Blogs

I fear your voice has lost its charm, Sauruman Well. This has been an interesting week.  I make no apologies for re-using the headline I used on the morning of November 9 2016 when it became clear that the United States had become so disenfranchised with politics that it elected …

Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you. ‘Scuse my French, but what a bloody mess. How is it that we went through so much pain and anguish, lost so much money, so many jobs, went …

Tomorrow, and tomorrow, and tomorrow, Creeps in this petty pace from day to day, To the last syllable of recorded time; There is no view so clear, so perfect, so sharp as that of hindsight, of looking back  on something and pronouncing what should have happened, instead of what did …

 It was the age of foolishness, it was the epoch of belief, it was the epoch of incredulity, it was the season of Light, it was the season of Darkness, When is a deadline not a deadline? When it’s a Brexit negotiation deadline it seems. Last Sunday was the deadline. …

Live a little, cheer a little, comfort thyself a little The good news is that the first batches of the coronavirus vaccine have arrived in the UK, been transported round the country and are being administered into the upper arms of those at the top of the list as I …

Search for the hero inside yourself Who is your favourite superhero? Superman – Xray vision has to be quite handy, right? Or Batman, all dark and brooding and a cool car. Maybe Captain America, he of the nifty shield and the clean-cut wholesome goodness. Black Panther – a king AND …

When shall we three meet again? In thunder, lightning or in rain Eventually, all the coronavirus hurly-burly will be done and the Covid-19 battle won. Thanks to Pfizer, to Moderna, to the science boffins at Oxford University and AstraZeneca, it looks as though there is some sort of end in …

 Expelliarmus To paraphrase Oscar Wilde, to get rid of one political irritant may be fortunate, to get rid of two, seems like good planning. Barely a week after the US electorate turned out in their millions to send the Joe Biden/Kamal Harris partnership on the path to the White House, …

A long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away… On the evening of November 8th 2016, I wobbled off to my bed (it was during the NBG Conference after all) around 1am, having kept an eye on the US Presidential election over the course of the evening. Off I …

Empleomania – the overweening and manic desire to hold public office, at any cost If blogs came with sound effects, this one would begin with the theme tune from Jaws. Just when you thought it was safe to go back into the water, gym, pub, golf course, train, office, restaurant, …