In these days of uncertainty, where the only news seems to be confirmation that the world is losing its mind, I start thinking again about all the skills I would need to survive without the comforts of the modern world. Nearly every time I open the paper, and read about Trump, or Putin, or Assad,... Continue Reading →
Wisps of change
I was walking to work through Green Park as usual the other day, early on another sunny morning in what should already be Autumn. It is a strange pleasure wearing summer skirts as m feet brush through the falling leaves. Not exactly unwelcome, but does add to the general sense of foreboding about the future.... Continue Reading →
The cost of divisiveness
I enjoy Melanie Phillips columns; we clearly need more divisiveness and intolerance with our Marmite and cup of tea. Yesterday she writes - again - about the insidious nature of Islam. She seems to take a journalist's arrogance to a hugely complex problem, and as usual draws many parallels with our society's modern concepts of... Continue Reading →
European mushrooms
The EU referendum is rather like picking mushrooms in the forest. It'll probably be fine, but since the downside is death, it is in most people's opinion too big a risk to take, and they leave the mushroom picking to Sainsbury's. It seems that on this occasion, people decided they didn't believe their Sainsbury's government... Continue Reading →
Party like it’s 1999
Time hasn't so much stood still as gone backwards, rejoining the endless loop of stupid choices and the inescapable barbarity of human nature. For a little while, things branched off, developed a parallel reality in which differences were accepted, the greater good was a tangible ideal and not every favour was granted on a purely... Continue Reading →
Lead climbing at Plas Y Brenin
Going on a course to improve your skills in a hobby has a few downsides automatically: the kind of people who go on a course, rather than just having fun doing their hobby and naturally either improving or giving it up, are probably not very confident in their own abilities. The other alternative is that... Continue Reading →
La Berarde camping holiday
Summer holidays are always too short; most particularly so if one decides to drive 1500 miles for only one weeks’ holiday. It was still worth it, as it always is. We went back to the campsite at La Bérarde, a location that is possibly the most remote in France. It is about 50 km south... Continue Reading →
Life’s not fair
I read an article in The Times this morning about the payout that Eva Carneiro got from Chelsea FC. She got about £5 million to settle her claim of gender discrimination, unfair dismissal etc. before the tribunal started. The journalist writes “In the case of a suit settled out of court, with a huge sum... Continue Reading →
Center parcs Woburn
The rugby 7s tournament was on in London on 20th May, which meant an exodus of the entire male part of my husband's family. So the women and children decided we would take ourselves off to Center Parcs in Woburn. I was quite curious, as I've never been to a holiday park. My parents never... Continue Reading →
Rainy mind, sunny day climbing
We have been on many trips recently, mainly climbing related. Yesterday we left the children with their aunt, and spent three and a half hours driving to North Wales. We stayed in the Tyn y Coed hotel, which was very friendly, although the beds were rather soft. The objective of the trip was a simple... Continue Reading →
The resting writer 