Thrifty Words 100 Challenge #85 and Fifty Words #106: Liar — This fortnight’s thrifty word challenge is partly inspired by Melissa R. Mendelson’s latest story on lie telling. And also by a question from a friend seeking an update on the latest sagas in my life — how are things? For one desperate moment I felt the urge to splurge-vomit all…

Thrifty Words 100 Challenge #83: ‘Alive’ — While none of us knows when the jig is up, being ill can make death feel closer. Since being diagnosed with myasthenia gravis, the steroids used to control the condition has caused more problems — including diabetes and glaucoma — and mobility issues. Yet I refuse to lie in my…

And myself and others stood by and said nothing — At my last visit to my doctor’s surgery, I witnessed a patient verbally attacking a receptionist. From what I could gather the patient had arrived for an appointment only to be told it didn’t exist. …

Thrifty Words 100 Challenge #83 and Fifty Words #104: Alive — Last week I was at the funeral of a friend who died unexpectedly aged sixty-eight years and eleven days. Today, I’m at the funeral of another friend also gone too soon at seventy-seven. There’s nothing like the death of our family and friends to remind us of our mortality, and…

Even though you asked me a thousand times not to — If I've told him once I’ve told him a thousand times — ‘Please don’t hang my smalls on the garden line.’ In case you’re not familiar with this term, smalls are what we Brits call our underwear and other small items of apparel, such as tights (nylons) and socks. …

Thrifty Word 100 Challenge #82: Target — Chris Kaba is the latest victim of a police shooting in the UK. Following a car chase, he was shot through the windscreen. He was unarmed. Said his parents: ‘We are worried that if Chris had not been black, he would have been arrested on Monday evening and not had…

Thrifty Words Challenge Roundup 100 #:81 & Fifty #:102 — As human beings we are predisposed to look at what’s lacking rather than what’s there — but when it comes to our losses we really need to remember the good times. There was once on British TV a very short lived commercial — I think it was for insurance —…

It was summer but not as we know it. This year we’ve had to contend with some of the hottest days since weather watching began in the UK. 39° one day was! Hosepipe bans were brought in and I have never seen London’s lush and green parks look so brown. …