When I was a little boy, every time I went to a birthday party, my parents would say the same two things to me: “Remember what your name is and remember who you belong to.” I found this very confusing. How could I forget my name? And who did I belong to? I thought it …
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, …
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 …
Christmas makes me feel a little vulnerable: the pressure to get it right; the sheer, spiraling cost of it; the need for everyone to be jolly. What if I fail? It makes me want to run away. I went for a run recently, in the countryside, and found myself in a field where, in the …
One of the big questions at this time of year, obviously, is are you a Strictly house or are you a Factor house? We are a Factor house so I’m afraid that last weekend I was moonlighting for the opposition. This week is Faith in the World Week and it struck me as I watched, …
Today, Chris, is not a good day. Immediately after I leave you I am off to the dentist. Now my dentist is very nice but I would rather walk blindfolded the wrong way down the M1 than have to visit him. I am scared of the dentist. So scared that I seldom go, which everyone …