Author Archives: bill

NUMEROLOGY

There are truths that are hard to teach And lessons difficult to learn; There are aims that lie within our reach And sins for which we vainly burn. Our place in wider creation When humanity’s flow we join Show salvation … Continue reading

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STIRRINGS

I sit and watch the slanting ray of light Strike gently down upon your work bent head And think upon the past and how it might have Have been two other people here instead. And yet there is a sense … Continue reading

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ON CLAPHAM COMMON

We walk beneath the trees that wear their leaves Like crowns of martyred saints, as they look down Upon the still fresh grass. Above still weaves The long declining vapour trail of town Talking earnestly Miss Lembke and me. Talking … Continue reading

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SNOW AND GRIT

During one week spanning February and March in 2018 the UK had a period of cold weather with snow falling on most days causing sub-zero temperatures. The newspapers promptly named this as, ‘The Beast from the East.’ Many schools were … Continue reading

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AN ODD EMPLOYER

B’s first job after he and Ursula were married was at the Blue Star Line, a part of the Vesty collection of Companies with its headquarters at Smithfield in London. Here he was a Management Trainee destined to work overseas … Continue reading

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ANOTHER POISONED CHALICE

A gift for anyone living into their 90’s and having the good fortune to retain an accurate memory, is that of being able to survey the living history of three or more generations. It would be neglectful, I think, to … Continue reading

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WHEN IN ROME……

It was on Wednesday, 22nd November 2017 that, sitting over the supper table with the Cooper family, and enjoying the Chinese take-away that Dawnie and Andrew had provided, the talk turned to Brazil and corruption. I was involved enough to … Continue reading

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A DIFFERENT POINT OF VIEW.

The crash came on the 25th October 1961 when the Brazilian President, Janio Quadros, renounced his Presidency and fled for sanctuary to a British ship in Rio Harbour. The country tottered to the edge of Civil War and economic ruin; … Continue reading

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THE FIFTIES FORK

As I see our children enter and transit their fifties it has encouraged me to look back to the time when I was doing likewise and my diary tells me – ‘I was 60 years old on 28th November 1984 … Continue reading

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WE BUY OUR FIRST CAR

‘Ron asked me if I was interested in buying his car. What do you think?’ B asked Ursula, out of the blue, one day. ‘Can we afford it?’ ‘He’ll sell on instalments after a down payment which fits our budget; … Continue reading

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