One Brick at a Time

The town of Yarm, where I live, is divided by a railway viaduct, which dominates the town, cutting it in two.  It’s not well-known outside the area, yet it’s one…

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Honesty

Back in 1966, in my first year at college, we were taught about questionnaires and how to create them. In one session, we were given a short questionnaire to complete,…

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Safe Places

 Before double glazing, the world was more accessible. We could hear the noises of life outside. The dustman, the postman, the milkman, children playing in the street, could all be…

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Two Weeks After

In the recent world conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Elder Massimo De Feo said:Some time ago I asked my wife, “Can you tell me why,…

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Lenten Thoughts

 Mobile phones changed communication. Before mobiles, telephones were static, tethered by a copper wire to a physical place. Most ordinary people didn’t own their own telephone in any case; it…

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Dance to the Music

If you’re old enough, you might remember the 1960/70s Teach Yourself books. They had a distinctive black and yellow cover. I learned to touch type with one of them. They…

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Pottering Around

Once upon a time, long, long ago, I was going to be a potter. Seriously: a real potter making pots to sell in my own workshop. A career change from…

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Cramping My Style
Helvellyn from Red Tarn

Cramping My Style

 Nine or ten years ago I had a defining moment, never forgotten. I was climbing Helvellyn in the Lake District, one of my favourite walks. After the longest, hardest climb…

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What’s in a Name?

My sister Lesley emigrated to America decades ago. She settled in a small rural community in northern Utah called Deweyville. The residents pronounce the name “Dooeyville”. In England it would…

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