There comes a time in a man’s life when he suggests to himself that “I’ll have one last lash”. It has been a while in coming, slowly and recently I have begun to have a distaste for a session down the pub, a bellyful of booze. Pints of Guinness now […]
Retirement
Holy Ghostly Tales
Living where I do, on the banks of the Boyle River where even on a bad day you see more wildlife than cars, more rats than people, more rain than sunshine, our major task is the gathering of correct information. As by choice we do not have a television or […]
Gallipoli Galloped
Last week I had the doubtful pleasure of taking 20 people to Gallipoli for an eight day tour of the battlefields and a chance to follow in the footsteps of the 5th Battalion Connaught Rangers. I say doubtful because of the awful behaviour of three members of the party which […]
Anthony William Martin “Spike” RIP
Well I was here back in Manchester for the second time in a month, the last time was full of joy for my new grandchild but this time was a sad mission. I was here to attend the Requiem Mass of a truly great and good man. I had been […]
In Memoriam
Spike has died. Anthony Martin, a teacher who gave his life to teaching at St Bede’s College died yesterday in Wythenshawe Hospital after a long fight with a failing heart. My heartfelt condolences to his wife, Veronica, who has suffered unbelievably over these last months as Tony’s life dwindled away. […]
The Road To Morocco – My Diary, Part 8
It is our penultimate day in beautiful Morocco, our last evening and I aim to enjoy it. The whole team is now in the pool at 5.00pm, the temperature has increased to about 34C bearable in this dry climate at least with a glass of wine of the cool variety […]
The Road To Morocco – My Diary, Part 7
Having left the party early, 30 minutes after sunset, I was up before sunrise and in the watery paleness before dawn I am writing this while the bull frogs sleep and the peacocks are bristling their feathers. The dogs are alert waiting for their next adventure and the cats are […]
The Road To Morocco – My Diary, Part 6
Last night I was in bed just after night fall at 8.30pm and awake this morning well before sunrise at 7.00am. Because of the flatness of the land round here these two events are spectacular affairs with the sun disappearing in the west and springing to life in the east […]
The Road To Morocco – My Diary, Part 5.
Today the second day of BST was cool and bright at 7.ooam but promises to be warmer than yesterday. As I mentioned yesterday it is my father’s 97th birthday. He was born on the 31st March 1918, the 10th day of the German Spring Offensive or the Kaiserschlact as the […]
The Road To Morocco – My Diary, Part 4.
Up at the crack of sparrow fart to begin Day 5 of this journey, it was 6.00am but now it is 7.00am on a bright, bright March morning. The sun is beating down but the breeze off the Atlas Mountains suggests a cool 14C. Today should be good we have […]