The boundaries of my little world have been collapsing lately. This is not a sad metaphor for the gentle and inevitable unravelling that comes with age, infirmity and increasing irascibility. It is a simple observation of fact. For in the winds of last winter, the posts holding up the fence between Susie and me and …
Last December 8th, on a chilly, damp evening in South London, I experienced a sporting epiphany. It wasn’t the moment I finally realised I was never destined for Olympic glory. No. That had already come, many years earlier, when, in every sport I attempted, it quickly became clear that I would always be commended principally …
This is a sermon preached at St Olave Hart Street. Jesus said to him, ‘ “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbour as yourself.” …
After my daughter Esther came back from Glastonbury last year, we went for a drink and she told me about her weekend. But because Esther is supernaturally organized, this did not mean stumbling through hazy recollections of half-remembered acts, but rather a list, compiled in real time, of everything she and her friends had seen, …
One of my worst characteristics as a boy was that my intense desire to start things was never matched by my capacity to concentrate long enough to finish them. My childhood was littered with half-made models, the detritus of hobbies hastily begun and then dropped as soon as the next shiny, interesting thing came into …
I love coming here. I don’t say it often enough, but thank you for having me. The atmosphere is warm and welcoming, the conversation sparkling and the new coffee machine more than adequate. Even so, this is, to say the least, a mildly intimidating environment on a Friday morning. Over there is that bloke out …
On Monday night, Arsenal scored one of the loveliest goals I’ve ever seen. And I say Arsenal, not Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, because practically the entire side made it: a team of specialists contributing to a sublime whole. I work with specialists. Universities are full of them. Not one of them has a right foot like Aubameyang’s …
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 …
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 …
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, …