Dr Barley shares his views on life and hopefully raises a few smiles along the way.
Just to set the scene: I'm married to Gillian, a part-time primary school teacher who listens to The Archers whilst ironing, likes to play netball, and is mostly vegetarian - the odd Big Mac excepted! Bethany is my, just turned thirteen, teenage daughter who likes to play the clarinet and piano and is generally bright and bubbly except first thing in the mornings - when she'd easily win a part as an extra in a zombie movie. Christian is my ten year old son who reads voraciously, has more energy than the electricity board, and likes to pair his brilliant sense of humour with some truly awful jokes. Billy Bob and Dory are our two goldfish and complete our happy family. Sadly Katie, our transsexual hamster, died recently - he is sorely missed.
Posted 30/10/2008 - A Not So Clean Break of It
Steven remembers the days when a weekend in Brighton didn't involve kids, but did involve a mystery garment in bed!
Posted 12/10/2008 - What the Credit Crunch Really Means
Tired of hearing all those financial phrases in the news but not knowing what they're talking about? Try Steven's alternative guide to the credit crunch gobbledegook!
Posted 03/10/2008 - Missing Letters
When Steven's local freebie newspaper has a printing error, it produces some hilarious results.
Posted 22/09/2008 - On Yer Bike Mate!
Cycling 520 miles over the French Alps is nothing compared to the grief Steven gets from his fellow cyclists before they've even begun their gruelling tour.
Posted 02/09/2008 - Deciphering the Country Code
Flies, wasps, voles, what more could you ask for on holiday? Steven shares his country experiences and creature discomforts.
Posted 15/08/2008 - The Emperor's New Clothes
Steven attends the Swanwick Writers' Summer School, makes lots of new friends and shares his contemporary take on a classic fairy tale.
Posted 04/08/2008 - How Difficult Can a Sandwich Be?
According to Steven, the collective noun for a group of elderly relatives is an 'indecision', but how difficult can it really be to take orders for sandwich fillings?
Posted 22/07/2008 - When Computers Die
A writer without a computer is just an idle thinker. A pen and paper won't hack it either.
Posted 04/07/2008 - The Recycling Roundabout
Brown bins, grey bins, blue bins, black bins. The Barley household's bin recycled!