Just an average guy who has always been in love with words, life and people. Now retired and taking time to smell the roses as I go along. I am, of course, open to making friends but not just to have a list of avatars on this page. If we can share thoughts, ideas, entertain and enlighten with a lot of smiles thrown in, then I will welcome you with pleasure and, metaphorically, open arms and warm heart. In a short time here, I have been made welcome and met some good, interesting friends. As for writing, I did it all my working life in sports journalism. I published one (failed) novel and have also written on other sites. My forte is the longer story where I can develop characters, lifestyles and situations. But I dabble in poetry and immensely enjoy the challenge and requirements of writing concise lines to convey a story/situation or describe a person. Similarly with micro and flash fiction on here. So, thanks for reading this bio, hope to see you around, and I wish you happiness and good health.
Interests Reading and writing (hands up those folk that guessed those two), red wine, good dining, playing golf (no longer young enough for my past exploits of soccer, cricket and boxing), whiskey and whisky, travel, holidays in the sun, exotic islands, family, theatre and friendship. I am not a bike or car nut: it's only transport, hopefully in as much comfort as my meagre funds will allow.
Favorite Books I do not have a favourite book. There are too many good ones to list (see author sample below). But I like detective (even old pulp, gumshoe fiction), thrillers, mystery, romance (oh yes I do), humour, autobiographies (sport, media, film, NOT politicians - ugh!)
Favorite Authors I admire many writers. Here's a sample: Ian Rankin, Richard Stark, Peter Robinson, John Harvey, PG Wodehouse, Roald Dahl, Tess Gerritsen, Val McDermid, Agatha Christie, Robert B Parker, Jeffrey Deaver, Dan Brown, Lawrence Block, John Connolly, Michael Connelly, Simon Kernick, Stephen White, Stephen Booth, Ernest Hemingway, Lee Child, Peter James, Harlan Coben. From the old school: Dickens, Poe, Wilde, Aesop and some Shakespeare (what a plethora of phrases he supplied to the English language that still survive to this day!).
Favorite Movies This is wide-ranging from musicals (eg Chicago, Chorus Line, Cabaret) through classics (eg Brief Encounter, Citizen Kane, Wizard of Oz, High Noon, Rebecca, Gone with the Wind, On the waterfront) gangster (eg Goodfellas, The Godfather 1 and 2) and so many more like Dr Zhivago, Dr No, Moulin Rouge, Funny Girl, The Sting, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid, Love Story, 10, Arthur, The Odd Couple, Days of wine and roses, The Deer Hunter, Taxi, etc etc
Favorite TV Shows Not really a TV watcher but have followed some series (MadMen, CSI, Law and Order etc). Dip into The Simpsons and British quiz shows. And, inevitably, too much sport (if that's possible).
Favorite Music Love music, love singers, love live performances, recordings, YouTube, iTunes. Taste goes from classic (eg Pavarotti, the showman Andre Rieu), country (oh so many including Tom T Hall, Willie Nelson, Tammy Wynette, Crystal Gale, Patsy Cline, Merle Haggard, John Denver et al), old pop (Elvis, Buddy Holly, Neil Diamond, Connie Francis, 50s and early 60s, Status Quo, Queen), crooners (Sinatra, Bennett, Nat King Cole, Mathis), stuff from 30s and 40s (big bands, swing, Jolson etc), to some “modern” performers but NOT rap or Punk.
Do you, like me, sometimes ponder why things happen to be? Do you ever pause to consider what really is the cause? Do you ever wonder or marvel at what really is amazingly clever: why two separate people become entwined to love and mate? In this mystery play with its cast of millions how come my needle was plucked out of the hay? I ask, what did I do to be so blessed? How come I even got to meet you? What power surge en...
Like most ideas, it seemed a good one at the time. And when my bubbling daughter Claire enthused, “Great! Go for it, mum,” the decision was made.But now I was having second thoughts.Nothing unusual about that, really. In the twenty-five years since I made that unforgettable decision, I have been in the habit of dithering. Indecisive should be my middle name.As I placed my shopping packages on the shelf and hitched onto a...
Dawn placed the last dinner plate in the dish washer and looked up at the clock. She then glanced over her shoulder at her husband. Brian sat at the table, scouring the classified advertisements in the local newspaper, trailing a finger down the small type, his spectacles balanced on the tip of his broad nose. “Keep an eye on the time,” said Dawn, “or you’ll miss the kick off.” Brian looked at his wristwatch, got to his f...
