When I sit down to write my Morning Thoughts I have no idea what will pop into my mind or the route my thoughts will take. My diary entries simply record what is on my mind and reference many years of personal knowledge, insight and experience. I also like to keep them brief; they are not essays after all!

I write my Morning Thoughts (and many other items) on Substack and, if I find the time, I also copy and paste them onto this – my personal website. Please consider subscribing to my Substack page – colinjanderson.substack.com – it’s free! The sheer volume of lies, misinformation, hate and advertisements on Facebook has been getting me down, so the more family and friends who subscribe to my Substack page the sooner I can close down my Facebook page.

  • Merguez or Beer… or Both?

    I must visit town at lunchtime to pay the bar tab I forgot to pay on Wednesday! That’ll teach me. But, I could do with a few ingredients to go with some rather good Merguez I picked up the other day. I am rather looking forward to it…

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  • Simple Pleasures!

    After a poor night’s sleep due to mulling over the major problems facing humanity I need to snap out of it and enjoy simple pleasures while I can.

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  • Distant Relatives?

    It seems that a relative of mine has died – at the age of 57. I shall be meeting up with my mother at noon to get the details. However, travelling to Port Glasgow is just not feasible, no matter how much we might want to make the journey.

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  • Horses & Coffee!

    Grey sky, bright sunshine, rain showers, washing machine spinning, cappuccino policy, stagnant economics and, to cap it all, where do I put the clothes horse?

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  • Book/Film?

    Having just finished reading a book I find myself staring at my library and wondering what I should read next. Umberto Eco is beckoning and I am reminded of the 1986 film The Name of the Rose with Sean Connery that seems to have sunk without trace, despite being a good film.

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  • Descale!

    I found myself descaling this morning – on a whim rather than out of necessity. My coffee machine and kettle are now descaled and, as I was working on them, I was thinking how quality does not always mean good functionality.

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  • Pizza!

    It struck me that in many ways my diary since retirement is recording my gradual decline in physical and mental health. Not a bit of it! Some things get better as you age, and my enjoyment of good food – and tonight’s pizza treat, is greater than ever!

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  • To Chagford!

    Up early to leave home at 8am in order to get to Chagford – 16 miles away – at 10am. Why? There is only one bus a day to Chagford, at 0845 from town, and from home it’s a 40-minute walk to the town centre. Should be a good day though – so long as…

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  • Downsizing?

    This morning is dull and grey, but for me a welcome change after the heat of the last week. My mind is on the garden, and how, when I come to downsize, I will no longer have one.

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  • Washing Rubbers!

    A slightly cooler day – thank goodness! I have the washing machine on with my only ‘hot’ wash, reserved for ‘rubbers’. Which reminds me of when I worked in a laundry in the 1970’s.

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  • Zero-Energy Home!

    My thoughts this morning are drawn to the heatwave and I find myself dreaming of living in a cool, light and airy Zero-Energy Home. I will never be that lucky but I can dream!

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  • Heat & Curry?

    Cooking dinner in the morning to avoid the heat of the day. An experiment with the slow cooker: is it any good for chana chicken?

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