Selfishness is the greatest curse of the human race – William E Gladstone – four times British Prime Minister Is it ironic that the slogan for the Corona lager’s 2020 advertising campaign is, ‘Coming Ashore Soon’?  It’s unfortunate similarity – in name only – to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) is starting to sound more like a … More Peace in the Pestilence

‘Responsibility walks hand in hand with capacity and power.’ Josiah Gilbert Holland – American novelist & poet There are currently 885 litter bins in and around Bath, not including the ones in parks and open spaces, or so the website assures me. For your edification I can tell you that each is identified – should … More Bins Beyond My Borders

‘One must change one’s tactics every ten years if one wishes to maintain one’s superiority.’ – Napoleon Bonaparte I was caught up in a semi-alarmist Twitter thread the other day, which pointed out that with very few weeks left until the end of the decade, perhaps we should all invoke a time of reflection to … More End of a Decade

“How can you be somebody else’s saviour, when you can’t be your own?” ― Caroline B. Cooney (American author) I was born the year that Nelson Mandela arrived on Robben Island, where he was sent having been sentenced to life imprisonment.  In April of that year he gave a famous 3 hour speech as part of his … More Sure Saviours?

‘Our planet is beset with a cancer which threatens our very existence… [It] was engendered by our abuse of our lakes, streams, rivers, and oceans… and like any other disease, it can kill us. We have ignored this cancer for so long that the romance of environmental concern is already fading in the shadow of the … More The Blue Lagoon

‘Fall, leaves, fall; die, flowers, away; Lengthen night and shorten day; Every leaf speaks bliss to me              Fluttering from the autumn tree.’                         – Emily Brontë Autumn has rapidly turned to winter here in the Cape.  That means it … More The Last Leaves

    ‘The best way to choose what to keep and what to throw away is to take each item in one’s hand and ask: “Does this spark joy?”’ – Marie Kondo     I’m a bit late to this particular party, but read pretty much all of Ms Kondo’s fascinating book during a pleasant, … More ‘Sparking Joy’

‘Time travel is such a magic concept’ – Matt Smith (11th Dr Who) My parents were not ones to splash their money around.  As the third of three daughters I lived in hand-me-downs for most of my years at home.  Combine their frugality with their admirable practicality and you have the parental rationale for kitting us … More ‘Chip Club’ & Time Travel

‘You are not stuck where you are unless you decide to be’ – Wayne W Dyer (US author) Apparently people are leaving social media ‘in ‘in droves’.  It’s understandable.  The relentless back-and-forth, or rather, round-and-round, of so many featured topics are enough to drive the sanest person to a dribbling, quivering wreck.  Follow a thread … More My Friend, the Delete Button

‘To lose one parent, Mr Worthing, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness.’ – Lady Bracknell, ‘The Importance of Being Earnest’ The rhythm of life is peculiar; the dance is not as predictable as I would prefer.  I am not a lover of surprises, which makes my life consistently challenging; … More Inadvertent Carelessness