johnhearson

Hip, Hip, Hooray?

Cover picture by Mohamed Hassan via Pixabay -o-O-o- You will have gathered that I’m now just over 3 months into recovering from my total hip joint replacement. In my previous post, A Happy Hipster? I described the privations of a patient in the early stages of recovery, along with the gadgets I was using. Gradually,Continue reading “Hip, Hip, Hooray?”

It’s a Mad World, but What if…?

Are you having a Merry Christmas as a means of escaping from our messed-up world? Or could there actually be something to celebrate? And, might there just be hope after the COP30 summit? -o-O-o- The noises coming out of the Belem conference centre weren’t optimistic. Fine words, but very little finance to help preserve theContinue reading “It’s a Mad World, but What if…?”

A Cry for Planet Earth

Written after returning from a protest march in Leeds to coincide with the COP30 Sustainability talks in Belem, Brazil. -o-O-o- It felt good to shout at the top of my voice for an hour as we paraded through the drizzle, especially since I believed in the slogans. How much impact it had on the LeedsContinue reading “A Cry for Planet Earth”

Malham – A Little Gem in Limestone Country

Cover picture: downstream from Janet’s Fosse “Surely not, Jane? You don’t mean we actually climbed that waterfall?” “Mmm…p’haps we found a way round at the side…” It took a while to get a signal on our phones to check the route, but we finally confirmed that, back in 1972, we had clambered up Gordale Scar,Continue reading “Malham – A Little Gem in Limestone Country”

A Wonderful Read from the Balkans

The Migrant, by Paul Alkazraji “The opening lines make you, the reader, feel that the story has already been rollicking along like a bolting horse, and it is a pace that the storyteller never eases up on.” (from the back cover) -o-O-o- As a member of my neighbourhood book club, I’d just dawdled through theContinue reading “A Wonderful Read from the Balkans”

A Happy Hipster?

‘Do not raise your knee above hip level…” said my exercise sheet. “Are yer kidding, mate? I’ve no idea how it’ll get any higher than my ankle!” I yelled. -o-O-o- In my post, ‘Ouch! I’ve got the hippy hippy shakes’, I shared my experiences as I awaited my Total Hip Replacement. Sure enough, it tookContinue reading “A Happy Hipster?”

Duelling Non-Banjos

Do you ever find yourself thrust into the spotlight and wonder, how on earth did I get here? 25 years ago I became the most unlikely junior football manager of my son Tim’s team. There was nobody else available; my only credential was my willingness to help. I didn’t know one side of a footballContinue reading “Duelling Non-Banjos”

Forbidden Corner, The Strangest Place on Earth

It took us all Saturday morning to prepare for their arrival. Macaroni cheese made up and into the oven. Salad nicely prepped with a light dressing. Feeling my fingers around the Isofix bars and clicking into position the jaws at the back of Grace’s car seat. Beds made up… The mac cheese disappeared without traceContinue reading “Forbidden Corner, The Strangest Place on Earth”

Amy’s New Friend

a story for Sam and Grace, by Grandpa John “What a nice set of biscuits you’ve made!” said Grandma, spooning a few crumbs into her mouth. “But this time, Amy, there’s one more job to do before you lick the spoons. We’ve got to put smarties in the middle to make their noses, then someContinue reading “Amy’s New Friend”

The Hippy Hippy Shakes (ouch!)

The cover photo is generated by AI. All the pictures within the post are Stock Images. “So, can I dismount by swinging my left leg over his back instead of my right?” I asked. “Well…we can try it, but it’s not the conventional way and Donald won’t be expecting that,” said Mia, my instructor. “I’llContinue reading “The Hippy Hippy Shakes (ouch!)”