Dreaming
Bertie: “Gor blimey, Bobby. Wednesday’s story about 2013 and the Samaritans was a bit heavy. Did it upset you writing it?”
Bobby: “Not at all Bertie. When I walked over that railway crossing with David, I knew it was an opportunity to put a couple of things straight. And also to close the book on the whole episode. (more…)
The Railway Crossing
Looking south towards Ockley.
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. Suddenly the memories of 2013 came flooding back. And the realisation that Bobby hadn’t walked over it since. (more…)
Wisley Christmas Eve: Mindfully Arboretumanally
Mindfully Arboretumanally
Bobby’s favourite tree.
As Bobby struggled with the life he was leading a few years ago, he turned to mindfulness to see if that would help. It did, particularly when practised in a group of people. Some time later, he mentioned it to the Gentle Author (GA) and also that this best friend was a teddy bear called Bertie. The GA suggested it would be a good name for the stories he was contemplating writing. And Mindfully Bertie was born. (more…)
Little Pink Book Wot’s in a Name?
Wot’s in a Name
So here we are in 2021. If you got my free calendar… how lucky are you? If you didn’t, you should have answered the offer last year! Demand is increasing for this very special bit of culture. So put your name down now for 2022. (more…)
Will the Real Alf Garnett Step Forward. Please!
Alf Garnett.
Bertie: “Bobby. This is my favourite place.”
Bobby: “It’s mine too, Bertie. Especially on Christmas Day morning.” (more…)
Goodbye 2020
Dear Friends of Mindfully Bertie
On 16 March 2020, we wrote “Self Isolation Day” and published it two days later as our first mid week blog. A couple of weeks later we posted “Room 311”. This celebrated our last course with the Gentle Author in Spitalfields on 6 March. Our spiritual home. Since then, in this unforgettable year, we have posted another eighty stories. It’s a monumental achievement. In doing so, we hope we have brought a little sunshine into a world that has been relentlessly gloomy. A world full of tragedy and heartbreak. One that, as we look forward to 2021, is still full of uncertainty. So I say “Bobby… well done mate. Tim… you are a bleedin star keeping up with him and his eccentricities!”. (more…)
Little Pink Book Family History
Family History
It’s clear looking back over so many years that facts become assumptions and can become pure fiction. Just like Chinese Whispers, I suppose. On the one hand we have the true facts, as verified by our Resident Genealogist Elizabeth. And then we fill in the gaps. Hopefully with inspired guesses, but never pure fiction. That little book clearly came to Bobby from his mother in 1953. When it only had two entries. Both poems. One by his mum Dorothy. Mrs D Ball. (more…)
Merry Christmas 2020
Merry Christmas to you all from Mindfully Bertie
We hope you like our Christmas Concert. (more…)
Little Pink Book
Bertie: “Ere Trev. Got a job for yer. You like messing around with Bobby’s childhood junk. Here’s an unusual one… What looks like rubbish to me.”
Trevor: “Once again I must remind you, Bertie, that my name is Trevor. As voted for by one of our more sophisticated readers. Kristian in California. As with all things, one person’s junk is another’s treasure trove of memories. This tiny grubby little book does, I admit, look very unpromising. But who knows what may be within it. We shall see… (more…)