“A MESSAGE TO THE CHILDREN” A GUIDE TO WRITING YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY. INTRODUCTION For years I recommended to people that they should write their autobiography, not with any particular view to publication but for the benefit of their families and as … Continue reading
The Kindness of Strangers The other day my wife was on a train to a business meeting in Yorkshire. A poor young woman was in the same carriage, traveling for a job interview using a cheap ticket that turned out … Continue reading
During 2018 I delivered the following lectures: Bedwyn History Society – on the subject of Great Forgers – a return visit Bramhalll Womens’ Probus – on the subject of Great Forgers Buxton U3A – A Message to the Children: a … Continue reading
This band is a trio of two guitars and a singer. We heard them at the Quay Hotel and Spa in Deganwy, North Wales. I don’t make a habit of posting reviews of bands, but listening to these guys for … Continue reading
Lady Diana Mosley was one of the Mitford sisters, six siblings who were famous for their intelligence, beauty, charm and independence. I came across them when reading Nancy Mitford’s three romans à clef, in which the entire family provides a … Continue reading
Donald Trump has made me virtuous A couple of days ago I ripped the bottom out of my car by driving over a dragon’s-teeth barrier on the driveway to a golf club where an excellent gig of Brazillian music was … Continue reading
What Christians believe – A new Christian creed Christian churches are characterised by “creeds”: systems of belief to which members must, at least nominally, subscribe in order to be recognised as Christians. However all beliefs imply unstated corollaries that follow … Continue reading
Jim Williams’ American Values American Values, a controversial re-write of American history by Jim Williams: To read a sample, click here Conspiracies are not meant to be understood. America in the Fall of 1963. The ageing “Big A” has been … Continue reading
EVENTS 2018-2019 – 22 January 2018 revision Stockport U3A – 2 October 2019 (sic) – Subject: “Casanova” – This is a follow up to a successful lecture on Charlatans and Frauds delivered in January 2018, which was itself a follow-up … Continue reading
The Riyadh Test and the Trump Test We human beings are a lazy crowd and look for quick rules of thumb (“heuristics” as they are called in the philosophy trade) to help us make quick judgments about situations. I have … Continue reading
I learned today of the death of Robert T Carroll, author of the The Skeptics Dictionary book and website. He fell silent in August 2016 and I suspected the worst but for some reason (hope?) did not check. He had … Continue reading