2024 a year of many blogs – some interesting insight, some humour, some great music recommendations and a load of waffle. Quite enjoyed it – but may go slightly less frequently next year. 2024 was also the year I went fully tilt at middle class and started making my own granola – which I have

Another week - another tale of misogyny and harassment dressed up as 'banter'. Tiresome. Hopefully his 'middle class women of a certain age' defence will spell the end of his career given the almost universal derision it was met with. I just find myself thinking 'how hard is it really to not be a

In my weekly blog this week I am going to focus entirely on Assisted Dying in light of the first debate on draft legislation this week. A rare chance for parliament to act freely and with compassion. In fact I am going to share my very good friend Helen's latest Substack Post. She speaks much

That seemed to land all of a sudden. After a disappointing summer, the clocks going back and the temperature dropping almost overnight I've had to adjust my wardrobe. Seems like a chilly is all pervading. News that the government's internal review told them that removing the winter fuel allowance was likely to push 50-100k more people

 November 14, 2024  MP-0982  Uncategorized And nothing is forever…. Writing this listening to the new album by The Cure and shamelessly stealing their song title. It’s an immense collection of songs – from a band I’m usually fairly ambivalent about (aside from a couple of early singles and Pornogrophy obviously). Rounding off a great year for new music by

Budget: Been quite a week then. Budget was announced today - although in truth it had been trailed for so long there weren't any real surprises. We do kind of get that the finances inherited by the current government were pretty dire but I do hope that today's budget might at least move the narrative

Winter is looming large - the clocks are due to go back at the weekend so we'll be losing an hour of evening light. Always signals the start of a few dark, damp bleak weeks. And always seems a bit uneccessary in this day and age. Been watching the news with my usual (un)healthy dose of

The two week trial period with the new rescue puppy has ended - Sonny has now officially become a permanent member of the household. Transition from a farm in rural Ireland to a slightly more bustling existence in Brighton has gone largely to plan - first trips to the woods and the pub appropriately executed.

Well we've done it - seven days in now and the new pup is firmly ensconsed in our family life. Interesting transition from an old, super intelligent, compliant and deaf dog to a brand new rescue puppy for whom everything is new and exciting. It's incredible how much human pleasure can be derived from watching

Well that was summer then – maybe it hasn’t meteorologically ended but given the rainfall and the winds it certainly feels like Autumn is raining down upon us. So with the nights drawing in, the temperatures dropping and the physical and mental batteries re-charged its the perfect time to focus on work. Was an unusual