Fatherland – Occupying the territory
mostly I thinkgood or badI am my own manthinking individualno dependenciesloitering here then I look in the mirrorand you look back at meas if to sayyou may think you walk alonebut still you carry the loadthat’s in my bonesand in those blue eyes FraserJune 2024
My Dad – And other forms of silence
I like silenceI doexceptwhen it deafens mewith its absencesand guessingbecomes the only gamein life, now goneor whilst growing-upand I becomethe roaring beast FraserJune 2024
Not Perfect – But I think it is ok
daddy meis the strong mefuelled by the loveof, and from,my children and the beat goes on the children who adults becomeare their own peoplestrong and independentall of them, eachin their own way and the beat goes on the old man becomesa new maninspired by his childrenstrong in his own wayuntil the fadingand dying of his […]
Living In The UK – Week beginning 3 June 2024
So, this week in the UK has been dominated by the electioneering of the various parties, and the pause in the proceedings for the commemoration of the 80th anniversary of ‘D-Day’, when the allied forces landed on the French beaches in Normandy to begin the invasion of the European mainland. That would have seen them […]
Repetition – To follow or not to follow?
I see repetition everywhere including, and perhaps especially, in the things I say, think and do. I know that I am not alone in this as I see it all around me in politics, retail and leisure sectors in particular. Some say repetition is boring and causes stagnation. Others say it is comforting, useful, productive […]
That Was The Week – Beginning on 22 April 2024
This week, the second teaching block of my course came to an end with the submission of my assignment. At the same time, I transferred permanently from temporary compression wraps applied to my legs every 3–4 days by nurses to compression socks permanently worn by me. And so, life takes a couple of new turns. I have […]
That Was The Week – Beginning on 15 April 2024
When it comes to publications on Medium, I keep getting that wrong for myself — and all by myself. The owners and editors have all been great, and are doing great jobs. Despite that, I always seem to find fault where really there is no fault to be found. So, less harm is done if […]
Tanks on the HIll, Guns on the Streets – And amphibious vehicles on the beach
In August 1968, the UK government sent troops to occupy Northern Ireland, in an effort to quash rioting and discrimination against the Catholic minority by the Protestant majority. I was 11 years old, playing on a hill, in a town called Ardrossan, on the west coast of Scotland. Ardrossan had a well-established ferry service to […]
From Looking to Listening – Flapping my ears for text
I have most recently been immersed in words, whether that be through learning and relearning through textbooks, listening pleasure through Audible or enjoying some of the words written here, on Medium. I have, however, set aside the ‘Gratitude Journal’ for now, not because I wish to stop writing it (and I will return to it, […]
Respect – And accept difference
I see you reach for the stars and leap over mountains, whilst I plod along, day after day. I am glad that we have each found our own way to journey through life. I’m fond of saying “Horses for courses!” or “Do what works well for you, provided that you do no harm to others […]