Early morning view across lake Bala, North Wales What does the word 'Bala' mean to you? To me, it is a lake in North Wales. That part of the country is mountainous, so it probably has a rocky shoreline. But "Bala Rocky" is not how you would express that in English. Perhaps, then, the title…Read more Bala Rocky
Track
Wild Grey Ocean
If your name is Fender, it would be hard not to be a musician. Fortunately, Sam is a rather good pianist, guitarist, singer and songwriter. In fact, he is one of the biggest stars in the pop/rock/indie style around today. And he deserves to be. This song came up on my Spotify Release Radar last…Read more Wild Grey Ocean
Panopticom
One of the artworks in the Panopticon Sculpture Trail, Lancashire, UK Panopticom? Is that a word? And, if it is, what could it mean? Well, 'pan', as a prefix, is the Greek for 'all'. 'Optic' is also Greek, and it refers to the eye. So, perhaps, a panopticom is a device that sees everything. But,…Read more Panopticom
I Believe In …
Sunday is the target day for a regular Crotchety blog post. This year, though, the fourth Sunday in December falls on Christmas Day, and I will have other things on my mind. Quite apart from the present giving and the usual festive meal with the family, there is also a funeral on the near horizon.…Read more I Believe In …
Goodbye Treadmill
Sometimes, everyday life feels like a perpetual treadmill. Faceless people stream by, burdensome responsibilities pile up, events are never under your control. But you must keep going; if you don't, you will fall, suffering injuries to both body and pride. If the engine powering that treadmill is your job, retirement must seem like the end…Read more Goodbye Treadmill
Metamorphosis
Metamorphosis of Narcissus, Salvador Dalí As a teenager, when other kids my age had photos of their favourite football team on their walls, I had a poster of Metamorphosis of Narcissus above my bed. It was the first example of surrealist art I had seen, and I found it fascinating. The composition is striking and…Read more Metamorphosis
Running
Back in the dim, distant days of my youth, the school made us play rugby in the autumn, cricket in the summer, and go on cross-country runs in the winter term. Now, the Crotchety Lad was a bit of a swot and not very sporty at all. Distance running, in particular, I hated. It would…Read more Running
Shingles
The Milky Way above a shingle beach in Suffolk The word 'shingle' has many meanings. It could denote a roof tile or small pebbles on a beach. Several places have 'Shingle' in their names: Shingle Cove (in Antarctica) and Shingle Street (a community and conservation group in Suffolk, UK), for example. And, in the plural,…Read more Shingles
Prayer for Amerikkka
It's been a hectic time in Crotchety Land for the last few weeks. Old Man Crotchety has done little other than move his 92-year-old father into a retirement apartment, and it's proved to be much more burdensome than anyone could have imagined. Quite apart from the unbelievable mass of belongings in his old house (see…Read more Prayer for Amerikkka
Changes
Here in the UK, summer has slipped gently into autumn. It's always a season of change, but recent events have been much more dramatic than usual. We have a new prime minister. We have said a fond farewell to our queen of the last 70 years. And, closer to the Crotchety home, my father has…Read more Changes
Crotchety Man 