Sponsored by Creative West End — At 12 noon (19th December) Rae Tribbick and Andrew Morris set up a Raku furnace on the beach near the Battery and brought out the pots we’d created at the West End Christmas Market a couple of weeks earlier. The pots had been biscuit fired (baked) and glazed ready for…

My part in it’s downfall — One story has dominated the media this week. It’s the №10 office party that we’ve heard took place last Christmas at a time when gatherings were being strictly regulated. Loved ones were having to face death alone (the most egregious aspect of this sordid affair) while planned family gatherings were…

The problem is institutional — I was walking home the other night after an enjoyable evening of beer and music. By the time I got to the prom it was past midnight and no one else was around except for a police patrol. During lock-down we became accustomed to the police patrolling the prom. As…

A eulogy for my Mum — On 28 June family and friends congregated at a bus station called Stafford Crematorium where I gave the following eulogy. Mum would have given you her last Rollo — she was the most selfless person I’ve ever met — but I recall a charity event which Mum felt she ought…

What’s Important — The result wasn’t really important to me either way. I tuned into the match because I wanted to be part of it and I did want England to win. I just couldn’t invest myself in the “Coming Home” thing. We can’t go through life not being invested just because we…

When other spaces are not — Weight lifting has among the lowest injuries of any sport despite the obvious danger of lifting excessive weights. This is because of regulations, training and attention to the inherent dangers. I remember being in a class where we were being taught to use dangerous equipment such as circular saws. …