What should we talk about today?
The world according to Kirkey
Who hasn’t watched the classic Farrelly brothers comedy ‘Dumb and Dumber’ without wishing they had worn incontinence pants? Observing the idiocy of others at close quarters whilst sitting comfortably in isolated judgment provides our egos with the propellant necessary to literally laugh out loud! Yet is stupidity, arguably a compelling human trait if based on … Read more
COVID-19 has forced many of us to reconstruct our leisure time. West End shows have been replaced by a slow shop in Waitrose whilst the car boot experience has been substituted by a meander around Aldi. The centre aisle of the budget supermarket is a cornucopia of chattels from mini flamethrowers to violin cases and … Read more
As the closing arguments are being made in the Derek Chauvin murder trial in the courthouse in downtown Minneapolis, I would counter the title of this reflection with a bellowing rendition of the 1983 Elton John classic, “I’m still standing.” Yet does my simple categorisation of good and bad really stand up to scientific scrutiny? … Read more
From experience once you reach a certain age social gatherings have a pattern of predictability. The preamble, usually with glass in hand, engages with an unspectacular icebreaker: “Tell me, what do you do?” Not wishing to offend these professionals too much, “I’m in IT, HR” or any other job that can be similarly abbreviated can … Read more
According to Ian Dury in his 1977 hit, co-written with Chaz Jankel, ‘Sex and drugs and rock and roll is all my brain and body need. Sex and drugs and rock and roll are very good indeed’. If I were being picky, I would add good food, some cash in my skyrocket and a nice … Read more
The older I get, the crankier and more miserable I appear to become. I would like to be able to put this down to old age, yet the reality is that I have sometimes allowed my mindset to perpetuate this notion, since not everyone I know of a similar age is necessarily so. COVID-19 has … Read more
I like Harry immensely. As a young boy he endured the life changing pain of the premature death of his mum within the gaze of the world. The iconic picture of him at his mother’s funeral reduced me to tears. His enforced royal dignity for one so young was truly heart-breaking. As a frontline soldier, … Read more
When I first heard ‘Lonely Boy’ by Andrew Gold I was instantly hooked on the simply brilliant rock ballad. In 1977 a fair few people agreed with me since It peaked at number 7 in the US and reached 11th spot in the UK charts. According to its discography the lyrics which engaged with the … Read more
Being deceived, duped, conned, or shafted isn’t pleasant. But if you have been you are in damn good company. In 30 BC, according to Plutarch, Cleopatra misled her protector Epaphroditus and committed suicide. Prime Minister Anthony Eden was duped by Harold Macmillan during the Suez Crisis of 1956 resulting in the latter getting the top … Read more
A long time ago in a Galaxy not so far away I asked my first proper girlfriend out at work. My approach was toe curlingly awful, although to be fair my apologetic, stumbling and cringing posture was nonetheless successful as I got the date. On reflection I can’t have been that bad, although perhaps a … Read more