“May” – John Clare
John Clare John Clare (13 July 1793 – 20 May 1864) was an English poet. The son of a farm labourer, he became known for his celebration of the English countryside and sorrows at its disruption. How familiar is that with the 21st Century? He died impoverished in a lunatic asylum and it was only…
We Saved the Moon Daisies… Year 2
Moon Daisies Yes! We saved the Moon Daisies again. This time in May/June 2021. By “we”, we mean collectively all those who cared about, were disappointed by or, in our case, dismayed that once again our memory of Diddley loving the Moon Daisies had been besmirched by Surrey County Council (SCC).
Welsh Walks: Walk Around Strumble Head
Bertie: “Wake up, Hefyn! we are going back to Wales. I am on holiday with Bobby and the other bears. You are narrator. Over to you mate.” Hefyn: “Aahhh, boyo. I have been waiting for this! You did that fantastic walk round Strumble Head last October and now we can share it with our readers….
The Greatest Day
It was the Greatest Day for Sutton United. A small football club from Surrey had beaten the odds and the big boys to become a Football League club. Founded 123 years ago, the vast majority of its football life has been as an amateur team. Only in recent years, as amateur status declined, did it…
Wisteria
There is something majestic about Wisteria. Each year, in May, these fantastic plants come into their own. There is no other plant quite like them. In Japan and China where they originate they have assumed mystical qualities and have been turned into quite incredible exhibitions of creativity.
Tillingbourne Tales. Walk No 1: Chilworth and St Martha’s
Chilworth and St Martha’s Back in Bobby’s schoolboy days, he lived in North Cheam. Now just within Greater London. His first experience of the Surrey Hills was cycling to Boxhill. Racing down the famous zig-zag road without pedalling to see how far you could go. Later, with his girlfriend and wife to be, they explored…
The Art of Kate
Today is a milestone. Mindfully Bertie has reached its 300th story. And this is the first since we returned to one a week on Sunday afternoon. We are privileged to have a very special guest. Our very own resident artist Kate. While some of us are good at expressing our emotions through music, others are…
Mindfully Bertie… An Update
Update Mindfully Bertie started in August 2016 with “Dream Island“. August 2021 will see us back there for a week if restrictions permit. When the first Covid-19 lockdown started, it soon became obvious that we and our readers would have time on our hands. So, we started a midweek, additional, shorter story. Tim, our Technical…