Of interest

Image thanks to InteriorDesignMagazine It’s been a while since our garden had had a proper haircut. Last year we were still in the throes of COVID and finding someone to come and tidy up the garden was nigh on impossible. People would say yes to doing the work but would never turn up and in … Continue reading As nature never intended

Image thanks to applytofaceblog Another day, another book. This time it’s ‘Small Pleasures’ from The School of Life. I’m not sure who the author is, or if it is written by more than one person, yet it contains over fifty short essays on things that have given the writer(s) a sense of small pleasure. It’s … Continue reading Small pleasures

I blogged some time ago about a service that my local Morrissons was offering, ready made convenient bags of food for the local food bank. While I am in support of anything that helps people survive in these difficult times and am behind the idea in principle I have a concern that somehow it belittled … Continue reading The normalisation of hunger

Image thanks to India times There are times in your life which are harder than others. Looking back, my early thirties were particularly challenging. I was trying to build my career while we stretched ourselves for a new house and with young children to look after. Everything seemed a little hand to mouth and I … Continue reading Time for advice

That might seem an odd question but I have been thinking about it ever since last week’s excellent #CyberFest event on ‘Managing Cyber Security Risk in the Space Market’. On the face of it it would seem that the answer is nobody, it is just too big and too unknown to divvy it up the … Continue reading Who owns space?

Image thanks to Joy of Living It’s always odd going back to somewhere that you thought you knew very well. So it was when I returned to the estate in Whitley Bay where I spent five or so of my teenage years. I arrived there as a boy and left as a man! Well, I … Continue reading The passage of time

My car is five years old now, perhaps a bit more. I haven’t had it that long since I didn’t buy it from new. Cars always strike me as such bad value as they lose so much of it as you drive it out of the showroom and so, when using my own money, second … Continue reading Double dealing

See what I mean... We like to visit Hexham. It is not too far away, has some nice cafes and the walks through the park are pleasant. Going there feels like a little holiday.  We have our route that we follow, parking at the bottom of Cowgarth before making our way to the Refectory cafe. … Continue reading Ban cars

'Fantastic' Northumberland Line rail plans on track for 2023 opening after key government approval, shouted the Evening Chronicle headlines. The former Blyth and Tyne railway that runs close to my house was given a major boost on Monday, as it was confirmed that a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) has been granted for it … Continue reading Northumberland line