6
Moronic? Try a mnemonic!
The word ‘mnemonic’ is one of around 150,00 words of Greek origin – from air to zoo – that have found their way into English, a language with more borrowed …
Rebuker
Somewhat after Daphne du Maurier (1907-1989) Last night I dreamt I went to Blaenllechau again…I came upon it suddenly; the approach masked by serried ranks of terraced housing on the …
The writing on the wall
1 Will Rees was walking his dog early in the morning when he came across Val in the local park. She was lying in a pool of blood on a …
An ill wind
1 “It’s a beautiful day, there’s not a cloud in the sky, let’s go wild swimming!” David wasn’t really in the mood. They had agreed on having a rare off-grid …
Blackweir Pastures
Somewhat after Binsey Poplars by Gerard Manley Hopkins (1844-1889) BLACKWEIR PASTURESDesecrated 2025 These meadows dear, whose airy spaces calmed,Calmed and soothed with peace the urban blight,All harmed, harmed are all …
Double take
As the train approached, Billy couldn’t help but notice a peculiar old man on the opposite platform. He was dishevelled, scrawny and bashed about, a few wisps of tangled white …
Finding Tipperary
2015 “Richie, can you do me a favour?” “Of course sweetheart, what is it?” “When you’ve got time, could you look at my uncle’s manuscript? It’s 200 pages long and …
Don’t let the British get you down
In memory of Kris Kristofferson (1936-2024), a genuinely great American ♫♫ They’re killing Cymru to enforce a fiefdom,Keep us as a cringing colony,A desecrated land of holiday lets and second …
Cardiff Shame
With apologies to Noel Coward (1899-1973) ♫ To the tune of London Pride ♫ Cardiff shame has been foisted onto us.Cardiff shame’s in the foul air we breathe.Cardiff shame means …
The bad trip
1 It was early June 1987. Dewi was driving home from his morning cleaning job on a caravan site near Aberporth when he first saw Jimmy, hitching a lift on …