Douglas

If I fill this in where does it go?

Creative Writing

Write on and change your life Creative Writing can help people recover from life’s misfortunes: bereavement, depression, divorce, surgery or mental illness. If you’re troubled and feel you’re struggling to cope with a life burdened by one or more of these, read on.     Many say the same thing and I have my own proof with …

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Dennis Nilsen

How Nilsen controlled his own legacy Mass murderer Dennis Nilsen, who confessed to killing 15 or 16 young men, but was only charged with six, is firmly established as one of Britain’s most notorious criminals.     His name is coupled with American Dr Crippen, war-time reservist policeman John Christie, the moors murderers Ian Brady and Myra …

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Enfield Poltergeist

After 40+ years the debate lives on Was it genuine paranormal activity or a sham dreamed up by two mischievous teenagers? Almost half a century after photographer Graham Morris and I made our way the Hodgson family home in Enfield’s Green Street on behalf of the Daily Mirror, opinion remains divided.The Starsky & Hutch posters …

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Journalism

  Need a new writer? Send for a supersub ‘Bill Bryson is laying down his pen and retiring from books’ Ben Macintre wrote in The Times on October 16 2020. The remainder of this entertaining piece continued as follows:      The funny, insightful, amiable, furry and hugely popular American writer will be missed, and nowhere …

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Blog

Why Ukraine will not lose independence If Vladimir Putin knew what I know he wouldn’t have invaded Ukraine, he’d have left his troops to complete their military ‘exercises’ on the border and left it at that. But instead he pushed the boundaries, seeing how far he could go.      When the West said it wouldn’t defend …

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Jazz

Covid gives Cornwall Price to play Covid-19 clobbered many things in 2020, among live music, not the least of which is jazz. Musicians, far from being the best paid component of the entertainment industry, suffered a dramatic loss of income.      All credit jazz guitarist Nigel Price who organised a mini tour for his quartet …

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Bridge

Bridge faces up to the next challenge The ways in which playing Bridge* has adapted since the Covid-19 pandemic suggests that the people still playing are more flexible than the game itself.     It wasn’t always the case. In the early days of lock-down there were plenty of duplicate regulars so proud of their technophobia that …

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