What do you do when you’re in a hole?
Bernard Cribbins’ story, set to music, of a man in a hole has always struck me for the acuteness of its observation. There he is, digging a hole when, during his labours, he is told […]
“The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page.” – St. Augustine
I have been contemplating some parallels between travel and education. If we spend our lives inside a single room, over time we will come to know the walls, floor, ceiling and windows in the room […]
Salmagundi gardening
Once, when we were both young, a friend informed me that he had joined a cricket club. The club, he said with some pride, was named the Salmagundi Gardeners. Traditionally, salmagundi defines a dish of […]
Seasonal celebration, or why allotments are like campaigns…
Upon overhearing a conversation between a group of allotment holders, one could be forgiven for arriving at the conclusion that their glasses are perennially half-empty. Their morose observations make Eeyore seem cheerful and carefree. Winter […]
On Hawking, star-gazing and never giving up
“Remember to look up at the stars and not down at your feet. Try to make sense of what you see and wonder about what makes the universe exist. Be curious. And however difficult life […]
What it says on the tin
The Bonzo Dog Band may not necessarily find themselves on many of your vinyl and CD racks, MP3 players or Spotify playlists. I understand. The Bonzos were what happened when 60s art-school students spent too […]
On strategy and delivery
‘Tumble outta bed and I stumble to the kitchen, pour myself a cup of ambition…’. Great song, OK film. But what if nine to five isn’t enough? What if achieving your goal requires an altogether […]
Ring solstice bells!
We have reached the shortest day. Yay! December 21st marks a special moment in the year because I know that we are about to turn a corner. It’s not much of a corner I grant. […]
Roeux British Cemetery
Roeux British Cemetery is the final resting place of 350 young men. Before they were laid to rest it was possible to identify 319. The other 31 are known only ‘unto god’. The site of […]
Hurricane Irma
Well, little did I expect that this would be the title of my opening blog. The hurricane season always brings a sense of trepidation to the people of the Caribbean (and the Americas). Some years […]