One Christmas, many years ago, I was given a pair of slippers. They were black leather with suede soles and they were butter-soft, the most comfortable things I have ever worn. So I wore them a lot, every day, until they were full of holes and beyond repair. But I couldn’t bear to part with …
A man came to my house last weekend, canvassing for the local elections. Big mistake. By and large I do not want to talk on the doorstep. But when it’s politics, a visit from my local councillor is a red rag to a bull and I’ll talk. I mean I’ll really talk. To his vast …
I was cutting my hair last week. It helps that I have almost no hair to cut because having nothing to cut alleviates the problem of having zero expertise. However, I’ve been doing it for many years, with electric clippers, much as I imagine I might shear a sheep, and I’ve become fairly adept at …
It’s my dad’s birthday today. He was on holiday with Mum recently and had a bit of a funny turn, which involved a night in hospital before they came home. He’s been better since they got back, after a little rest and relaxation. Holidays are exhausting. Actually, it sometimes feels like everything is exhausting and …
On Monday, I went to be treated at the hospital. And not just any hospital. On Monday, I went to the Hospital of Dread and Doom. On Monday, I went to the Dental Hospital. I'm sure not everyone feels as I do about teeth, but I am not a brave man in the dentist’s chair. …
My bike is important to me, despite the fact that I occasionally hobble in here in various states of dishevelment after falling off it. It’s never been to Selsey Bill but I have been up to Muswell Hill. For more than a decade, the best bit of my bike has been my saddle. My parents …
Morning, Chris. Let me start by saying that I’m very happy to be here. Happy to be out of the house, glad it’s Monday. Part of this, obviously, is that I love my work, my colleagues, my students. But it’s also something else. You see, it has emerged, over the past couple of days, that …
It’s Monday and the week stretches before us, unknown and exciting, full of optimism and hope, full of possibility, potential and the thrill of discovery. Or, if you’re anything like me, full of things you’re not quite ready for, things that aren’t properly thought out, things that bring with them the dread horror of failure, …
Later on today I’m going with Jonny Taylor, one of my oldest friends, to watch England beat Wales at rugby. My first visit to Twickenham was for the England final trial in January 1973. My Dad and I sat on a ringside bench at pitch level, almost on the touchline. I was colder than I …
It’s Friday and they think it’s all over. Time to Pause for Thought – except no one wants to Pause. I don’t. I just want to get to the end of the day, the end of the week and have two blessed mornings not riding the bus to Oxford. So spare a thought, ladies and …