I can walk for hours through surprise city squares. There’s the gems I mentally store away for future visits: the Horniman’s museum and gardens, and there’s Charles Dickens’ house, not far from Great Ormond Street – how come I’ve never visited? There’s the new Everyman at King’s Cross – when will it be safe to visit? Questions that enjoyably buzz around my head.
The varied delights of London town *and some horrors Read More »
London provides a familiar welcome home. It’s not necessarily cheery. I’m not talking about a warm cuddle or a reassuring back-rub. It feels more like I’m being greeted by a nonchalant wave
London late night calls Read More »
It seemed there were millions of people in South America in this challenging position – of recycling scrap metal, be it transistor radios or chicken wire. And their already challenging situation got a lot worse as soon as lockdowns were imposed.
South American sirens Read More »
I think there’s still some way to go until all the relevant authorities and agencies understand the psychology of men who fall victim to abuse – how stubborn and proud some can be, and how reluctant therefore, they can be reaching out to or responding to social services.
The prisons we create for ourselves Read More »
In my summer series reminiscing about previous holidays and travel both before and during the pandemic, my latest post is on post-lockdown life in one of France’s most sparsely populated regions.
Physical distancing is a way of life in this part of France Read More »
The more I’ve read around the subject and listened to lectures, the more I understand there’s a Myth of the Resistance. Sure, millions did resist the Nazis, and there are many reasons French people can stand tall and celebrate this history of Resistance. But there’s something about the June 18th anniversary which doesn’t quite work when you read Charles de Gaulle was seen as rather an oddball himself.
Vignettes in what used to be Vichy France Read More »
The words, the single units, are overpowering scents of cheese. To my ear, the sentences are most troubling. They’re occupied provincial markets. Other times, they consist of warring articles and prepositions, hooting at one another as if they’re busily competing to reach the coast.
Looking back, looking forward Read More »
I hope this is one lesson we can all learn not just in the midst of this pandemic, but 75 years after Hitler died and 75 short years after (we thought) Nazism did too.
75 years ago (and what suffering might teach us) Read More »
Kidney Care UK needs support. Urgently. Like all UK charities, demand for their services is growing at exactly the same time their income is dropping.
Storytime for Kidney Care Read More »
Paris has to be one of the most enthralling, and yet somehow enervating places on earth. Every single step for Parisians drains them of life as they complain about life itself.
Calling all free Frenchmen (and women) Read More »