Author Archives: TanGental

About TanGental

My name is Geoff Le Pard. Once I was a lawyer; now I am a writer. I've published several books: a four book series following Harry Spittle as he grows from hapless student to hapless partner in a London law firm; four others in different genres; a book of poetry; four anthologies of short fiction; and a memoir of my mother. I have several more in the pipeline. I have been blogging regularly since 2014, on topic as diverse as: poetry based on famous poems; memories from my life; my garden; my dog; a whole variety of short fiction; my attempts at baking and food; travel and the consequent disasters; theatre, film and book reviews; and the occasional thought piece. Mostly it is whatever takes my fancy. I avoid politics, mostly, and religion, always. I don't mean to upset anyone but if I do, well, sorry and I suggest you go elsewhere. 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.

Whatever Next

Posted on Jul 26, 2021 by TanGental

I was rummaging around my blog, looking for something I’d written a while back and came across this, written for my first anniversary of blogging in April 2015. I offer it up for… well you decide. The Le Pard family, … Continue reading →

Posted in families, humour, memories, miscellany | Tagged families, humour, pets, TV | 12 Comments

Parts Of My Past – Lymington

Posted on Jul 25, 2021 by TanGental

If you go down to the coast today… Staycations are all the rage; a lot of people showed up on Bournemouth beach this weekend for instance, including my son on his stag weekend – poor Bournemouth. A bit further east … Continue reading →

Posted in Lymington, memories | Tagged alcohol, hampshire, lymington, memories | 9 Comments

Fishy Business #writephoto

Posted on Jul 24, 2021 by TanGental

This weeks prompt for #writephoto takes us underwater ‘Finn, they’re here.’ Finn Perch put down the dish cloth and flicked his tail. ‘Why are you whispering? They will see your bubbles.’ Gill Perch hissed and the elderly fish rolled his … Continue reading →

Posted in #writephoto, creative writing, humour, miscellany | Tagged #writephoto, creative writing, flash fiction, humour | 7 Comments

Hostas To Fortune

Posted on Jul 23, 2021 by TanGental

A regular blogging friend, Sarah revealed her love of the structurally indomitable plant, the not so humble hosta. That led to me mentioning it was one of the plant types my mother loved and that I had inherited several when … Continue reading →

Posted in dogs, gardening, miscellany, poems, poetry | Tagged dogs, garden, hostas, poem, poetry, snails | 14 Comments

On A Little Hill, Far, Far Away #Britishandirishlions #southafrica #memories

Posted on Jul 22, 2021 by TanGental

There is a rugby test match due to take place this Saturday in Cape Town between the British and Irish Lions and the current World Champions, South Africa. In 1997 I took my father to South Africa for his seventieth … Continue reading →

Posted in memories, south africa | Tagged British and Irish Lions, Isandlwana, rugby, South Africa | 16 Comments

Games For A Laugh #olympics #memories

Posted on Jul 21, 2021 by TanGental

It’s nearly Olympics time again and as happens stories around it brought back memories of my time working for the Organizing Committee of the London 2012 Olympics. I wrote a similar post six years ago but maybe this will resonate … Continue reading →

Posted in memories, Olympics | Tagged London 2012, memories, Olympics | 31 Comments

Limericks Encore…

Posted on Jul 20, 2021 by TanGental

Prompted by Lance, here… While sunning herself by the NileQueen Cleo reminisced with a smileShe said to a flunky‘That Mark Anthony’s hunky…Do we have him perchance on speed dial?’

Posted in limericks | Tagged limericks | 11 Comments

July Garden, After The Party #garden #july

Posted on Jul 19, 2021 by TanGental

No, not THE PARTY. That’s in August. The hen, which I mentioned yesterday. Things are coming on. The lawn should now be in pretty good fettle for the event. The new bedding planting is growing so we’re hopeful for colour. … Continue reading →

Posted in dogs, gardening, pets | Tagged cat, dog, garden | 45 Comments

Cakes And Hens #clementinecake #baking

Posted on Jul 18, 2021 by TanGental

It all started so well. The Textiliste brought home this baking magazine. In it was a gluten free recipe for a clementine cake. Why not, I thought. I have the ingredients. That was Thursday evening. Friday was always going to … Continue reading →

Posted in baking, cake, countryside, family, miscellany | Tagged baking, cake, partying | 21 Comments

Caught By A Phrase

Posted on Jul 17, 2021 by TanGental

The Textiliste has no sense of smell. Not really. So it wasn’t unusual to have a sack pushed at my face and asked to sniff. Dried lavender, you see. From last year. Collected from the garden it will be used … Continue reading →