My mother had a great display of hibiscus along a wall of her house. She took great care in the feeding and watering of her plants, as much care as she took in the feeding and watering of me. I never liked for her hibiscus. They were always full of ants. Which brings me to… [Continue Reading]

When you see someone searching through rubbish bins you probably have one of two reactions: pity or disgust. Save your reactions. It could be me. I am a student of Neology, the science of going through what people have thrown out on the street. As a pioneer neologist, I have turned “field walking,” which is… [Continue Reading]

Yesterday I touched on a subject which remains vividly in the memory of many readers. The Free Milk for Schools scheme. I’m not the only one who suffers recurring nightmares of forgetting to shake the bottle before opening and copping a mouthful of warm, lumpy cream. Even when the magpies had already pierced the top… [Continue Reading]

Remember Fish and Chips on Fridays? That’s how we knew what day of the week it was, by the greasy bits of flake wrapped up in old newspaper. (We never minded the print dye running into the batter, it gave the potato cake an extra zing.) You just can’t get fatty food like that anymore,… [Continue Reading]