Alan Russell
Bio
When you read my words they may not be perfect but I hope they:
1. Engage you
2. Entertain you
3. At least make you smile (Omar's Diaries) or
4. Think about this crazy world we live in and
5. Never accept anything at face value
Stories (246)
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"Crawling" in Berkeley Square
BERKELEY SQUARE IN central London belies geometry and ornithology. Despite its name it is not a square but a rectangle or an oblong whose length is approximately north to south and width east to west. Berkeley “Oblong” or Berkeley “Rectangle” just lack the elegance and romance that “square” conveys. And just imagine how the song “A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square” would sound if was based on real geometry. “A nightingale sang in Berkeley Oblong” or “A nightingale sang in Berkeley rectangle. It just wouldn’t have worked. The romantic song about nightingales is based entirely on lyrical and ornithological licence. Over the 250 years since the square was originally laid out there have been no recorded sightings of nightingales inhabiting the square, passing through or even stopping off to do a gig for romantic couples.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in Wander
The Jurors
ON THE WAY from Staines to Windsor the road, the A308, runs between the Thames on the right and the fields of Runnymede on the left. In those fields are some big chairs clearly visible from the road. Why were they there? A place for a picnic but if so why? There were no trees for shade. Not there was any on this December day. No hedge lines to shelter from the wind. There they were, in the middle of a field.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
Where modern democracy started
“Given by our hand in the meadow that is called Runnymede, between Windsor and Staines, on the 15th day of June in the seventeenth year of our reign (ie 1215) (Extract from the closing paragraph of the English translation of the Magna Carta held at The British Library).
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
Forever an Acre of America by the River Thames
THE EVENTS OF 22nd November 1963 have been forensically analysed. Acres of paper and gallons of ink have been consumed in the quest for the truth. Yet, 57 years later there is no substantial evidence that could be brought into the courtroom of history and bring this American tragedy to a close.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
The Guildhall Library, City of London
This one Saturday in February was especially cold. London seemed to be blanketed in one continuous and seamless cloud whose grayness carried the threat of snow. It diffused the sunlight so much that what did filter through was flat and devoid of shadows. The wind came at me head on regardless of which direction I was walking along a gridwork of streets unchanged since medieval times. Its cold energy wheedled its way through the weft and weave of my multiple layers of clothing.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in Journal
Omar's Diary for December 2020
THE RED THING Leading up to Christmas Day there was much discussion amongst the Servants about the possibility of a new car arriving on the driveway of Omar Towers. If these discussions come to fruition, then I for one will be much relieved and dare I say “happy”. It will mean the “red thing” will be gone.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in Humans
Life to 28th November 2020
Wednesday was one of those days full of promise. Good weather, a chance to ride on one of our horses across the New Forest and a genuinely relaxing day. A promise that was soon to be broken by a loose rock and a hole but more of that later.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
Life to 9th November 2020
As late as Saturday morning here in the UK there were indicators about the result of the US Presidential election, but nothing confirmed. One UK news service gave Joe Biden 254 electoral college votes and the incumbent 214. It still could have gone either way. Then during the mid- afternoon news was coming out that Joe Biden had effectively become the President Elect when Pennsylvania was called for him by the American news networks putting him over the 270 college votes required to win the election.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in Petlife
From my desk 6th November 2020
Last week a picture of Nigel Farrage appeared on various social media platforms. Nothing unusual about that as the man thrives on publicity, of any sort. This one picture showed him in Washington DC proudly displaying a betting slip purporting to confirm he had placed $10,000 of his children’s inheritance on Donald Trump to win a second term at odds of 15/8. As I am writing this on Friday evening (6th November 2020) that bet is not looking too good.
By Alan Russell5 years ago in The Swamp
