For the Christmas edition of Critical Mass, Dave Middleton asked contributors for lists of twelve: books, songs, films; whatever we like. So naturally I chose books. Now Critical Mass is…

Recently the Guardian published this poem by Simon Armitage. I wanted to react to Cop26 – so many of my friends and colleagues have been emboldened by the conversation it has…

This is my entry to the Kendal Mountain Festival Open Mountain Competition. It was not selected so I am sharing it here. Background The county of Cumbria is not well…

On mischief night I lock my door Against the knocking of the poor.“Trick or Treat?” I hear them cry.We need to eat or we will die!”“The treats are on the…

Wilhelm Von Humboldt (1767 – 1835) was a linguist and a philosopher of language who tells this story about naming. A peasant was listening to astronomy students as they were…

A recent article online attracted some criticism because it referred to black women instead of Black women. The rationale is that ‘Black’ is a placeholder for identity. And it makes…

KABUL AIRPORT 16 AUGUST 2021“Completing the pre-flight checklist:”Flight controls — CheckedInstruments and radios — CheckedAltimeter — CheckedGyroscope — CheckedFuel gauges — CheckedPropeller — CheckedMagnetos — CheckedFlaps — Checked Unchecked items:…

I have just started reading Vaxxers. It is a brilliant book that tackles the anxiety that surrounds the rollout of the Covid vaccine programme. How do I know it is…

Compare these two areas of government expenditure. One contributes over £42 billion to the economy and employs nearly 200,000 people. It also directly supports another 260,000 jobs in the UK,…

Following the final of EURO21 three black footballers were subject to a torrent of racist abuse on social media. Whatever their intent, the racists have only succeeded in provoking a…