I've spent quite a lot of time recently just slouching about the house, having broken my wrist. In some ways it's quite nice, but there is nothing like temporary disability to make you appreciate what most of us take for granted every day. The most banal flicks of the hand are either impossible or very... Continue Reading →
The Rothschilds
My bank holiday treat was a two-day cycling trip to try out my new bike. It is a Specialized Tricross, and although largely a road bike, it is by all accounts supposed to be strong enough to handle off-roading. Perhaps what the manufacturers and reviewers define as off-roading is just a bone-dry, unsealed track on... Continue Reading →
1991: A surreal six months
These are short extracts from my diaries as a 13-year-old for 1991. It was the year that we left Australia to live in Germany permanently. Reading them paints a strange picture of a very pressurised and unsettled life, and some unintended hilarious observations. March 4th 1991 Today was our school free day. At 12.00 we... Continue Reading →
Fox’s presidential approval ratings
I just browsed about a bit, looking for the US reaction to Cameron's first visit to the White House. Apart from the amusing way they always refer to him as "Prime Minister Cameron", the focus of their main media outlets seemed as click-chasingly focussed on domestic news stories, as they are almost all over the... Continue Reading →
Twilight’s promise of romantic expression
I went to see Twilight on my own last night - as usual I just wandered past the cinema on my way home, to see if anything was starting soon. I've been so irritated by the whole Twilight thing for a while. People always seem to jump on vampire stories in recessions - maybe it's... Continue Reading →
It’s hot, apparently
The biggest topic in the news this week has been the heat in London. This morning the TV was full of warnings to stay inside if possible because it was going to be "over 30". I met an Australian acquaintance outside HSBC for a 12 noon run through Canary Wharf in the blazing sunshine, and... Continue Reading →
New Year’s gratitude
6th Jan 2010 Yesterday I put together a large raft of resolutions, and then set to thinking about what they meant. Since the ones that really matter (i.e. not the “eat less chocolate” one) are ones relating to some aspect of my behaviour or thought patterns, I suppose that is one step towards fulfilling them.... Continue Reading →
First pages of my diary aged 7
"Monday 22nd July 1985 Today I went to school. I am in South Australia now. I have many friends. One of my friends is called Philippa. Our school has three lunches. One is morning recess. One is lunch. One is afternoon recess. Our teacher is called Miss Dempster. The school is called Tanunda Lutheran School.... Continue Reading →
City people
On my way to work this morning I looked around me on the escalator, at all the people swarming out of the tube and into the building. Some of them look geeky, the women often look overdressed and overexercised - that unnecessary combination of cinched belts and short tight skirts with very high heels and... Continue Reading →
Everybody Hurts
27th January 2010 Apparently REM's Everybody Hurts is viewed as a life-affirming song that has helped suicidal people see some light in their situation - mainly by reminding them that they're just feeling sorry for themselves, and that others are in much worse situations. I must be either one of life's big misanthropists, or more... Continue Reading →
The resting writer 