Author Archives: BarryH

The New Year: a golden glow of optimism

Posted on January 13, 2012 by BarryH

It’s Friday morning and things are looking good.  I sat having my early morning beverage, a lemon and ginger ‘tisane’ as Hercule Poirot, that most famous of Belgians fictionally called it, basking in the sun as it rose above the … Continue reading →

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The New Year: forecasts and looking to the future

Posted on January 10, 2012 by BarryH

Average temperatures in the UK (however that is defined and however relevant the figure is) were higher in 2011 than any year on record.  Not that the weather was what most would describe as ‘good’.  Except for bits of April … Continue reading →

Posted in Grey Britain, Winter | Tagged , | 1 Comment

New Year: sales, contrasts and looking ahead.

Posted on January 2, 2012 by BarryH

Christmas with the family and New Year with friends were good and Father Christmas brought me everything that I wanted.  But now it’s past: left-over food eaten; wrapping paper in the bin; house tidied up; shops returning to normal before they put Easter on … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grey Britain, Pontypool, Winter | Tagged | Leave a comment

Christmas: marketing, hints of hysteria …. and the odd bit of TV

Posted on December 26, 2011 by BarryH

In bleak economic times it is hardly surprising that most national retailers have been offering significant discounts in the run-up to Christmas.  Pre-Christmas sales account for a disproportionately large part of annual turnover for many businesses.  Marks & Spencer’s plea … Continue reading →

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The lead up to Christmas: stresses, strains and challenge

Posted on December 19, 2011 by BarryH

That Christmas is widely regarded by most people as a time of stress is by now a matter of cliché, as seen by cynics like me at least.  Mental stress from rushing around trying to cram in shopping for presents … Continue reading →

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A bad time of year: dogged by failure

Posted on December 12, 2011 by BarryH

It has been suggested that in the last blog-post I misinterpreted the instruction on the trains completely.  Instead of requiring customers to place litter in the bins they are instead required to dispose of the litter which is already in … Continue reading →

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English as she is ambiguated: please read carefully

Posted on December 9, 2011 by BarryH

Those who travel regularly on Arriva Trains Wales from South Wales to the North, Manchester or Holyhead, will be familiar with the following request, really an instruction because of the moral overtones of failing to comply: “Would all customers please … Continue reading →

Posted in Grumpy Old Men, Reflections | 1 Comment

Looking beyond Christmas: dealing with boredom

Posted on December 5, 2011 by BarryH

It’s generally a pretty drab time of year.  Autumn has given way to Winter.  Grey skies.  Short days and long evenings.  Cold and damp.  Difficult to get on the soil to do much in the garden.  Mountains often lost in … Continue reading →

Posted in Canada, Grey Britain, Grumpy Old Men, Winter | Leave a comment

Coping with Christmas: a season of neon lights and frustration

Posted on November 28, 2011 by BarryH

Christmas is not my favourite time of year, particularly now I have to deal with the whole card and presents stuff on my own.  But I try.  Admittedly I defer doing things as long as I can but then I … Continue reading →

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Familiarity breeds selective cognition: trying to see what’s under your nose.

Posted on November 22, 2011 by BarryH

For a few days last week I was doing the ‘school run’ for my two older grandchildren.  This entailed collecting them and driving them to school for 09.05, picking the younger one up at 11.35 and the older one at … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Pontypool, Reflections | 1 Comment