No, not the Naked Chef. Sorry. But as I once wrote a book that was continually interrupted by recipes it gave me the re-inspiration to make the same type of interruption on my blog. So let’s do it! Derek’s Stuffed Up Red Things. Ingredients: Because ingredients seem to change name from country to country, I …
It has taken me some long days of consideration before publishing this article, as I have considered both politics and religion as taboo subjects in my own article writing. However, this particular issue has intrigued me, and as I live in Switzerland, I feel I need to express my belief in Swiss democracy. Some of …
My 2.5 regular readers have probably realised that as an ex- Australian male now reincarnated with a Swiss nationality, I possess all the attributes necessary to claim a chauvinistic title. Misogynist, macho, arrogantly male and patriarchal. But then I moved to Switzerland nearly 10 years ago and changed my outlook. I became even more misogynist, …
The following three phrases have become my all time favourites in demonstrating clarity in writing for my students of English. While all are grammatically perfect, only one is absolutely clear in its sense, meaning and accuracy of description. 1. The man played the piano with three legs. 2. She loves him. 3. I usually wear …
While all languages have their positive attributes, be it structure, rhythm, sound or lexis, English has one of the most unique tenses. It is one that we tend to forget all about when we are writing. In some manner it does exist in some other languages, but not to the extent that it can be …
Sitting, staring into space and drinking very good coffee are three of my very favourite activities that I habitually combine into a singular act of imitating a work of still life. During one of my recent episodes of eyeballing space on a sunny terrace in Valletta in Malta, I happened to fix my gaze on …
Before you read any further, be warned that this is about a once in a life time, or two event. I know that sounds dramatic, but it is dramatic, traumatic and involves antiseptic. Scene set. I had a long arranged appointment today with my dermatologist today. On my last visit in October, he had noticed …
I am not sure that I speak for all, but I really have trouble with the concept of veneration. Remembered fondly, missed a little or appearing in very old photographs will do me just fine when I have passed my use by date. Much else would not only be overkill, but would also be entering …
At age four, many things can be confusing. My first recollection of total confusion occurred behind the kindergarten I attended. I had been playing in the sand pit, and being a country boy, saw no need to make the journey indoors, when all I needed was a pee. The back fence seemed a far more …
The very first word that is used with a degree of dexterity by any young child is the word no. In any language, the usefulness of this one small word is so obvious to a young mind. So useful in fact, that the necessity to use the affirmative is usually a few more years in …
My spell checker is driving me insane. It is something I have put up with for more than ten years now, but I think the time has come for my infinite patience to take a well earned grump attack and for me to say out loud that I am really fed up. Now, writing in …
Not so many years ago, shortly after we came down from the trees, there were certain rituals in social networking. We didn’t call it social networking then, because even though the two words probably existed, we hadn’t been clever enough to put them side by side yet. There was the ritualistic Christmas telephone call to …
