Just two hours out from London the pilot announced we were on our way back to Dubai! The reason? A volcano in Iceland was spewing out ash all over UK and Europe. All airports were closed!
‘Misadventure’
My Lifetime Dream Vaporised by a Volcano
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Thursday, July 1st, 2010The Oasis
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010I have fond memories of interesting water holes from around the world. The unique collection includes some character pubs and exotic patronage in distant places, from Cape Town to Macau; Hong Kong to Key West; London to Johannesburg; and even Sydney to Wellington. And here is a new one to add to my list: “The [...]
The MacNamminys
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Tuesday, June 1st, 2010Windy Eddie’s Wake (as in Finnegans Wake) is the first in a series about The MacNamminy family, created by Philip McCormac. Dab Ginger was drinking Guinness in McConville’s Bar in West Street, in his home town of Portadown. He was accompanied by his brother Halfpenny. Their father, Windy Eddie had just died and the brothers [...]
Adam’s Rib
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Tuesday, September 1st, 2009by Christina Ratliffe “What’s happening to the fruit?” I wailed to my husband. The new season’s apples I’d bought were a big disappointment – luscious-looking but floury and tasteless. I love them straight from the tree, fragrant, crisp and juicy, but these must have been waiting too long in some interstate coldstore. The nectarines were [...]
The Balinese Medicine Man
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Saturday, August 1st, 2009by Gehan Wijesinha “Clearing customs was easy,” John remarked as we were waved through the Bali airport, after a cramped seven hour flight, by the friendly and welcoming Indonesian Customs officers, “now let’s get a taxi to that address in Denpasar.” John Jeff and I had decided to spend a week in Bali to escape [...]
Kicking the Weed
Click the title above to read the complete post. Posted on Tuesday, April 1st, 2008By Alan Wheatley This story first appeared in Fifty-Plus News in June 1997. Yes, it is possible. I’ve done it. Here we are near World No Tobacco Day and I haven’t had a drag for over twelve years, after what seemed like a lifetime of lighting up. It all started during the war. Smokes were [...]