The recent (lack of) publicity about a young Sudanese woman leaves me wondering, not for the first time, about the western world’s priorities. The reported facts are fairly consistent; a 26y old Sudanese doctor, Meriam, with a Muslim father, but brought up as an Orthodox Christian by her Christian mother, married a Christian. They have… Continue reading difficult problems
incidents on public transport
Interesting episode on the train today. When I got on there were eight guys, all in their early to mid twenties, sitting across the aisle from one another in two groups of four. They were drinking lager and chatting – I didn’t think the noise level was remarkable. I sat in the next group of… Continue reading incidents on public transport
universities
I am moved by the generosity of some people. Yesterday two visiting academics from North America gave up two hours of their time to offer me an individual tutorial, together with my supervisor whose idea it was. Not only was it immensely useful for me, but it also went some way to restoring my faith… Continue reading universities
The North Sea
There is something incredibly primal in the compulsion of the sea. Not any old sea – after all I have lived along the south coast for the majority of my adult life, and have had numerous weekends with in laws in south Devon, and half term breaks in north Cornwall. No, this is the overwhelming… Continue reading The North Sea
loss
A sequence of unrelated events have left me reflecting on loss. Yesterday my son travelled overnight to Scotland with his girlfriend; her grandmother had been admitted to hospital for what was anticipated to be terminal care. This turned out to be the case, apparently she was fully conscious and talking when they arrived, but deteriorated… Continue reading loss
greed
The row about the proposed takeover of AstraZeneca by Pfizer is not going away. I heard the most succinct argument against it on yesterday’s radio 4 PM programme, made by Professor Sir Alan Fersht, currently Master of Gonville and Caius, Cambridge, and a distinguished and much decorated chemist. As far as I can tell the… Continue reading greed
why isn’t mental health taken seriously?
Amazingly, the headline on the 07.00 radio 4 news this morning was about the shortage of mental health beds. There was more detail on the BBC website, including details of a patient being admitted to a ward for deaf people, other patients in London being sent to B&B accommodation, and patients being sent hundreds of… Continue reading why isn’t mental health taken seriously?
bank holiday monday
Surprisingly good weather for a bank holiday weekend, and therefore time to chat and think about various things on a good walk. I find that the whole Gerry Adams, IRA, Northern Ireland situation is still very much at the forefront of my mind. Today’s news is full of talk of retribution and revenge from both… Continue reading bank holiday monday
bad things continue to happen
I was pleased to hear the news that Gerry Adams has been released from police custody before the 20.00h deadline imposed on the police. Without taking the side of either party in the long history of trouble in Northern Ireland it is surely possible to be horrified by the prospect of a return to the… Continue reading bad things continue to happen
retribution
I was horrified, but not surprised, to hear this morning’s news that the number of rape cases referred for prosecution in the UK has fallen by a third since 2011 – despite an increase in the number of rapes being reported to the police. The conviction rate for rape remains very low – 6%. Leaving… Continue reading retribution
crackedmirrors and angelpie 