Arts
Family, Community, Identity
My Mum was born on 7th May 1945. My Nan (quite the socialite) used to complain that on the day of the biggest party ever she was stuck in a hospital with a new born [more…]
Arts
Arts
Postcard from the Isle of Man
As some of you may have noticed, I am a long-time resident of the evil tax dodging empire otherwise known as the Isle of Man. Apart from the beer guzzling, rubber burning hedonistic frenzy of [more…]
Arts
In Praise of The Uptick
According to the dictionaries, the word “uptick” means “a small increase or slight upward trend.” And it is an americanism. I could not find a definition in an online context, i.e. “uptick a comment”. That [more…]
Education
Using Evidence – A Guide to Living in an Information Age
The Past Previously I was a History teacher for 10 years. One of the most important skills I learned and taught others was how to critically examine information and evidence that you are presented with. [more…]
Arts
This Septic Eye, Ch 4
A bloodshot view through a puffy eye streaming with tears, usually of laughter, occasionally of anger. Rather reluctantly, I attended a Mothering Sunday lunch last week. I have nothing against mothers per se, let me [more…]
Arts
Selective Education
Whenever I hear the subject of grammar schools and selective education come up I pay attention and listen with more than a modicum of interest. When discussed by our esteemed establishment media it’s usually accompanied [more…]
Arts
When Martin Didn’t Meet Tommy – Speakers’ Corner
I started this piece last Sunday night, after the event, and was intending to finish it up and send it to Swiss Bob early in the week. But we all know what happened next. On [more…]
Arts
Postcard from The Blorenge
(Part 3 of my walking series. Part 1 and part 2 also available.) Blorenge or sometimes The Blorenge is a prominent hill overlooking the valley of the River Usk in Monmouthshire, southeast Wales. It is [more…]
Arts
This Septic Eye, Ch 3
Something truly remarkable happened last Sunday and it featured in every newspaper and TV station in the land. Under the circumstances I thought I would devote this entire section of Septic Eye to this extraordinary [more…]