From Sudoku to physics: 10 years of sorting words
TODAY is the second Wednesday in June.
I thought it might be a bit different, perhaps even fun, if I had a browse through the subjects I have written about on this day in each of the, now 10 years, I have been doing this writing nonsense!
It all seems very self-indulgent but at least I have left it to history to tell me what columns I should choose to breathe a bit of fresh air into!
I deliberately steer clear of choosing what I might think of as “the best” (or “the worst” for that matter)!
With the perspective of hindsight and the help of having digital and hard copies of each and every column to help me, I am still surprised by what subjects have crept into my mind since early 2008.
I have always tried to write the stuff three to five days before the deadline in the hope that this will give me time to get many of the words into the right order and minimise the absolute crap that can inevitably creep in.
I am personally responsible for all the words in all the columns except the headings.
My agreement with Steve Etwell back in early 2008 was that I could write about anything I like, providing a) I did not libel anybody and b) each column should contain 625 words.
I think it is true to say that the editor has always given me this freedom of expression and, from day one, has never found it necessary to make substantive changes to anything I have written.
Writing for The Chronicle is a real pleasure and I hope that, at least sometimes, some people enjoy reading what I have scribbled! So far, I am unaware of libelling anybody!
The headings, shown in italic type below, are those provided each week by The Chronicle. Main themes are my own summary of items in each of the columns. 13 June 2018: No.533 Today…….. Main theme: At least it is all my own work……
14 June 2017: No.481 From Thatcher to Elections; 480 columns and counting
Main theme: The absurdity of the timing of the British General Election
15 June 2016: No.429 Theory of Sudoku better left unknown
Main theme: Trying to understand Sudoku will drive you mad
10 June 2015: No.376 God Card trumps views
Main theme: A lively discussion with the late Sister Frances Flint
11 June 2014: No.324 Friendship does no harm amid grief’s dark spaces
Main theme: Grieving and sharing in the loss of a friend’s sister
12 June 2013: No.272 How many geniuses……?
Main theme: A eulogy about brilliant Aussie actor and comedian Bill Kerr
13 June 2012: No.220 When royalists’ drums roll, they take a lot of beating
Main theme: The Royal Jubilee; how good are Poms at that kind of thing!
08 June 2011: No.167 Trick starts thought process
Main theme: The ‘little village’ model of to-days real world
09 June 2010: No.115 Talk becomes covert task
Main theme: Talking After Dinner to State Crime Operations Command
10 June 2009: No.63 Count on it, physics can become real numbers game
Main theme: How big, how long, how old you can make things seem
11 June 2008: No.11 Dining out on talking, a privilege
Main theme: Leadership is hard work, a ‘heart matter’ and ‘head matter’
So that is a sample of what has been in my mind over the past decade. I rarely write about party politics because there are too many opinions already out there. I only rarely stray into religion because I am not very good at that and it could easily offend people. I like to maintain a mixture of “personal reminiscences” and more general themes ........
Thank you for reading my stuff..... back in 2008 I thought I might last for a couple of weeks.