There seems to be more advice on how to avoid procrastination and improve time management than we could possibly take in, but they can still remain a problem. There are many reasons for procrastination – from tiredness to fear, lack of motivation and boredom – and getting to the cause is a good idea. Why … Read more
Reading the news can be depressing. Institutions and organisational structures everywhere seem to be failing and instead of reforming, improving or replacing them, more time and effort is put into squabbling about what to do than doing anything, and faith and respect in our ‘systems’ are disappearing. Many see the solution as joining a side, … Read more
YouTube is a good place to discover new artists and among my favourites are Camille and Kennerly, the Harp Twins, who are driving their dual harp revolution. Camille and Kennerly’s videos showcase their performances of a broad range of music interpreted by them on acoustic and electric harps. These vary from classic tunes to TV … Read more
Early this morning, as I drove round the corner of a country lane, I was horrified to be confronted by three young wild rabbits hopping towards me in the middle of the road. Luckily, I was able to slow down and, realising the danger, they hopped on to the grass verge and disappeared through a … Read more
I’m taking part in the July 2018 Ultimate Blog Challenge and on day 2 I read a blog by Fran Asaro on the topic of Bringing Crazy Back – 7 Ways to Lighten up You and Your Business, which really struck a chord with me. Much of my career has been spent on serious … Read more
You may have seen news reports of the second poisoning by a nerve agent in Salisbury, England. Most importantly, I hope the two people recover fast as, however it happened, this type of incident is horrific. I’m not going to discuss the incident itself as I feel I can know little of what really goes … Read more
I’m impatient, but I’m also patient. The older I get, the more I seem to become both. I can’t figure it out. As a child, I remember wanting things: a new bike, my first cassette tape recorder, a camera, hifi equipment and more. In those days, we saved up, putting aside some pocket money each … Read more
I paddled in the sea at Woolacombe again this morning, throwing a tennis ball for our dog, before starting work. What a blessed life. But it’s not always sunny. On wintry days, we’re struggling along the beach in wellies with our faces sandblasted by the wind. But still it’s a blessed life. We moved from … Read more
I first heard The Residents’ version of Satisfaction while at school and was immediately intrigued. I remember heading down to Flyover Records in Hammersmith and greedily buying several albums, not knowing what to make of them and getting hooked on Not Available. I followed them for 15 years or so, still not knowing what to … Read more
For my History MA, I recently wrote an essay on the topic of how 19th century imperial powers relied on collaboration with indigenous populations in order to administer their colonies. I am interested in collaboration – in the sense of ‘working together’ – because, however much we do or don’t like it, we are all … Read more
As a child, there was always something to read in our house: the Radio Times, books, newspapers, magazines, dictionaries, comics. While we listened to the radio and records, watched television and played with toys and in the garden, sometimes the house would be silent as we would all have our noses in books or magazines. … Read more
In 2016 I chose three words to focus on, following a suggestion by Chris Brogan, and I repeated this in 2017, when I chose: face, laugh and breathe. So how did I do? Face – Concerned at the growing polarisation of views on many issues, with so more people hiding behind flags, icons and groups, … Read more
It’s the time of year when plants are dying or bedding down for the winter. It’s all part of the cycle of death and life, and it touches us all. It makes me think of when I was first confronted with thinking about death. When I was 13, Crohn’s disease, with which I had been … Read more
Whatever happened to serious theatre? By that I don’t mean plays without jokes, but writing with depth that leaves you thinking and searching for answers the next day. Last night I had the pleasure of seeing Terrence McNally‘s Frankie and Johnny in the Clair de Lune at the SPACE in Ilfracombe. Now here I have … Read more
My baby teeth must have been stubborn and I remember my Mum taking me to the health clinic on the Bath Road, Hounslow for one to be extracted under anaesthetic. The strong memory of that day, some 50 years ago, is the weird dream I had after the mask was placed over my face to knock me out … Read more
At Junior School, I used to write the date at the top of the page in my diary before writing about what I’d done over the weekend just passed. Being the 1960s, I liked writing 196- and was quite concerned at the end of 1969 when I realised that the 6 would change to 7, … Read more
Today is the 13th anniversary of moving to Ilfracombe in North Devon. After locking the door of our house in Windsor, we posted the keys through the letterbox and set off in our two cars, with our cocker spaniel, Felix, wondering how our adventure would unfold. Not much went to plan, as we forgot that life … Read more
I chose three words to focus on in 2016: irreverent, kind, treasure. How did I do? I was still far too serious, have more work to do on being kind, but certainly do treasure everything in my life more than I ever have. How and why have I chosen my three words for 2017? Face … Read more
It’s probably because of the seasonal bombardment by adverts for things which I don’t need that I’ve been thinking a lot about what I do need. While I post a series on ‘my life’s essentials’, many of these are tongue-in-cheek as I’ve come to realise that I need very little to be content. Recently, I’ve … Read more
Recently, a pyrex half-pint jug that once belonged to my Grandmother broke. We had used it almost every day for decades and perhaps it was just worn out. I liked it because it had imperial measurements, which I work in for cooking and baking. Nothing lasts forever and I was fond of it because it was a connection … Read more