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Thoughts for Today

Back in 1991, Bobby’s mum Dorothy died at 91. Born in 1899, she had “had a good innings”. She left Bobby a little dosh and he bought me and I came to live at Saffrons in Dorking. At the time, he had worked for the Legal and General Assurance Society (L&G) for 29 years. A…

The Railway Crossing

The sun shone one morning in Christmas week. David came over for a socially distanced walk. Most of Bobby’s walking is in the hills. Walking from Laurel Cottage to sandy or chalky locations means Weald mud first, or a short car journey. So they decided on a local muddy walk that encompassed this railway crossing….

Betty’s Story

Cor blimey and luv a duck. It aint arf busy at Mindfully Bertie at the moment. While Bobby ‘as ‘is ‘ed had stuck down the toilet in the middle of the night, some of us are getting things sorted. The cause of all this is the Little Pink Book. The most unassuming bit of rubbish…

Eamonn goes to Skomer.

Eamonn goes to Skomer. Bertie: “Corrrr- I dunno. Just before we came to Wales, a friend of Bobby’s asked what has happened to the Irish bear. Well, we had to admit, not much.” Trevor has found his niche. Betty Boop is a little inflexible, but will get her chance. But Eamonn? Dunno. “Tell you what”,…

April in Paris – Pt 2.

April in Paris. Doris Day: She was 97 on 3 April. Bertie: “A Museum! We have come all the way to Paris to go to a bleedin’ Museum!” Bobby: “Careful, Bertie. You said that once before and you loved the London Transport Museum.”

The Operation.

“Hello there! Top o’ the morning, even if it’s the feckin afternoon. Eamonn here. Bertie has asked me to write this story as it’s far too painful for him. The story of his Operation. Oy was tere and saw the whole thing. Its a tale of DISMEMBERMENT. Of DISEMBOWELMENT. Without anaesthetic. And not for the…

Skokholm Island. A Welsh Trilogy. Part 3: Kenny, Birdringer.

Kenny: Birdringer. We arrived at Martin’s Haven on Tuesday. A group grabbed Bobby’s heavy gear and carried it up the steps to the boat. We knew we were with friends for a week. On this, the finale of our trilogy, we talk to Kenny Birdringer. OK, that’s not his real surname, but it has a…

A Day in the Life of a Trainspotter.

Trainspotter. Way back in 1954 Bobby’s dad, Sid, bought him an Ian Allan Train spotting book. He still has it. That, allied to Sid’s own keen interest in all things mechanical, led to his son’s enduring interest in such things. Given that being a trainspotter was the main hobby of schoolboys in 1954 it is…