Going quietly mad

I was in the garden today when I asked myself, “How long have I been looking at this onion for?” I have never planted onions before and I am intrigued by how they grow. I am also a little concerned because they are not as big as my Dad’s onions. I may have onion-envy. I …

Let’s get (serious about) NI moving again

This week the DUP published a twelve-point plan to ‘get NI moving’. It was an upbeat document, focussing on the NHS, the economy, education, protecting the vulnerable, the environment, reducing crime, even protecting animals got a mention; in many respects they’ve come a long way from ‘Ulster Says No’. There was no mention of Brexit, …

Review: Considering Grace – Presbyterians and the Troubles

'Considering Grace: Presbyterians and the Troubles' is comprised of over one hundred Presbyterians’ experiences of the Troubles. While it was overseen by a committee of the Presbyterian Church, this is a book of grass roots stories, and demonstrates what a 'broad church’ the denomination really is. No one group of interviewees -ministers, victims, members of …

The Troubles: Do we need to remember them?

You’ve guessed it. I watched Spotlight this week. I don’t know the ratings, but I suspect it received a lot of attention. I suspect it was also avoided by many. My Dad said something to the effect of, ‘I lived it, I’m not sure I want to see it all again.’ He did, he’s earned …

Best of the Rees Mogg memes… so far…

Sometimes you just have to stand back and admire the creativity of the internet. JRM gave it a huge free gift this week, and I couldn't resist compiling the best memes I've seen, so far. As the Guardian said, it'll follow him for years...                

My ‘freelanciversary’: the mistake I made

The start of September marks my ‘freelanciversary’. I left teaching in 2017 to allow space for other things, not least to give more attention to creating better ways to develop diversity and mutual understanding in the classroom. Over the last couple of years, I have worked with groups, and on projects and resources to enable …

Wouldn’t it be great if…

Let me say from the outset, I am not a diehard golf fan. I usually watch the British Open, I will always watch the Ryder Cup, I might get sucked in to some late night final round if Rory is involved. That’s about it. But I couldn’t turn down the opportunity to spend the day at …

The cycle isn’t going to break itself

In the wake of Lyra McKee’s death, there were immediate calls for an end to violence; Arlene Foster and Michelle O’Neill were both quick to condemn the taking of life. But I am fearful we are in a similar cycle to the US gun debate: A massacre takes place. There is national mourning. There is impassioned debate, …

The paradox of grief

Wendell Berry’s exquisitely written novel, ‘Jayber Crow’ could reasonably give way to a series of ten or twenty blog posts. I’m going to let it be at two, however, with the central character’s reflection on grief. Returning to the small town of Port William, where he was born and where his parents died, Jayber comments, …

We prefer to hear what we have heard before.

I’ve only discovered Wendell Berry lately; I asked the Facebook hive mind where I should start, and ‘Jayber Crow’ was the recommended beginning. Berry describes his novel as the ‘life story of Jayber Crow, barber, of the Port William membership, as written by himself.’ I don’t want to summarise the story, but a little background …