Silence and noise fascinate me. I used to work with a manager who told me that as soon as she arrived home, she turned on the television in the background. Now people have TV, radio or other audio devices throughout their homes, and ear buds or headphones to provide sound wherever they go: on transport, … Read more

While I don’t make New Year resolutions, I used to follow a practice suggested by Chris Brogan of choosing three words to focus on over a year. Lately, I find a number of issues recurring and have selected three as my focus words for 2024, issues which I believe we will be forced to address … Read more

Sometimes this world, or rather what we do in this world, seems too much to stomach: politicians, governments, institutions, wars, economic worries, technology, greed. Why are we so crazy? I don’t like to bury my head in the sand, but temporary diversions can help. I’m reading a Dorothy L. Sayers novel from the 1930s. Enjoyable, … Read more

Sleep is vital. It settles us. It heals us. It recharges us. I have been very fortunate to have slept through most of the troubles of the past four years. I slept through the pandemic, the cost of living crisis, personal and family health problems (including my own) and all the associated worries. I believe … Read more

1 January 2024. Another day. What is different? Nothing outside the tiny inward-looking world of humanity. Nature continues to work hard: in the Northern hemisphere many plants have long withdrawn from the surface and are regenerating in readiness for Spring. As far as we know, only humans use numbers, at least as a written language. … Read more

The idea for this story popped into my head when I was researching and writing my dissertation for my History MA in 2019. I put it on hold and each year have tried to complete it before Christmas until abandoning it as work deadlines took precedence. With similar deadlines this year, I was determined to … Read more

On 1 January I stepped on and broke my glasses. What an idiot! Why did I put them on the floor? I’ll never know. They are new and very comfortable. I have to replace them. Life is full of risk and failure. Good job too. My memorable failures include my revolutionary recipe for Pickled Onion … Read more

Traditionally, New Year is a time for adopting new resolutions. I don’t follow this custom as such, but I do assess what I have worked on over the previous 12 months to decide if and how I might modify my approach. This year, five qualities stand out which have become valuable to me and which … Read more

All Hallows Eve, the first day of Allhallowtide, turns my mind to those souls no longer on earth. During the long hospital vigil before my Mum’s departure, a clinical psychologist talked with us about the approaching change and how we would create new traditions to replace those we had celebrated happily with loved ones over … Read more

What a marvellous holiday in the garden. Building another raised bed using planks from an old shed door so we can grow more potatoes – their flavour is sublime. Preparing for another water butt to increase our rainwater harvesting – we have no shortage of naturally occurring fresh water when we can be bothered to … Read more

Both my parents were tailors and sewing was a constant activity in our house. Dad conjured jackets and suits out of rolls of cloth and canvas, while Mum’s hand-sewn buttonholes were works of art. But there were pins everywhere. Often sticking in our feet: ouch! One day, some of those typically pointless questions popped into … Read more

This morning when I walked down our high street with the Four-Footed Financial Controller, one shopkeeper was sweeping the pavement while another had a mop and bucket and was washing it down. These businesses are 100+ and 60 years old respectively, but still care not only about their customers but our community and place too. … Read more

Freeze! A human response to threats. At one time, I had nightmares where I tried to escape from a threat but was literally glued to the spot – at which point I would wake up startled. I also went through a time of grief when I found it tough to do the simplest things: getting … Read more