We have recently bought our first house. Initially, I didn't really think about it a whole lot; renting has become less economical, and even if you end up with a lot of maintenance costs on a purchase, at least you're gradually building an investment. It certainly makes me feel like even more of a responsible... Continue Reading →
The death of idealism
Idealism is not exactly original. Pretty much every slightly geeky 15 year old is a blank slate of dreams; they all think the world is a bit magical, and populated by people who think deeply about the same things they do. They also think their thoughts on the meaning of life are highly original, and... Continue Reading →
The joy of drinking
Listening to Rehab is probably an inappropriate moment to reflect on the deep joy of drinking. It's something I've been thinking about for many months now, ever since this whole business of producing healthy offspring put paid to some of my more irresponsible pleasures. Erdinger Alkoholfrei is the nicest tasting non-alcoholic beer I've found, but... Continue Reading →
First world problems
I keep trying to remind myself that the things I worry about are largely a luxury, fillers in a life that has always been entirely devoid of the effects of civil war, hunger or poverty - not that I think it's particularly helpful to suggest that everyone's problems are all trivial just because they have... Continue Reading →
The anachronistic idiocy of weddings
I recently got engaged, and am very much looking forward to marrying the man I want to spend the rest of my life with. Thetrouble is that the wedding part seems to be fraught with a weight of other people's expectations; I have always thought that while the marriage is for the couple, the wedding... Continue Reading →
Unexpected reactions to reasonably nice things happening
I started this blog some time ago now. At the time, it was a way of filling time on long winter evenings, when I didn't want to go outside, or socialise, or do anything else terribly useful. I wanted it to be all about the things that intrigue me about life, the things I read in... Continue Reading →
Improving oneself in 2013
Being a twin, I regularly get newsletters on media events that are recruiting twins. These are usually slightly prurient explorations of the difference life choices can make to the same genetic potential; comparing fat and thin twins' lifestyles is unsurprisingly very popular. The most recent programme to be made - which will be aired later... Continue Reading →
The card problem
I have a love hate relationship with greetings cards of all varieties. There's nothing better than getting an unexpected birthday card in the post, but there's also nothing more irritating than having a random Christmas card from a colleague you barely know dumped on your desk on the 15th December every year. Even for those... Continue Reading →
On the mild disappointment of getting older
In November, I read an article in the Times written by Walter James, who turned 100 last year. It was entitled, "I remember love, just not how it feels". It was a beautifully written and poignant article, about both the practical hazards of a frail body, and the decline of sensibility that old age brings with... Continue Reading →
A year of everything
2012 was the year that everything happened at once, both in London and in my life. It's not really a topic that I imagine anyone would be terribly interested in; the narrative of London's marvellous summer of sport and all things royal has been covered to death on every slow news day from here to... Continue Reading →
The resting writer 