Category: Prattlings

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The Death of My Dreams

Shaun Stafford

I’m 55 – well, at the time of writing this post, I am – and it has occurred to me that I am now much closer to the end of my life than I am to my beginning. Those early memories, the vast majority of them, have faded. That memory of being a small child, perhaps two, and visiting my father at his home. Remembering his drum kit. Seeing the nearby church. I can remember it as a vague recollection. I can remember passing the 11+, so I would be sent to the local public school, and the disappointment I … Continue reading The Death of My Dreams

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UK and Britain – What it is and isn’t.

Shaun Stafford

I’m going to begin by saying that I live in the UK. I was born in the UK, and I’m not that well-travelled, having visited the US, France, Belgium and Ireland. But I wanted to provide some patronizing education about the UK. About what it is, and what it isn’t. We are pretty much unique (that is, we stand alone with Israel and New Zealand) insomuch as we don’t have a written constitution embodied in a single document. But discussing that will lead to complex issues that I’m certainly not qualified to educate anyone on. So, the UK. Or, to … Continue reading UK and Britain – What it is and isn’t.

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To cause offence

Shaun Stafford

Recently, on Twitter, I posted something – and I’m paraphrasing – about “All right is two words. Alright isn’t proper English.” Or words to that effect. Lots of people agreed, lots disagreed, and some of my followers retweeted the tweet, and people who didn’t follow me commented as well. One comment stated that “Alright is perfectly acceptable.” And I responded with something like, “Try using it in an academic paper.” It was meant as a bit of a light-hearted response. I mean, who really wants to fall out over the whole all right/alright argument? In her reply (she looked like … Continue reading To cause offence