Tales of the Well-Spring 6 – returning to Source
Tales of the Well-Spring 6 – returning to Source “Time like an ever-rolling stream bears all its sons away” says the old hymn. And its daughters too, though we still seem to be seldom mentioned,...
View ArticleThe vital importance of beauty, truth and hope in books
The vital importance of beauty, truth and hope in books As a card-carrying depressive, I’m not someone known for being an optimist. I’m sometimes like the love child of Marvin the Paranoid Android and...
View ArticleIt’s Ground Hog Day – no, sorry, it’s #WorldMentalHealthDay
It’s Ground Hog Day – no, sorry, it’s #WorldMentalHealthDay (Warning: serious gloom ahead. Just letting you know.) Just like Christmas, World Mental Health Day takes me by surprise each year and leaves...
View Article‘Tis the season to be spooky…
…and I have some spooktacular* offers for you to enjoy. I have (for the duration of the season and maybe beyond) made my shorter works a little cheaper. This means that my novella The Hedgeway is now...
View ArticleAn Unmerry Christmas Book.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year… Actually, for many, it absolutely ISN’T. I’m not a fan of Christmas; I don’t get starry-eyed and enthusiastic about getting the tree up. I get quite morose...
View ArticleO Christmas Tree!
O Christmas Tree! (a slightly cynical short tale) “What am I bid for this lovely set of vintage, nay, antique, Christmas tree ornaments? Who’ll start the bidding at £10?” She was never sure why she...
View ArticleAn Epiphany, of sorts
An Epiphany, of sorts Today marks Epiphany, the festival that for most marks the end of all things Christmas. It commemorates the arrival of the Magi, coming to pay their respects to the infant Jesus,...
View ArticleA Decade of Tightrope Walking – a celebration of ten years of blogging
A Decade of Tightrope Walking – a celebration of ten years of blogging February the 9th marks a full decade since I began Zen and the Art of Tightrope Walking. I’m genuinely not sure how to mark this...
View ArticleFragments and Inertia (musings and mutterings)
Fragments and Inertia (musings and mutterings) In the ten or so years since I began blogging I’ve seen a lot written about SEO (search engine optimisation), detailing how to gain greater prominence...
View Article“We left the camp singing” – the interrupted life of Etty Hillesum
“We left the camp singing” – the interrupted life of Etty Hillesum These words, written on a postcard thrown from a cattle transport on its way out of Holland to Poland and its ultimate destination,...
View ArticleBrand new year – same old me
Brand new year – same old me I’ve never quite understood the hype of New Year. The changing of the calender is, in modern times, quite arbitrary. It pays no heed to celestial events like solstices, or...
View ArticleMéchant Loup Modern Fables for Sensible Grown-ups
Méchant Loup Modern Fables for Sensible Grown-ups Time for a big announcement. New book! Yes, finally. When I was glancing through the files for this one, I saw that the start of the collection as such...
View ArticleOn the Dominance of Filthy Lucre
On the Dominance of Filthy Lucre You’ve undoubtedly heard the phrases, “Money makes the world go round,” and “The love of money is the root of all evil”. In recent months, it’s become apparent to me...
View ArticleDame Julian and self-isolation – some lessons from the 14th century
Dame Julian and self-isolation – some lessons from the 14th century Despite having her writings, we actually know surprisingly little about Dame Julian,https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Julian_of_Norwich...
View Article“The Bet” analysis of chapter 2
The inimitable “We Lack Discipline” are doing a chapter by chapter critique of my novel, “The Bet”. This is for chapter 2. I suspect it’s probably at least as long as the chapter itself. Be aware that...
View ArticleVoice from the Cave – a new book
Voice from the Cave – a new book I’ve not written a blog since November last year. Six months of silence. It’s not that I haven’t had anything to say. I have. I kept thinking of all the things I want...
View ArticleNot Too Bad, All Things Considered – 2022 and all that it involved.
Not Too Bad, All Things Considered – 2022 and all that it involved. There’s a profound difference how different nationalities respond to being asked how they are. The wonderful Bill Bailey evokes such...
View ArticleA New Year Begins At Imbolc
A New Year Begins At Imbolc Happy New Year! You might think I am late but it depends when you decide a new year starts. The Celts started their new year at Samhain (our Halloween). The Romans chose...
View ArticleNot Recovering From Anything
Not Recovering from Anything According to some, the pandemic is over with. Done. Finished. History. Well, I’d say it’s certainly history. Living through such a disruptive and frightening period is...
View ArticleWhere’s my DOPAMINE? On finally finishing writing a book.
Where’s my DOPAMINE? On finally finishing writing a book. About ten days ago, I limped to the finishing line of completing the first draft of “On Hob Hill.” It took me about four years. In the past,...
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