It was a week last Saturday night. I was happily sat with a bottle of lager and Skyfall on the telly, when I received a text. My friend was wondering if I or anyone else in “the North” called their midday meal “dinner”, because his mate from Leeds said everyone did, and it wasn’t something … Continue reading On Dinner – an Investigation
On New Year’s Resolutions, and the Origins Thereof
So it’s now a week or so after New Year – broken any resolutions yet? No? Well done. They say it takes a month for a change to become a real habit, so keep it up and you’ll be flying. You have? Fair enough, you’re only human. Most people finish with their resolutions because they’ve … Continue reading On New Year’s Resolutions, and the Origins Thereof
On New Year’s Traditions
Out with the old and in with the new. The changing of the calendar and turning of the year is marked, of course, by New Year’s Eve (and frankly, if you didn’t know that, I’d be worried about you). This event is celebrated in many different ways across the world but I’m here to talk … Continue reading On New Year’s Traditions
My Christmas Diary
Christmas Eve 8am – This is the earliest I’ve been up in a long time, even though my alarm goes off at 8 every day. That’s what shift work and winter darkness do to you. This morning, however, I have an incentive: it’s time for the traditional Wetherspoons breakfast with school friends. We started this … Continue reading My Christmas Diary
On 12 Books for Christmas (part 2)
Thus concludes my list of 12 books recommended for rather specific people. For the armchair survivalist – The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook, by Joshua Piven and David Borgenicht If, like me, you grew up on a diet of adventure books, then you know how important it is to be prepared for that moment you are … Continue reading On 12 Books for Christmas (part 2)
On 12 Books for Christmas (part 1)
So Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, and I have far too much wrapping, decorating and general sorting left to do. The heady optimism of having everything done soon after the switching on of the Christmas lights a few weeks ago has vanished thanks to general busy-ness and I’m at the stage I … Continue reading On 12 Books for Christmas (part 1)
On: It was the Undergraduate, in the Library, with the Beanbag
Over the course of my academic career – comprising of school, an undergraduate degree and two dissertations – I have used 14 libraries on an average of 3 per week, been thrown out of 1 and walked the length of the Trans-Siberian railway in going to find a book and forgetting to take the sheet … Continue reading On: It was the Undergraduate, in the Library, with the Beanbag
On Pubs
So, I’ve recently acquired a job in one of my town’s finest drinking establishments. Aside from my sheer amazement that someone thinks I’m a responsible adult who can serve drinks and not scare customers, I’m rather enjoying it so far. The other staff are great crack, I’ve been shown the secret corners of the pub, … Continue reading On Pubs
On Festive Buildup
It’s less than five weeks till Christmas. Now that I’ve shocked you, I’ll say I’ve noticed that this week there’s been something festive in the air, and I’m not just talking about the various colds going around. It’s certainly got to me, and as the week’s worn on I’ve felt more and more Christmassy. Perhaps … Continue reading On Festive Buildup
Dusk in Cambridge
Dusk in Cambridge. Above the jumble of ancient church spires and modern concrete monstrosities, the sun begins to dim and slowly sinks from view, swallowed by the desolate fenland to make way for the heavy cloak of night. And with the dark comes the quiet. The market stalls are long gone, lectures are finished and … Continue reading Dusk in Cambridge
Scranshums 