-end jaunt to Florida, where Toronto “snowbirds” flock when they escape winter. Read more
kaukahi kayaks
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When I lived in Hawaii I loved the sea. Not being good at surfing, I took up kayaking in about 1981, when my wife Barbara and I met Ann Fielding, a marine biologist well known in Hawaii for her books on Hawaiian fish and her adventure tours. Read more
Pennine Way
In 1986 I ambled some 270 miles along the Pennine Way. “Ambled” is a deliberate understatement - the Pennine Way, which wanders the Pennine hills between the Midlands of England and the Borderlands of Scotland, is one of the most strenuous long-distance hikes in Europe. Read more
Sigma, Epsilon, Desserts and Stiff Members
In engineering, stress is shown by the Greek letter sigma, the lower case “s”. Sigma looks a bit like a teapot. Read more
If You Were a Pencil What Color Would You Be?
This idle question popped into my mind this afternoon. I shared it with colleagues, none of whom were idle. But, bless their hearts, they know me by now and humored my urgent curiosity. I got two greens, two blacks, two blues (including me), one pink, one brown and an aqua. There is no scientific merit to the survey but it was a fun moment. Had any of those at work lately??
snooker relationships
I learned to play Snooker when I was a boy visiting my godparents at their home (and my birthplace) in Market Lavington, UK. Snooker is a billiard-type game; aspects of which suggest analogies for inter-relationships and the effects of communications between people. Read more
dissed off
Dissed is a lovely word, originally Jamaican slang, but I play with it a little here. I have been dissed a lot recently. Let me display the ways: Read more
Of Spotted Dicks, Tarts, Bubbles, Toads, Faggots and Squeaks
My enthusiasm varies from high to low for tarts, spotted dicks and faggots. Now: before you leave, insulted, you should recall one of my mantras: Nothing is what it seems to be. You are right to be disgusted about the title though, Read more
Snow Jobs
Halifax, Nova Scotia was enveloped in a blizzard when I disembarked from the M/S Lundefjell in February 1969. I had rarely seen, felt, played in or hated snow until I emigrated to Canada. They do good snow in Canada Read more
Fool
I admire, and am charmed, by the motley-hued Fool; the witty Court Jester; the impudent buffoon, the persistent prankster; allowed and expected to make fun of the Court and the Monarch. I have wanted to be one much of my life. Read more