Revell Without a Cause

Sometimes it seems that these ‘year in review’ posts are the only contents in my blog; a once a year tradition to justify the continued existence of my blog, domain name, and hosting. I get the feeling these are more for my benefit than anyone else, so forgive me if they become ever more narcissistic. I usually start writing these posts on the train home after Christmas; a journey that is usually more protracted than the train journey out! The fact is, this is often the only time that I have to catch my breath and think about what I have been up to the past year. I think the fact that I find little to no time to compose … Continue reading →

¿Qué lenguas hablas? What languages do you speak? Before this year, my answer to that was… “English”. Now, I can say “English and a little Spanish” (in at least two languages). Learning a new language was a big deal for me, I was always appalling at French in school. In a world [London] where almost everyone I know speaks several languages, I was determined to no longer be a mono-lingual Englishman. After a year of Spanish classes, I am hardly ready for translating Don Quixote, though I can manage simple texts and hold a conversation. Many thanks to the excellent teachers at Cactus Learning! Heading south With my new found linguistic skills, I went travelling in the south of Spain, … Continue reading →

The year that triskaidekaphobes had been dreading for decades has finally come and gone. No longer will they be reminded of their peril every time they have to write down the current date. The rest of us can draw a line for a new start and reflect on another year past. Not soon enough for some, and tragically too soon for others. An ode to Judith Pote The year didn’t get off to a good start, with the news that my aunt, who had been bravely battling cancer for several years, was finally succumbing to its vice grip. Having lost my own mother to cancer many years ago, I can empathise deeply with my cousins and what they have been through … Continue reading →

I found myself standing on the edge of a cliff, The turbulent sea crashing at its rocky base, I had been on an adventure through beautiful countryside, The simplest things bring the greatest pleasures. As I travelled I came across a beautiful butterfly, She danced in front of me and settled for a moment, Waving her beautiful wings, which shimmered in the sun, Before she fluttered off again away from me. I followed her as best I could, dancing among the trees, But she fluttered ever onwards towards the cliff, There I could follow her no longer; she was free but I was not, I could only watch as she flew away from the cliff into the distance. I looked … Continue reading →

Last week I experienced sleep paralysis for the first time; I am not sure what brought this about, but I had been sleeping poorly all week which probably didn’t help. Sleep paralysis is a phenomenon which causes the sufferer, usually when transitioning between sleep and wakefulness, to experience hallucinations and paralysis with a sensation of weight pushing down upon them. Many sufferers report seeing an intruder in the room to whom they cannot react due to paralysis. I had heard of this before, several of my friends had described their experiences to me. I had no idea how real and terrifying it was. This is what happened to me: I had been unable to sleep again that night; I remember looking … Continue reading →