Anne Pickles
Summer's heat can do very odd things to people
Published 3 July 2009
Turned out nice again – as George Formby would have said, shading his little ukulele from the sun.
Bare bottoms can never beat a mature magnolia
Published 26 June 2009
Wrong place, wrong time... it’s the story of life limited by safe choices. And yes, you’re right. I should get out more.
Despite our wishes for millions, home is what’s priceless
Published 19 June 2009
Big dreams and carrots – they seem to go hand in hand all of a sudden. Healthy, wealthy and wisely knowing when to chop your root vegetables is the surprising new route to Nirvana.
There’s plenty of life left in the old dog
Published 12 June 2009
Not the happiest of weeks, this one. Charlie, our faithful, bossy, family Westie has been decidedly under the weather.
The legs may be little – but they can’t be his last
Published 12 June 2009
Not the happiest of weeks, this one. Charlie, our faithful, bossy, family Westie has been decidedly under the weather.
Time runs out to learn lessons of a past generation
Published 5 June 2009
What a conundrum youth can be. Vibrant, fit, pretty and strong, it looks past old age with unseeing eyes; hears only its own chosen youthful clatter... missing the point and learning nothing much at all.
As sure to let you down as men and Manchester United
Published 29 May 2009
The most entertaining tale to come out of that football match concerned a car load of Rome-bound Manchester United fans, a sat nav and a misdirected route into Luxembourg... where the only known championship is Eurovision.
Clock the quality of our couture – then try the pies
Published 15 May 2009
They don’t naturally sit together in the style bibles of the glitterati. In fact, I’d wager Michelle Obama has never heard of Dearham pies.
Rasher among us are just glad it isn’t sheep flu
Published 8 May 2009
It’s a panic thing – a tunefully modern rerun of the old ring o’roses hit. More like something close to hysteria, actually – and no good ever came from nursery rhymed hysteria.
No answering back – but if you really must, make sure it is in a suitably exotic tongue
Published 1 May 2009
When I was at primary school – a young pup in eye patch and ankle socks – I was taught two languages. English and not to answer back.
I missed gifts of God, but we all got Achilles’ heel
Published 24 April 2009
She’s a jolly sort – a sunny person who laughs at trouble and shrugs off hardship with a winning broad grin. It’s an enviable gift.
I would resort to fly-tipping if I had the strength
Published 17 April 2009
They say bereavement, divorce and moving house are life’s most stressful events. But when did they last buy new furniture?
Holidays aren’t easy for stressed northerners
Published 10 April 2009
Several surveys of down in the mouth Brits reckon the majority of us are far too stressed to be bothered taking a foreign holiday this year. Having just returned from one, I can kind of see their point.
The most chilling phrase is It's for charity!
Published 3 April 2009
Certain phrases send a cold chill down my spine and into my heart.
Pilates is hardly on a par with a new Aston Martin
Published 27 March 2009
When an old friend of mine hit one of his mid-life crises, he bought a Harley Davidson and set off for Wales.
It’s hard to deal with when moles bite you on bum
Published 20 March 2009
My word, they’re naughty, these free-spirited country girls. Off the homestead leash, out and about in their lippy and heels... they’re positively wicked. Border Ladies NFU, I salute you.
A sad souvenir of a crushing strike 25 years ago which did no one much good
Published 13 March 2009
I’m ashamed to say, I envy Eric Martlew. The Carlisle MP has something I want and – if truth be known – more than envying, I covet it.
Leave me alone or my generous nature means I'll have to resort to charity binbag chic
Published 6 March 2009
To whom it may concern – and I mean this most sincerely: Please go away. I have no more clothes.
The pie’s the limit for Cumbrians – just don’t ask for consensus on Cranstons’ versus Colin’s
Published 27 February 2009
British Pie Week starts on Monday. Not an event likely to stop the world mid spin – nor pull the brakes on Royal Bank of Scotland’s slide into the soup – but of interest, you might think. Particularly to banking gravy train travellers.
I’ll forgo a twitter for a natter over a cuppa any day
Published 20 February 2009
My friend Jane has newly become a Twitterer. That is to say, she has started tweeting.
