It’s a Dog’s Life
In loving memory
Mike Nicholson MBE
1943 – 2026
Mike passed away peacefully in the early hours of Thursday 1st October 2026, aged 83.
A Royal Artillery officer, Mike was appointed MBE in the 1979 New Year Honours for his Army service – an honour he always made light of, and for organising the Green Goddess fire engines during the firemen’s strike. The Steam Room was where he came to let off steam: recollections, opinions and the letters the newspapers never printed. His writing remains here for everyone to enjoy, with Frank, as ever, in charge.
From The Steam Room
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Re-joining The EU – Some Ignorant Thoughts
This was the last article Mike sent for The Steam Room before he died on 1st October 2026. It is published here as he wrote it. I find it hard to understand the enthusiasm for re-joining the EU; no doubt there are many folk who…
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Rites of Passage/Privileges
Some Rites of Passage are merely caused by the business of growing up (eg, second teeth). However, there are others that reflect the mores of a society that have developed of many years, including, for example drinking in a pub. In recent times, I walked…
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What’s Gone Wrong?
What’s Gone Wrong? When I was young, I had no sense I bought a fiddle for eighteen pence . The only tune that it would play Was over the hills and far away Clancy Brothers What, if anything, has gone wrong with our society in…
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MY MILITARY MUSINGS
A Letter from Rear Admiral Ric Cheadle, Times Newspaper For those of us who would wish to see our defence capability return to a semblance of credibility, there is a dilemma. Do we support Labour, who are promising jam tomorrow; the Conservatives, who ate the jam…
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Banging On
Opinionated Random Thoughts (aka a Non Sequitur). By remaining seated and avoiding contact with mirrors, there are moments during which oldies like me can easily fleetingly manage to feel young again. During such delusional moments I can cast my mind back to the days of…
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LOOKING BACK
An Ornery Old Military Man Looks Back “A first-time author who should not be encouraged to reoffend” – JKR Background Born during World War II, the claim that my birth had been part of the war effort evaporated when it was pointed out that, as…
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How Will We Survive Without Nanny EU To Guide Us & Other Questions?
Below is a collection of recent letters to the Daily Telegraph (DT) that all failed to impress the Editor and probably anybody else for that matter: A Real Tonic Oh good! After four years of debate the European Commission has ruled that Britain can keep…
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Still Unloved………
Introduction. Below are letters sent to my favourite Newspaper over recent months that have failed to impress the Editor. National Parks What is likely to be the long term impact of throwing tarmac at natural pathways in a National Park as a means of attracting…
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More EU-related Random Thoughts Of A Prejudiced Mind
(Sub Title: What can one say? The safe answer to the question ‘what can one say?’ might be to keep schtum. However many will be disappointed to know that such a response would have been entirely out of character – sorry. After some three years…
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Sometimes Pompous Sometimes Not
Some passing thoughts from 2019 are offered, many of which failed to impress Newspaper Editors so I am absolutely confident that they will remain widely unread…………………………………………………. Neither Liberal Nor Democrat. A recent example of Brexit unpleasantness is offered by the posting of a photograph…