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Writers

Susan Grimsdell

After retiring from audiology some years ago, Susan’s finding life’s pretty good with lots of time to do what she likes. That includes walking, reading, having coffee with friends, and a bit of activism thrown in. Also, day by day doing her best not to worry too much over the many threats to our gorgeous planet.
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Trevor Plumbly

Meet Trevor. He’s had quite a colourful career, from his early days as a pub manager in Tunbridge Wells he went on to become Dunedin’s leading auctioneer. Trevor is a published author and was something of a TV personality in the 1980s as a regular panellist on a show about antiques.
Read Trevor’s Blog

Emily Smart

Emily is very loud, and has really bad taste in cheesy pop music. When not at work flogging goods to the public via advertising and marketing campaigns, she can be found hiding from her partner and children at the local pub. If you’re easily offended or don’t appreciate the constant use of profanities, then you probably shouldn’t read Emily’s posts. You have been warned!
Read Emily’s Blog

Angela Caldin

Angela has had many roles in her life including: schoolgirl, student, daughter, friend, civil servant, wife, lover, mother, manager, magistrate, landlady, teacher, grandmother, blogger, editor and proofreader.
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The latest

Posted on September 1, 2015 by talkaholics

Real TV by Trevor Plumbly

Your starter for 10 Reality TV never did it for me, but as the years have advanced and the eyesight retreated I’ve developed a strange attraction for quiz shows. At 5 o’clock sharp I prepare myself for the daily fix. Beer at hand, brain in buzz mode, staring earnestly at a grey TV screen occupied by equally grey and fuzzy contestants. The shows themselves are blatantly formulaic, if you can answer all the questions you win pots of money, but if you get one wrong, you’re out on your ear. A bit… Read More

Posted on August 25, 2015 by talkaholics

Across But Not Down by Trevor Plumbly

Up and down One across was relatively simple ‘Home educated? 5 & 7’ answer ‘house trained’. But then they always do that, they give you a simple clue to drag you in and then hit you with the migraine stuff a bit further down. They use all sorts of cunning ploys to put you off the scent, word puns, anagrams, abbreviations and Roman numerals are just part of their ammunition. The master for me was the Rev. John Graham who published in The Guardian for many years under the pen name Araucaria,… Read More

Posted on August 18, 2015 by talkaholics

Party Games by Trevor Plumbly

ACTing up I know I’m lucky to live in a country like NZ and shouldn’t take the Mickey out of the place, but Brits are Brits and we tend to find humour in the strangest places. We also realise that we can do stuff all to control those who control us. Outside the periodic use of the ballot box, the best form of retaliation is mockery. The political system here, if it can be called that, is MMP, if you’re politically learned you’ll understand MMP, if not it would be like trying… Read More

Posted on August 11, 2015 by talkaholics

The Moon and Sixpence by Trevor Plumbly

Lost in space ‘One giant leap for mankind’, but was it really? I don’t want to belittle Mr. Armstrong’s or even America’s achievements in 1969, but I can’t help wondering what, outside a bit of boffin back-slapping and national flag waving, the moon landing and the ensuing trillion dollars’ worth of junk chucked up there has provided any real benefit to improve things down here. I guess the main benefits could be communication, but increasing the current speed of communication is like gilding a lily that’s got a bit rotten in parts…. Read More

Posted on August 4, 2015 by talkaholics

Let’s Have a Bloody Good Cry by Trevor Plumbly

    One way ticket As one gets older, minor things tend to slip away a bit, this of course can be useful, I can sidestep all sorts of crap by just looking confused and elderly. But some things you just can’t escape. When you get past the biblical age standard for breathing, there are constant reminders that at some point the clock ain’t going to rewind. There are those of course who believe that there’s some sort of return ticket attached to conking it, which I suppose is a comforting thought… Read More

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The Writers
We’re four Brits who made the big move from the UK to the other side of the world. We love New Zealand, the English language having a good laugh and the occasional moan. Ah, just read our posts and you’ll get the gist.
Latest from Twitter
  • The dream Wrong time of the year I know, but at my age I'll take memories whenever I can get them. Contrary to the… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
  • Here you go Trevor, here are my musings on the topic of puberty. I don’t like the word puberty; I mean that I don’t… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
  • The irony of talking about puberty at the ripe old age of 48 has not been lost on me. Thank you Trevor for remindin… twitter.com/i/web/status/1… 1 year ago
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