Typing out some how-to lists for wannabe-inquisitors in the 21st century. Why? I know, you’d think we’d be over that by now. But just because I’m tapping this out into the cyber-ether, it doesn’t mean that we’re not still capable of wielding pitchforks and roasting anyone we don’t like. No, sir. See if you recognise […]

Trying to escape the murk inside by smashing the lights in everyone’s else’s life, trying to out-run stupid choices by running everyone else down.  Truth is, the Grinch isn’t the hero at the start of his story – every little kid knows that. It takes a special kind of jaded ingratitude to spin him into […]

For me it was the year of the spiders (two of them, to be exact), the year of fires, tyres, raging and protests ranging from almost-sublime to overtly ridiculous. But it was also the year that masks began to slip and powerful con-people took a step too far: it’s like they’d taken us on a […]

Just saw this, need to get it out there – it’s an amazing piece http://www.dailymaverick.co.za/opinionista/2015-12-19-the-small-story-of-a-small-but-significant-march/#.VnaS0fl97IW

Something occurred to me: I have plenty of great ideas (yes, sometimes more than 6 before breakfast); some strong opinions; read whatever I can; talk and listen to people; keep track of what’s going on wherever I’m able – but there’s a reason I’m not in charge of an army, a foreign service or a […]

Speak of all the ordinary kinds of happiness, the sort akin to peace: To walk under heavy branches of bougainvillea beneath a cloud-clotted sky, To be going homeward after a good day, To the station, down the pitted side-street before the brewery, edged with riot-run fig trees and jasmine; To pass all the ordinary people, […]

There’s a lot of ‘commiseration’ happening on social media from people who didn’t follow Dianne or the DA. Much of it is fake and intended to fan fires within the party – and written by people who truly believe the DA is racist. With such people, nothing can dissuade them – not facts, not anything. […]

His number was up: the pale doors to the Galactic Liason cubicle slid shut behind him. “How can I help you, sir?” “Well, I need help with two things, but they’re kind of one thing: I’ve lost my girlfriend, and my spaceship..” “How long has your girlfriend been missing, sir?” “She isn’t missing – I […]

A warm breeze and rain so soft that it feels like I’m sitting in a passing cloud – is this a good time to mention that a world war may have started while we were having breakfast/supper/swinging our kettlebells/texting Über/catching a bus? It all seems a bit unthinkable, but while we were ranting and raving […]

Lurching home in a stop-start train on the first hot, still Friday after winter. When 3 glue-crazed youths decided that arson was the correct response to “Can I see your ticket?” they didn’t realise that it would mean immediate jail for them. Or that it would turn a 30-minute journey into a 2-hour long hot […]