Education
The Party’s Over, It’s Time to Call it a Day
There are many reasons why I took on the job as caretaker. The school is just across the road, the pay is reasonable for the hours worked, I am, technically, my own boss and I [more…]
Education
Education
The Party’s Over, It’s Time to Call it a Day
It never entered my mind that I would be doing this job for… checks retirement date …more than 15 years… It was around March and Mrs C. was working at the school as a dinner [more…]
Arts
Diary
A View From (The Shed By) The Greenhouse; The Great Betrayal(s)
My loyal reader may remember an article I published, funnily enough, in May 2022 when I wrote about my encounter with a fellow in Bath and my resultant (and still current) flirtation with herbalism. I [more…]
Arts
Early Spring is pleasant in Hong Kong
Early Spring is pleasing in Hong Kong – twenty or so degrees, varying humidity and breeze, but pleasant. The Hong Kong flower show starts today (14 March). An indication of a growing season rather different [more…]
20th Century
Economics
The Case Against Fordism
It’s hard to imagine where we would be today in terms of economic progress, industrial production capacity and labour dynamics if Henry Ford never existed. The revolutionary system he pioneered in the early 20th century, [more…]
Authoritarianism
Harambee! Harambee Tena!
The first ever fundraiser in Kenya took place in December 1928. It has been 96 years but we still say, Harambee!!! October 1, 2024 The year is 1926. Kenya is under colonial rule. Natives in [more…]
19th Century
Postcard from Birmingham, Part Six
In recent weeks we have allowed ourselves to be distracted by summer riots, 1980s football matches and pop concerts, the Falkland Islands and even the delivery of mail to the South Pole at Christmas. Puffins [more…]