Author: stevendouglasblog

Born in 1954. Chequered career including Lecturer in English, Social Worker and Lecturer in Social Work. Had breaks related to mental health that also meant I worked in social care. Now retired.

A writer at Work: A quick look at Derek Owusu’s novel in preparation possibly entitled Kweku. Submitted with trepidation (but with no request for answer) to @DerekVsOwusu

August 30, 2023

A writer at Work: A quick look at Derek Owusu’s novel in preparation possibly entitled Kweku. Submitted with trepidation (but with no request for answer) to @DerekVsOwusu In a recent diary piece on a stay at the Edinburgh Festival, I included the following, about which I am ashamed enough to come clean, for I have … More A writer at Work: A quick look at Derek Owusu’s novel in preparation possibly entitled Kweku. Submitted with trepidation (but with no request for answer) to @DerekVsOwusu

Why, oh why did we love Muffin the Mule?

August 29, 2023

What TV shows did you watch as a kid? When Artificial Intelligence (AI) threatens the jobs of actors, special effect stunts persons and extras in TV and film, because of the realism achievable by simulated scenes and unlikely animated characters, I wonder why a string-puppet, with his strings obvious, and his nature as an inanimate … More Why, oh why did we love Muffin the Mule?

BOOKER: This blog is about Elaine Feeney’s (2023) ‘How To Build A Boat’.

August 28, 2023

‘Jamie said: Rivers do not sleep, not the River Brú anyways …. And did you know that Brú means crushing? Jamie said, … My teacher said that is what it means and that it is good because rivers are important, but also bad, because if it is strong, …, it might crush fish and rocks … More BOOKER: This blog is about Elaine Feeney’s (2023) ‘How To Build A Boat’.

Imagining my friend Amie on the request of her dear mother.

August 28, 2023

Sometimes we cannot, and maybe should not, visit the dark places into which our friends have trodden, and hence the idea of walking a mile in your shoes is exactly the wrong definition of empathy. I do not know the shape of your pain nor the wide extent of its blank landscapes, Amie, and your … More Imagining my friend Amie on the request of her dear mother.

Twilight piece

August 28, 2023

What’s your favorite time of day? If twilight were a person, they would fade From you only to become a dusk That merely exchanged their doubleness, made Soft and loving by its own scent – the musk That made me feel a love, though enacted, Had something true in it. In some ideal World, we … More Twilight piece

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Three {Thursday, Friday and Conclusion on my week})

August 27, 2023

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Three {Thursday, Friday and Conclusion on my week}) This is Part Three (including Thursday and Friday and a summary to follow) There is Part One of a Festival Diary (Saturday to Tuesday inclusive) on  https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/23/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-one/ Part One (Appendix FOR Wednesday) is on https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/24/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-one-appendix-a-wednesday/Part Two is at: https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/27/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-two-howsons-art-dr-bendor-grosvenor-britains-best-known-figure-in-the-discipline-known-as-art-connoisseurship-says-of-howson-what-an/ Of course … More Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Three {Thursday, Friday and Conclusion on my week})

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Two [Howson’s art]). Dr Bendor Grosvenor, Britain’s best-known figure in the discipline known as art connoisseurship says of Howson: ‘What an artist. They’ll be talking about him in a hundred years’ time.’ Is that a good assessment?

August 27, 2023

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Two [Howson’s art]). Dr Bendor Grosvenor, Britain’s best-known figure in the discipline known as art connoisseurship, is quoted in the Edinburgh City Art Gallery webpage on their Peter Howson retrospective, saying of Howson: ‘What an artist. They’ll be talking about him in a hundred years’ time.’[1] Is that … More Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part Two [Howson’s art]). Dr Bendor Grosvenor, Britain’s best-known figure in the discipline known as art connoisseurship says of Howson: ‘What an artist. They’ll be talking about him in a hundred years’ time.’ Is that a good assessment?

The City of God

August 25, 2023

How would you design the city of the future? Augustine conceived a city of God Whose main pleasure was to view the torment Of the damned in Hell. Most cities since Replicate that idea, the many By the privileged few, are now downtrod In the city itself, long hours are spent Draining  life out of … More The City of God

Steven! Where are You?

August 24, 2023

Where did your name come from? “Stephen or Steven is a common English first name. It is particularly significant to Christians, as it belonged to Saint Stephen (Greek: Στέφανος Stéphanos), an early disciple and deacon who, according to the Book of Acts, was stoned to death; he is widely regarded as the first martyr (or … More Steven! Where are You?

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part One {Appendix A – Wednesday})

August 24, 2023

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part One {Appendix A – Wednesday}) A continuation of https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/23/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-one/ Part Two on Peter Howson is at https://wordpress.com/post/stevebamlett.home.blog/10977 Part Three (including Thursday and Friday and a summary to follow) The last part of this diary ended thus: “Wednesday dawns and bathed and sitting tapping here, I find myself in … More Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part One {Appendix A – Wednesday})

Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part One – Saturday to Tuesday):

August 23, 2023

There is an Appendix for Wednesday at this link: https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/24/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-one-appendix-a-wednesday/ Part 2 is about Peter Howson and on https://stevebamlett.home.blog/2023/08/27/diary-of-a-stay-in-edinburgh-part-two-howsons-art-dr-bendor-grosvenor-britains-best-known-figure-in-the-discipline-known-as-art-connoisseurship-says-of-howson-what-an/ Part 3 will be a continuation and summary of learning in the week from Wednesday. It will include Thursday / Friday. I am starting this diary entry on Tuesday and Geoff and I have been here … More Diary of a stay in Edinburgh (Part One – Saturday to Tuesday):