November 14, 2024November 14, 2024 How truth toppled an archbishop Next Sunday, with a degree of irony, is Safeguarding Sunday in the Church of England. And priests across the land are probably wondering what to say to their flock. I would be. It is not a good moment for the church; though who knows? Maybe it is. The Archbishop has this week belatedly resigned over a safeguarding scandal; but the visceral anger reverberating through the church suggests he will not be the last Episcopal fall guy. And it’s hard to know with stories like this which of these are worse: …
November 5, 2024November 5, 2024 R.I.P. Nuance We gather here today to say farewell and goodbye to nuance, a much loved member of the human family, now …
October 23, 2024October 26, 2024 Pink Floyd in Eastbourne We saw Pink Floyd perform in Eastbourne last night. Well, not the actual Pink Floyd because they aren’t talking to …
February 19, 2024February 19, 2024 Rachel Reeves’ autocue At a recent meeting in Westminster Hall, Rachel Reeves, the Shadow Chancellor, stands up to speak. It’s an important speech, …
February 13, 2024February 13, 2024 Lent is… It is the season of Lent and we know the score. In Lent we take down the colourful hangings and …
February 6, 2024February 6, 2024 The king has cancer Is it virtuous to suffer? Some think so and they organise it themselves. They take responsibility for their own punishment, …
January 25, 2024January 25, 2024 Optimist or pessimist? Optimist or pessimist? People tend to opt for one or the other. ‘I’m a glass half-empty person,’ they say or, …
January 17, 2024January 17, 2024 Order, order! Newsletter: January 2024 Greetings again, web friend, and I’d like to write about order, if that’s OK? I’m aware it …
January 12, 2024January 12, 2024 In praise of ordinary Maybe it’s a year for being ordinary; transparently and happily ordinary; though others may be offering what appear to be …
January 2, 2024 Beginnings It is not that the past doesn’t exist; it touches our lives still, and not always kindly. The past is …
December 18, 2023December 18, 2023 All the light we cannot see It is early, before curtains open, kettles boil and dreams let go of our souls. The world is quiet. And …
December 12, 2023December 12, 2023 How important are words? ‘How can you, as an author, say that?’ he asked with more incredulity than I expected. He was reacting to …