The new year seems to have started in much the same way as the old ended, with no real advance but, at the same time, no backward steps. We are gradually moving on, but only because we’re keeping pace with all that is going on around us, whether it be political, health and safety, or…

It has been quite a busy few weeks, now that the restrictions in Germany are gradually changing, as more and more people either get the vaccination, or recover from our virus. There are still a few who are holding out, but the new rules tend to shut them out of partaking in ordinary life or,…

It looks almost as if, after such a long time, I will be breaking with my own traditions, with my own routine, and changing letter writing days. I had thought that last week would be an exception, but a little something came up this week as well, completely unexpected, and threw my well-planned and time-honoured…

I must admit that I do not read my letters through once I have finished writing them, which leaves all the spelling mistakes right where they were unless I happen to spot them on the way down, and means that I often don’t notice when something jars, or when it doesn’t quite fit in with…

It’s a strange thing, and something that I have been considering for the last few weeks, but I have decided that neither the pandemic – as bad as it could be – nor the United Kingdom leaving the European Union – as bad as it will be – have really made too much difference to…

Our lives begin in the middle of everyone else’s life, and some of their lives begin in the middle of ours, so we should all be prepared to accept what has gone before, what is to come, and that there is really nothing new in the world. Things change, people move on, our world is,…

I am rarely one to go about accusing anyone of ageism, although some of the other –isms that we use do come regularly to mind when I talk or write to certain types of people, but more inclined to break such things down to a level of experience. I do not doubt for one moment…

Without a shadow of a doubt, this small letter will be one of many that you receive, initially, in reply to your hope of finding people to write to, people you can get to know through the wonderful art of letter writing. There will be short and longer letters, offers which you can’t refuse, promises…

The interesting thing about being an old person, as I admit to being, is that many readily assume you do not know of modern tastes, modern technology, modern fashion and mores, and are often surprised to the point of having their jaws drop onto their chests when you converse with them on a certain higher…

I’m not too sure about a voice of sanity: there are times when I feel that there is no voice which understands a situation clearly enough to take any action, to comprehend what is happening around us and how we should combat it. The world is filled with too many voices, most of them fighting…