The title is from the foundation document of the Franco regime in 1936 and refers to him being head of state – elected by his fellow army generals – “for as long as the war lasts.” This is the title of the new film by Alejandro Amenábar which opened this weekend in Spain after launching … More For as long as the war lasts
Rubí Donkey writes her Rubí Tuesday blog. Morris donkey has been reading again. Sometimes it is good that Morris does reading because he tells me clever things to write on my portant blog and I improve my reputation as a world-class interweb source of intelligent debate. And I’m only ten which Morris says … More Asinine culture wars
Through the summer I have been deliberating over the possibility of returning to academia. Having passed my rather easy test for Spanish citizenship in June, I found the study sufficiently enjoyable to consider doing a postgraduate course of study at the University of Alicante. I explored the possibility through July and August and the course … More University of the wind in the trees
Rubí Donkey writes her Rubí Tuesday blog. Autumn te tum te tum, Hooray! bray bray! It’s a bark bray day, Bark bray bark, ho hum. The Rubí Autumn Song: copyright Mrs Rubí Barker-Bray (2019) The Peasant has worked hard through the summer to brush away the last of our thick winter coats. They … More Autumn te tum te tum, hooray! bray bray!
During the past years on this blog and in my old Costa Blanca geography teaching blog, the hydrology of Alicante province – and this part of it known as Marina Baixa – has been a frequently mentioned topic. As a geography teacher I brought local hydrology into the Key Stage 3 and GCSE curriculum, and … More Come on in: the apocalypse is delightful
It is difficult to not comment on what is happening in the (former) United Kingdom – as much as I had attempted for most of this summer to concentrate on donkeys, fixing my washing machine, painting the house, repairing fences, and generally being a peasant. I have been very disciplined in not listening to Radio … More God damn the queen
A short exercise in silence: a quiet afternoon. Come to something a bit different on Sunday 1st September from 3pm to 5pm here at El Parral. Many friends have enjoyed a relaxing afternoon here sharing a barbecue or a paella – and we will do that again soon – but I would like to offer … More Quiet afternoon Sunday 1st September
+ George, Cardinal PellC/- Corrections VictoriaGPO Box 123Melbourne VIC 3001 Australia 23 August 2019 Reverend Father, I write to offer you whatever little encouragement I can and I hope these words do not seem presumptuous, as I imagine you have a reservoir of spiritual strength that will help you and also give comfort to those who … More Letter to Cardinal George Pell
As the political situation becomes more absurd by the minute – and let’s say no more about that – we arrive at the end of the summer holidays. For those of us newly retired the thrill of NOT returning to work in the first week of September is still a novelty and I look forward … More A la Recherche du Temps Perdu
I first remember engaging with the world of ideas in 1971 in a very dull RAF station in Wales. Having drawn my regular service wages, after two years on engineering apprentice pocket money, I experienced the delights of getting drunk in the NAAFI bar or falling out of the first floor window of the camp … More A time to disengage
