• Today would have been my father’s 89th birthday, prompting reflections on luck and the randomness of birth years. Growing up post-war offers advantages unknown to previous generations, exemplified by educational opportunities and social stability. The stark contrast in experiences highlights how circumstances of birth shape lives significantly. Read

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  • The writer reflects on three surprising books: ‘Catch 22’ by Joseph Heller, known for its humour but complex narrative, and Plato’s ‘Republic’, which disappointingly meanders through abstract concepts. In contrast, ‘Black Beauty’ by Anna Sewell excels as a cohesive story while also pioneering themes of animal rights and morality, exceeding expectations. Read

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  • Minimalist living promotes the concept of ‘less is more’, addressing both individual well-being and environmental concerns. It counters the societal pressure to accumulate possessions, reducing unnecessary spending and maintenance of items that don’t add value. Ultimately, minimalism encourages financial prudence and alleviates the desire for superficial displays of wealth. Read

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  • Although not a religious person by any stretch of the imagination I immediately thought of the bible for some reason when pondering this question. The Ten Commandments therein are of course commandments and not quotes but even to the strongest of atheists out there they seem like a basic minimum to live your life by. You shall not commit murder, you shall not steal and honour your father and mother certainly should tick all the boxes for any right thinking… Read

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  • Since early retirement five years ago I have been given annual National Trust membership as a birthday present from my children. I’ve now visited quite a few of the properties around the Midlands, but Wightwick Manor (pictured below) and near Wolverhampton is the first one I’ve visited for a second time. This is a good thing because everything the Trust owns is packed with treasures and it can be challenging, even daunting, to take in more than a small fraction… Read

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  • The author reminisces about their seventh birthday when they received the book “Black Beauty,” inspired by a TV series. Although they never read it back then, they recently downloaded it on Kindle. They praise the book for its strong themes of animal welfare and an engaging narrative, giving it a belated nine out of ten. Read

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  • A quick Google search reveals that approximately 100,000 people have signed up to Country Walking magazines walk 1000 miles in 2026 challenge. Of course many of those will have registered in and around the New Year period with the aim of getting fitter or having a goal to complete for the year. As we approach the end of March (effectively a quarter in) this is when the going can get tough for the challenge and motivation can dip. I have… Read

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  • My immediate reaction to this prompt was ‘I can’t actually remember ever receiving one’. Disappointing. So, a little more consideration was required. The obvious starting point being what kind of things have I been doing with my time that might cause people to compliment me? Over the years I have played a lot of football and taken part in a lot of runs, all at a distinctly average standard. Other than the very occasional ‘good goal’ or ‘well run…..for you’… Read

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  • Twenty years ago Richard Dawkins published a book called ‘The God Delusion’. It basically argued that natural selection explains life’s complexity better than a designer while the existence of God is a scientific hypothesis that can be tested and is highly improbable. Whether you agree with Dawkins or not if you’ve spent your life living in Western society chances are you’ve seen the role of religion gradually eroded and the explanations of science gaining more credence. If that is true… Read

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  • As I approach my sixties I realise that many cliches apply to this prompt. There are three I would highlight particularly. The first of these is ‘you can’t make an omelette without breaking eggs’. I’ve failed more than my fair share of academic exams and experienced career rejections but it’s impossible for anyone to further their aims without at least some negative consequences along the way. The second one (that I believe is often attributed to Winston Churchill) is ‘when… Read

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    1–2 minutes