What traditions have you not kept that your parents had? My dad never told my mum how much he earned. This always created mistrust and friction. Why did he do it? All part of his power game. When he discovered I shared a bank account with my wife, he warned me of my folly. IContinue reading “Honesty is best.”
Author Archives: Clive La Pensée
Learn to say ‘no!’
What strategies do you use to maintain your health and well-being? Say it every time someone wants you to do something that they present, as being for your benefit, but actually is for theirs. Examples. The extra beer you don’t want to drink, or helping you don’t want to eat, or film that goes onContinue reading “Learn to say ‘no!’”
Open All Night
Spillwords.com presents: Open All Night, flash fiction by Clive La Pensée, who started writing on the history of beer and became a world … Source: Open All Night
Classical music defines western culture
What is your favorite genre of music? Four chords. Dot dot dot dash in morse code. The famous V for victory. An unprepossessing start to a piece of music, but 20 minutes later Beethoven has us in a defining moment in Western civilisation. It defined the revolutionary forces sweeping away the defunct aristocratic rulers. ItContinue reading “Classical music defines western culture”
Laborare est orare
Words are my business, and then there is writers’ block. If nothing appears interesting and grabs my attention, how should it interest someone else. Well, I had the block big time and then I walked down a street in Liverpool that has a Catholic Primary School – not uncommon in Liverpool – and there wasContinue reading “Laborare est orare”
Jung and the feminine side
What was the best compliment you’ve received? “What about masculinity? Do you know how much femininity man lacks for completeness? Do you know how much masculinity woman lacks for completeness? You seek the feminine in women and the masculine in men. And thus there are always only men and women. But where are people? You,Continue reading “Jung and the feminine side”
Blue-sky thinking always has a cloud
Where would you go on a shopping spree? The word, ‘spree,’ says to me, shopping therapy, buying things you wouldn’t normally, maybe don’t need. So don’t do it! Such purchases become unsatisfying, almost before you have reached home and ignore the plight of people unable to afford essentials. I have just done a shopping spree,Continue reading “Blue-sky thinking always has a cloud”
Today’s actions are tomorrow’s outcomes
Do you believe in fate/destiny? Whatever I do today, will determine tomorrow. If I go to bed early, it will influence when I get up tomorrow, which will influence my day – my destiny. On this basis, history must be predetermined. A kidnap in Israel has sealed the fate of 30000 dead and millions displacedContinue reading “Today’s actions are tomorrow’s outcomes”
Be brave and true to yourself.
What advice would you give to your teenage self? I was a teenager in the 60s. I’ve written extensively about it. Angst and the Beatles Generation is a set of short stories about being a teenager, just before we were released from the slavery of being clones of our mums and dads. Be a person,Continue reading “Be brave and true to yourself.”
Fashion
What bores you? Wear clothes – kinda makes sense, but then sensible clothing, which puts high heels and slit jeans in the dustbin. Drive a car – if you have to, then a car commensurate to your needs. A farmer might need an SUV but not normal folks to do the shopping or visit mumContinue reading “Fashion”
Clive La Pensée 