Image thanks to Martin's English I was born in England and that makes me English. I can’t help it, I had no choice. Somehow, this stroke of luck has left me imbued with the characteristics of an Englishman, you know, a sense of fair play, good at organising, stiff upper lip, a natural queuer. This … Continue reading Why I hate the English
The disappearing present
Image thanks to Glen Smyth - LinkedIn It's the birthday season in the Jackman household. March is an expensive month. Looking back, perhaps we should have planned things better but it’s a bit late now. When my children were younger, buying presents was much easier. Something big and plastic would usually do the trick and … Continue reading The disappearing present
Forgotten generation
Image thanks to UNICEF I read with interest and dismay in The Big Issue that just four in ten pupils received full-time schooling during the first COVID lockdown and a quarter received no teaching at all. Private school pupils were twice as likely to benefit from a full education than those in the state sector. … Continue reading Forgotten generation
Global Britain
Image thanks to Ian Taylor, Yorkshire Bylines I am a remainer, a remoaner if you like. I make no secret of it. Everything that has happened over these last four and a half years has done nothing to change my mind. I recognise that my side of the argument lost and that a new plan … Continue reading Global Britain
Last blog of 2020
Image thanks to HR Review Tradition dictates that I now conclude the year with a retrospective blog. It is a trick that the television companies use all the time, by compiling programmes from bits of the previous year’s it saves them time and money and pads out a schedule that may be difficult to fill … Continue reading Last blog of 2020
On the right tracks
I can’t believe I have never blogged about the South East Northumberland Rail User Group, or SENRUG. I must have done but can’t seem to find it. Perhaps I haven’t and if not, it is high time I did. I didn’t start blogging until 2012 and some of the things I am going to talk … Continue reading On the right tracks
Opinion drives evolution
Image thanks to Psychology Today I’m back thinking about evolution. I've nearly finished my weighty tome ‘The Ant and the Peacock’ by Helena Cromin that I referred to in an earlier blog. On the back of the book I have become obsessed by two things, how species and how different sexes arise. I’m not thinking … Continue reading Opinion drives evolution
Hollowed out
Image from Random Times It's been a funny old Halloween. For once nobody rang on our doorbell and the bag of sweets we bought, just in case, remains unopened. Some of the houses in the street did take the opportunity to dress their properties with the idea that at least the younger children could wander … Continue reading Hollowed out
CyberNational
Other departments are available I find myself talking a lot about cybersecurity these days. Sorry but it is occupying much of my time. To be honest, since lockdown I haven’t had much else to distract me, other than my granddaughter of course. I’m not a cybersecurity expert by any stretch of the imagination, I couldn’t … Continue reading CyberNational
Stop carping
Image thanks to Carping Cordage We’ve been told, by the leader of the House, Rees-Mogg, to stop carping on about the woeful lack of COVID-19 tests and the extraordinary lengths that people are going to get one. Instead we are told that we should be celebrating that this country has managed to create a capacity … Continue reading Stop carping
