freelance

  • Chicken Telly

    Chicken Telly

    My laptop’s on.  I’ve chucked another log on the stove. Outside on the windowsill two chickens dibble amongst their feathers, pause, press against the window, extend their necks and stare in, pecking at spots of dirt on the glass. Tap. tap, tap, tap… My inbox proffers a couple of press trip invitations.  Both are vaguely…

  • Chim Chim Cher-ee

    Chim Chim Cher-ee

    Yesterday saw chimney sweep Jeff’s annual visit.  At 62 and a former Coldstream Guardsman with an army pension, Jeff’s once taught fighting man’s physique had in retirement inflated to that of a leaden balloon, leaving him awkward and wheezing at the least exertion.  Say what you like about Dick Van Dyke’s accent, his fancy footwork…