Arts
Sinking the enemy BBC style
When I heard through a third-party that the BBC was planning, and I quote, ‘to sink’ my new book about them I wasn’t that surprised. After all, the theme of ‘The Fake News Factory: Tales [more…]
Culture
Arts
Postcard From Cumbria; Silloth and Abbeytown
Mention Cumbria to most people and they generally think “Lake District”. This isn’t always the case, mention Cumbria to a paid up member of the Urban “wokerati” and all you’ll get in response is a [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 50
Roberto rolled out of his hammock and felt the soles of his feet against a mud floor. He could hardly stand up. An empty bottle of local brew fell from him and bounced by his [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lundy Island
“I’ve just got back from Lundy Island.” These words are often greeted by furrowed brows and hazarded guesses as to its whereabouts. “Oh yes – somewhere in Scotland, isn’t it?” Hands up Postalliers who know? [more…]
19th Century
A Labour of Love
Introduction Hidden away in the heart of France’s Drôme region about 50km south of Lyon is a little known yet magnificently eccentric example of naïve architecture that is well worth a detour or, in my [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 49
I’m in my hotel room, above the ‘Anglo Philippine’ office in Davao City, having my siesta. I’m in the dangerous south of the Philippine islands to, amongst other things, make a delivery of school books [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 48
For a recap of the story so far, please click here. We’re plodding around Lille on a cold Sunday afternoon at the end of November 2018. There are six of us in a wedge. Five [more…]
Arts
Postcard from Lille, Part 47
For a recap of the story so far, please click here. For some reason, Sister thought that things were, ‘Pretty shitty’. She’d just met the Pope, was flying first class and was eating a delicious [more…]
Arts
Shunting dusted off
Christmas is always a time that makes me nostalgic, harking back to the time when you looked forwards to presents that didn’t induce a hangover or keep your feet warm. It’s also a time when, [more…]