Laurie Taylor

1 month ago | newhumanist.org.uk | Laurie Taylor

Now that I am in my late eighties, I have sadly become used to losing good friends of a similar age. But the news of the death of Caspar Melville tragically fails to fit that pattern. For Caspar died a few weeks ago at the tender age of 58, after spending a total of twenty-two months lying in hospital and nursing home beds following a serious cycling accident.

Nov 1, 2023 | newhumanist.org.uk | Laurie Taylor

In common with other young Catholic boys, I spent long hours on my knees saying prayers for departed relatives. “Don’t forget to pray for your Uncle Leslie,” Mother would call as I climbed the stairs to bed. This always seemed an odd injunction because I knew only too well that poor Uncle Leslie had been thoroughly dead and buried for the best part of 10 years.

Oct 14, 2023 | siouxcityjournal.com | Laurie Taylor

DEAR ABBY: I was married for 20 years. We met when I was 13. Our relationship continued through high school and college. We later married and had three children. I held down a full-time job while taking care of a large house, running the children to practices, helping with homework, etc. Our marriage fell apart, and we divorced seven years ago. We always attended our children's events together and stayed connected as each child left the nest and our oldest got married.

Jul 26, 2023 | newhumanist.org.uk | Laurie Taylor

I dislike anniversaries. With the help of my Filofax I can usually manage to honour the bulk of my friends’ birthdays – “Hi Charlotte. Best wishes for your very special day. Gosh doesn’t time fly. Do give me a ring next time you’re down south” – but I am frankly unable to pronounce with any degree of certainty upon the length of my present marriage, the exact number of years since my pacemaker was fitted or the precise date when my beloved Liverpool were last declared champions of Europe.

Apr 3, 2023 | newhumanist.org.uk | Laurie Taylor