Author Archives: TanGental

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published four books - Dead Flies and Sherry Trifle, My Father and Other Liars, Salisbury Square and Buster & Moo. In addition I have published three anthologies of short stories and a memoir of my mother. More will appear soon. I will try and continue to blog regularly at geofflepard.com about whatever takes my fancy. I hope it does yours too. These are my thoughts and no one else is to blame. If you want to nab anything I post, please acknowledge where it came from.

Truth, Lies And Verbal Grouting

Posted on Apr 3, 2020

The lies came early, came often. ‘You’ll like this.’ ‘This won’t hurt.’ ‘The tooth fairy won’t come if…’ ‘Santa will be here tonight.’ Not yet five and already losing credulity. And yet hanging on, keeping a sliver of the faith. … Continue reading →

Posted in creative writing, dogs, gardening, miscellany | Tagged , , , , , | 23 Comments

Punchenello Tillingdown

Posted on Apr 2, 2020

I grew up with dogs. Or rather a dog. The worried mutt above was the son of the family dog when I was born. But Rusty didn’t survive for me to remember her. She was a pedigree boxer and so … Continue reading →

Posted in dogs, family, memories, thought piece | Tagged , , , | 38 Comments

Spring? Yeah Right. #poem #terriblepoetry

Posted on Apr 1, 2020

I thought I’d try Chelsea’s latest terrible poetry challenge, here. Spring? Yeah, right Spring has finally sprung But like a gorilla on an old mattress It’s barely left the ground Which is frankly disappointing. * This year’s daffodils Have wandered … Continue reading →

Posted in miscellany, poems, poetry | Tagged , , , , | 30 Comments

The past is always tense, the future perfect #thoughts

Posted on Mar 31, 2020

I wrote this in 2014; not sure what prompted it then. A bit pretentious perhaps but not far from what I believe. The quote in the title is from Zadie Smith – clever woman, that. And it’s what I understand when … Continue reading →

Posted in thought, thought piece | Tagged , , | 23 Comments

Cabbages Without Kings

Posted on Mar 30, 2020

I’ve grown to love the cabbage but it wasn’t easy. The Archaeologist, contrarian that he was, eschewed the traditional vegetables favoured by children in favour of Brussel sprouts which have universally turned small mouths into sealed capsules. Me, I looked on … Continue reading →

Posted in humour, miscellany, poems, poetry | Tagged , , | 13 Comments

Steering #horses #carrotranch

Posted on Mar 29, 2020

‘Can we go riding?’ I knew it would come. Eventually. Thing is, me and horses? Like me and swimming. Not natural. The horse: dangerous at both ends and uncomfortable in the middle. The stable lad sniggered. ‘You rid afore?’ I … Continue reading →

Posted in carrot ranch, creative writing, miscellany | Tagged , , | 11 Comments

Music: It’s Part In My Downfall #university #bristol #1976

Posted on Mar 28, 2020

In October 1976 I started my law degree at Bristol University. This was the most important phase of my life to date and as such the memories of those early days remain as vivid today as they were then. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Bristol, Memoir, miscellany, university | Tagged , , | 57 Comments