After a mixed career as an aircraft technician, London fringe theatre playwright, Franciscan friar, and secondary school teacher, I find myself looking after the needs of four donkeys in a remote location in the mountains in the Costa Blanca. I like to listen to BBC Radio 4 and the wind in the pine trees. My favourite film of all time is "Jean de Florette" as it details the concerns of country people and quietly shows how evil enters our lives through mundane and petty matters. Now retired, I have lost the need to fight past battles and recognize that my various contributions to life - both ecclesiastical and secular - have been enjoyable, sometimes flawed, occasionally disastrous; but mostly times worth celebrating.
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
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
“Trump Trump outrage Trump Boris Brexit Trump climate panic Trump Brexit Trump Boris Boris climate panic Brexit panic Boris Trump.” “Trump outrage Boris Brexit climate panic.” “Climate panic will be coming in from the south, but followed by normal weather on Tuesday afternoon before further spells of climate panic on Wednesday.” 2019 season of BBC … More Good news?
Dear Sra. Martínez-Alberola,* I am a British resident with my own rural property living in Comunidad Valenciana. I retired after teaching Geography here in Spain for ten years. I am a committed European and part of the British resistance to the Brexit project. Although I am connected with Eurocitizens here in Spain and have done … More Lobby the EU now
I am very curious to know why do donkeys burrow their heads deep down in straw when eating? I delivered this morning’s feed to the indoor stable manger because I thought it was about to rain. In fact the heavy dark clouds dispersed half an hour later. Once again I observed the donkeys very quickly … More Straw burrowing
