Arts
A New Dark Age
I have been struggling for a reasonable historical analogy to illustrate where the western democracies are going today. As we have clearly entered a new dark age I do not intend to hypothesise when exactly [more…]
England
Arts
England weeps
As our glorious leader bumbles his way though this miss-tackled crisis, dropping mistimed bombshells every other week. His cabinet of yes men never cease their blatant brown-nosing compliance, nor their ‘grateful for position’ willingness to [more…]
Animals
Walk on the Wild Side
You know what they say, ‘if you can’t stand the heat, get out of…’ So, on a sticky, sultry summer’s day we decided to do just that and headed out of the bustle of the [more…]
Philosophy
The political machinations of Hirudo medicinalis
For those not fortunate enough to have received a classical education with a strong foundation of Latin, the above title may seem rather peculiar. How, in the name of all that is logical and sensible, [more…]
Arts
Postcard From Borrowdale
It seems an age now since I wrote about the 40 things we were going to do to celebrate our 40th wedding anniversary. To give you some idea, in 8 weeks we’ll have been married [more…]
Arts
A paralysis of dignity
[Credit for this piece goes to Mojo, without whose astute observations I would not have been inspired to write these words.] I don’t know about you, but for a number of years now, there has [more…]
Arts
A bird in a gilded cage
My lockdown is idyllic, I am one of the most fortunate people in England at the moment. We have a smallholding in the East Riding of Yorkshire, close to the river Derwent which is the border between [more…]
History
Postcard from Piercebridge
A few miles south of Legs Cross Bank, Dere Street crosses the River Tees at a place called Piercebridge, the Roman Morbium. Although no more than a village it is still regarded as a town [more…]
Arts
The English Pub
After many years of leading tours of European battlefields I decided to add another string to my bow & took the course at St. William’s College to qualify as a professional guide at York Minster. I [more…]