Jim Webster's Blog, page 59

Stranger than fiction, or just strange?

As the boy confessed when caught peering over the partition into the girls section of the showers; “If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” The problem for most of us is that we’re trapped in the shadow of the giants. Not only do we not share their vision, …

They shall not grow old

History? What of it. As my mother carried me, yet unborn, General Allenby led his army into Jerusalem on foot, with the words “I will not ride where my Saviour walked.” As I came into this world, the Tsar and his family were being shot in a cellar. I loved in my own way, survived …

A living wage?

It was JFK who said “The farmer is the only man in our economy who has to buy everything he buys at retail – sell everything he sells at wholesale – and pay the freight both ways.” I cannot remember what I was doing when JFK died, but I remember this comment. It came to …

Playing with the Van de Graaff generator

“The invention of the teenager was a mistake. Once you identify a period of life in which people get to stay out late but don’t have to pay taxes – naturally, no one wants to live any other way.” ― Judith Martin I was listening to someone talking about the problems they had with rearing …

And the stories just come crawling out on their own.

Back in school we had to read John Steinbeck’s book ‘Of Mice and Men.’ It was two books in one, the other was ‘Cannery Row’ which rapidly became my favourite Steinbeck book. There isn’t really anything that you’d call a plot, there’s people and places and stories which just seem to happen. But there again, …

Responsibility?

Ambrose Bierce defines Responsibility as ‘A detachable burden easily shifted to the shoulders of God, Fate, Fortune, Luck or one’s neighbour.’ I try to keep out of the detail of current politics but I’ve got a problem I’d like sorting out please. I know there are people out there far wiser than me and I’m …

Come the revolution?

It was Plato who said “One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.” There again he also said “This City is what it is because our citizens are what they are.” So I was minding my own business, honest I was. But then …

Sex, drugs, rock and roll; (and cute cat pictures.)

It was Samuel Johnson who said “Your manuscript is both good and original; but the part that is good is not original, and the part that is original is not good.” He also said “No man but a blockhead ever wrote except for money,” and I have tried to follow his guidance in this matter. …

It’s fun if you don’t take it too seriously

A nice young couple; he gave the impression that if he had his way, they’d be a courting couple. She managed to subliminally give the impression that so far, he hadn’t. It was a warm shirt sleeve afternoon in October. He was at the age where he’s still not sure that real men are allowed …

Major oil find in Cumbria

Well obviously I’d struck oil; it was the only rational explanation. Not only that I was quids in because it was already refined and ready to use. Never let it be said that I’m not a jammy beggar at times. But perhaps you need an explanation; a reason for my certainty, an elucidation for my …