Showing 1 - 7 of 7
Hedgehoppers in search of good news
Roger Crutchley, Published on 01/02/2026
» Being the very first day of February it would have been nice if there was some good news worth celebrating, but unfortunately nothing immediately springs to mind. Cheerful news is an increasingly rare commodity these days. It all seems to be gloom and doom and hardly portends a joyful 2026. It can get a bit wearying grappling with news reports featuring contradictions, cover-ups and cock-ups, often accompanied by half-truths, prevarications and porky pies. But this is the world we now live in.
When tittle tattle lost the battle
Roger Crutchley, Published on 11/05/2025
» This past week there have been many moving ceremonies commemorating the 80th anniversary of VE Day (Victory in Europe) marking the end of the war in Europe. I was born shortly after the war (a "bundle for Britain") but this week's celebrations brought to mind wartime slogans and expressions that surfaced between 1939-45 and remained in use for years to come.
Those pesky pigeons and a plastic owl
Roger Crutchley, Published on 21/07/2024
» Fond as I am of our feathered friends I admit to getting in a bit of a flap over the rapidly increasing number of pigeons (nok pilab) that have been descending on our residence in recent times. Some people call pigeons "rats with wings", others more generously "doves without the PR". I must confess to be leaning towards the first of those opinions.
Spies in the sky blowin' in the wind
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 19/02/2023
» The current "balloon" wars have been quite entertaining in a weird sort of way with a strange mix of espionage, propaganda and porky pies that are just enough to capture the public's imagination. Perhaps secretly we would like one of these unidentified flying objects (UFO) to be something a bit more mysterious than simply a common weather balloon. But we haven't quite yet reached the "little green men" stage.
In Britain it helps to be a little eccentric
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/01/2022
» Last week's column concerning traditional British food unfortunately failed to mention one of the highlights of the year, the World Black Pudding Throwing Championships, held every September in Ramsbottom, near Manchester. It dates back to the Wars of the Roses in the 15th century between the House of Lancaster (red rose) and the House of York (white rose).
All the news that's fit to print
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 09/08/2020
» The news hasn't been particularly uplifting recently, has it? Open the paper, or switch on the television news any morning and there is a good chance you will feel like going straight back to bed and starting the day all over again.
Throwing the cat among the pigeons
News, Roger Crutchley, Published on 30/09/2018
» The rapidly increasing numbers of pigeons (nok pilab) has ruffled a few official feathers in Bangkok. There was bit of a flap after authorities warned that citizens caught feeding the birds would face a stiff fine, explaining the pigeons were spreading disease. These birds divide opinion, some calling them "rats with wings", others more generously "doves without the PR".