The South Downs today

2 Dec

Atmospheric weather and the company of dear friends. Who needs sunshine? Cag and wellies help, of course – no such thing as crap weather; just crap clothes for it – but when said friends have spares to hand, and you’re … Read More »

Trentlock yesterday

26 Nov

The coal fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar kicks out two thousand megawatts. With the rolling wooded hills of Leicestershire to its southern edge, and just these lowlands of water and flood plain on my side of the Trent, its smokestacks … Read More »

Fishgirl rising

12 Oct

Given my denunciations of the Guardian, and preference for other sources  – OffGuardian, CounterPunch, the Canary, Al-Monitor, Russia Today, Strategic Culture; the Economist even – when seeking to triangulate on what is happening out there, you may look askance at my … Read More »

Steel City Garden of Rest

10 Oct

Also known as Sheffield’s General Cemetery, is nine acres of woodland and curving pathway, grassland, graves and terraced catacombs spilling northward and down from Cemetery Road, with the old snuff mill and Frog Walk to the left, to the grand … Read More »

More autumn leaves

9 Oct

  I write so much on the insanity and venality of the world, yet life is full of endless beauty. I think it the hardest thing to hold, in the same breath, taking in both and overlooking neither, life’s vast … Read More »

Hope and blue skies

25 Sep

Yesterday I picked up my good friend Sue to drive out to Hope, due east of Castleton, south-east of Edale. We parked up near the school and within minutes were on the steep ascent to Lose Hill. Here, more or … Read More »