Words in Conflict
Conflict is central to creative writing, as of course, are words. I can’t remember why I looked the word liege up this morning. I think it was something I heard on the radio. I already knew perfectly well what it meant. It means lord or master, as in my liege. Except...
Writing, Dying, and Insults
I came across two lists recently, which caught my attention. The first was a list of insults. Winston Churchill was a master of insults. Apparently George Bernard Shaw wrote to Churchill saying “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a...
Getting Back in the Saddle
The only problem with a long holiday is getting back to work afterwards. After almost a month touring South America my brain is imbued with the Inca empire, the plants and animals of the Amazon Rainforest, the thunder of the Iguazu Falls, and so much more. But what...
Inca Gold
It’s been over a month since my last post: we have been on holiday in South America. Machu Picchu was on Claire’s bucket list, and it did not disappoint. We were blessed with a wonderful guide for most of our almost four week tour, Berner Torres. Berner told me that...
Persian New Year
Last night we celebrated Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year. Neither I nor Claire have any Persian connections, but we did attend an Indian street food cookery course with Vaughn’s Kitchen and Cookery School and they run pop-up evenings in a barn near us. The theme...
Saint Patrick
I’ve never really celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day. I’ve visited Ireland twice, the first time as a baby, and the second time on a one day business trip to Dublin. Claire and I have talked about going, but Ireland is the Emerald Isle, and what we’ve learnt about places...
Dictator and Tolerance
On 15th March 44 BC, Brutus, Cassius, and other senators, assassinated Julius Caesar. He had orchestrated his appointment as dictator four years earlier. I am inclined to wish that all dictators could be dispatched so quickly. Yet even four years must feel like an...
Golf
The first varsity golf match between Oxford and Cambridge was played on 13th March 1878 at Wimbledon. I’m delighted to find that Oxford won 24 - 0. According to Golf Monthly it is the oldest amateur event in the game, because the British Amateur Championship was first...
Tax and Welfare
It is reported today that Rishi Sunak wants to squeeze welfare to reduce tax. I’m sure that many tax payers don’t like to see people who are able to work claiming welfare benefits. However I have two related questions for Rishi Sunak. The first question is where are...
Words in Conflict
Conflict is central to creative writing, as of course, are words. I can’t remember why I looked the word liege up this morning. I think it was something I heard on the radio. I already knew perfectly well what it meant. It means lord or master, as in my liege. Except...
Writing, Dying, and Insults
I came across two lists recently, which caught my attention. The first was a list of insults. Winston Churchill was a master of insults. Apparently George Bernard Shaw wrote to Churchill saying “I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a...
Getting Back in the Saddle
The only problem with a long holiday is getting back to work afterwards. After almost a month touring South America my brain is imbued with the Inca empire, the plants and animals of the Amazon Rainforest, the thunder of the Iguazu Falls, and so much more. But what...
Inca Gold
It’s been over a month since my last post: we have been on holiday in South America. Machu Picchu was on Claire’s bucket list, and it did not disappoint. We were blessed with a wonderful guide for most of our almost four week tour, Berner Torres. Berner told me that...
Persian New Year
Last night we celebrated Nowruz, which is the Persian New Year. Neither I nor Claire have any Persian connections, but we did attend an Indian street food cookery course with Vaughn’s Kitchen and Cookery School and they run pop-up evenings in a barn near us. The theme...
Saint Patrick
I’ve never really celebrated Saint Patrick’s Day. I’ve visited Ireland twice, the first time as a baby, and the second time on a one day business trip to Dublin. Claire and I have talked about going, but Ireland is the Emerald Isle, and what we’ve learnt about places...
Dictator and Tolerance
On 15th March 44 BC, Brutus, Cassius, and other senators, assassinated Julius Caesar. He had orchestrated his appointment as dictator four years earlier. I am inclined to wish that all dictators could be dispatched so quickly. Yet even four years must feel like an...
Golf
The first varsity golf match between Oxford and Cambridge was played on 13th March 1878 at Wimbledon. I’m delighted to find that Oxford won 24 - 0. According to Golf Monthly it is the oldest amateur event in the game, because the British Amateur Championship was first...
Tax and Welfare
It is reported today that Rishi Sunak wants to squeeze welfare to reduce tax. I’m sure that many tax payers don’t like to see people who are able to work claiming welfare benefits. However I have two related questions for Rishi Sunak. The first question is where are...