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Continue reading →: The international situation is intensifying
Recent news reports show the world’s superpowers flexing their muscles. China has warned foreign powers not to interfere in China’s affairs or “they will have their heads bashed against a great wall of steel”. This cartoon went viral in China: Vladimir Putin has imprisoned his political rival, Alexei Nivalny. Iran’s…
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Continue reading →: National Identity
Where you come from can instil feelings of pride in the traditions and culture associated with the land of your birth. When the land of your birth has been conquered and colonised, the indigenous people might well retain grievances and the hope that the colonial power will relinquish their dominance.…
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Continue reading →: What’s in a name?
The Committe for Public Safety has an innocently protective ring to it. But, created during the French Revolution to protect the revolution from internal and external enemies, its executive powers were increased in 1793. So began the Reign of Terror administered by this dictatorial body and its brutal leader Maximilien…
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Continue reading →: The Moment
The moment when, after many yearsof hard work and a long voyageyou stand in the centre of your room,house, half-acre, square mile, island, country,knowing at last how you got there,and say, I own this. is the same moment when the trees unloosetheir soft arms around you,the birds take back their…
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Continue reading →: Tranquility
Today I decided to visit the Oxford Island nature reserve on the shore of Lough Neagh. The cycle from Lurgan took me to the nearby Marina where I stopped for coffee. The House Martins were zipping around the Discovery Centre and the lake shore where a plentiful supply of midges…
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Continue reading →: Birds
One of the unexpected benefits of lockdown was the ability to hear birdsong a lot more clearly. We live near a motorway, and the reduction in traffic levels made us acutely aware of nature’s symphony. The magpies are a noisy bunch, seagulls easily identifiable and pigeons are distinctive in their…
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Continue reading →: The Fountain of Youth
This year is a new beginning for me. I resigned from my job at Christmas and have time to concentrate on things that bring me pleasure. A slow look at the world is now possible without all the rushing about to earn a crust. Our garden is looking better than…
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Continue reading →: Holyhead to Bangor
I have enjoyed many tootles on the ebike around Belfast over the last year or so. I was more adventurous yesterday and took the bike on the train to Holyhead to follow a coastal path to Bangor. It started well, the raised esplanade wide enough for cyclists and walkers. But…
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Continue reading →: Gutted
The problem with afternoon imbibing is the lack of focus. When I placed my bet for Portugal to beat Hungary 3 – 0 there was some lack of manual dexterity. I hadn’t appreciated the significance of that fumbling until the end of the game when Portugal wom 3-0. Why then…
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Continue reading →: Euros 2020
Hungary v Portugal in Budapest with a capacity crowd. Lots of drama, the dives and fouls keep coming. My score predictions yesterday were rubbish, but the wee bets make the games more interesting. A winning bet would be nice though. France v Germany might be a good game if we…
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