Sydney certainly exists. Most can confidently name Melbourne. A smug minority will inform you that, in fact, Canberra is the capital. But, from my experience, thus ends the familiarity with Australia for anyone living outside its borders. Before arriving, the vast island was a blank desert to my imagination, with Sydney and Melbourne posted somewhere... Continue Reading →
A Grand Farewell to Boris Johnson
At long last, the seemingly inevitable yet always impossibly elusive has finally occurred. Boris Johnson has tendered his resignation as Prime Minister. Sort of. How long he hopes to cling on (and precisely why, at this stage) is a mystery known only to him, but his last departure is surely imminent. All that remains... Continue Reading →
Information
Apologies again to my many, many readers for whom my posting infrequency must be torturous. I’ve been largely preoccupied by various other writing projects, leaving little time for additional wordage. By way of another brief update, gainful employment has also extinguished much of my other free time, which has been for the purpose of funding... Continue Reading →
Microsoft Office integrates ‘Woke’ features into its spell check
I recently discovered, entirely by accident, that the latest Microsoft Office update has added an ‘inclusivity’ check to its editor. The result is a new host of words receiving the dreaded underline, with alternatives suggested once you hover over them. This includes words like ‘mankind’, ‘manpower’, ‘postman’, or ‘blackmail’. Apparently. Only the latter was actually... Continue Reading →
A voyage to Australia
The eagle-eyed of you might have spotted an extended and (slightly) uncharacteristic absence on this site. Well, exciting news for anyone interested: I’ve relocated to Australia. From the UK, that is. It’s probably important you knew where I started. After partially re-opening their borders, Australia is beginning to welcome tourists back into the country, witnessing... Continue Reading →
Why can’t we have nice things?
Admittedly, that phrase might be successfully applied to a plethora of significant concerns. I’m sure we could discuss the intricacies of human psychology and community interactions, but that would be boring. And depressing. Instead, I’d like to talk about something fun: Wordle. If you haven’t encountered it yet, Wordle has a fairly simple premise. It’s... Continue Reading →
This might be a good time to define “Western values”.
Tensions have existed between Russia and the Western world for over seventy years. It’s hardly surprising, given that Cold War thinking defined multiple generations of foreign policy, that attitudes of suspicion linger. The latest episode in the ongoing saga are disputes over Ukraine, with Russia insisting the region is vital for security reasons, the West... Continue Reading →
Shark – a magical underwater adventure with Steve Backshall
I do want to lavish praise upon the magnificent Shark with Steve Backshall, but you’ll first have to be patient, I’m afraid. It’s a challenging time to be a fan of the natural world. There’s so much majesty in the world unseen by my eyes, which would be exhilarating, did I not fear much of... Continue Reading →
Abolishing the BBC’s licence fee fits a worryingly authoritarian narrative
It won’t be immediate, but it certainly appears definite at this stage. The BBC’s licence fee will be abolished in 2027, protected by Royal Charter until then, and funding will be frozen for the next two years. In her announcement, Nadine Dorries boldly declared: “This licence fee announcement will be the last. The days of... Continue Reading →
Statues continue to upset Conservative MPs
Several prominent Conservative MPs voiced their disapproval of the ‘Colton Four’ acquittal by jury verdict, some even claiming this outcome undermined the rule of law. Needless to say, the ongoing debates swirling around statues continue to upset Conservative MPs. I think it’s important to note multiple lawyers, which is to say professionals actually versed in... Continue Reading →