“Well, at least the tower is still standing!” Returning home along the M58 our church tower invariably comes into view at junction 5,...

“What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! (rustle, rustle) in form, in moving, how express and...

Since starting on page one in July, last night I finally reached page 864 - the end of Donna Tartt’s bestselling novel, the Goldfinch. ...

Getting up this morning I thought: “Blog: harvest thanksgiving.” And as I was eating my porridge, a simple structure came into view....

The greatest challenge of our lifetime - but we can’t say we didn’t see it coming. I recall watching on BBC way back in 1990 a...

How do you say “Sorry"? I read in this morning’s Guardian that John McDonnell, the new shadow chancellor, has apologised from the...

If in doubt, panic. And panic, I did. To be fair I was let down by my car’s computer. As we passed the service area at...

Stand by to be impressed. Just 100 metres from where I am now typing this blog is the birthplace of the mother of Auguste Bartholdi, at...

“Say sorry, Jack.” I’ve just retired from the early morning shift of supervising resident grandchildren, Neve and Jack. On greeting their...

Late start this morning. Recovering. My good friend Alan recruited me to road test a section of his next walk, from Harlech to...

Dreary weather this morning, and as I type this I hear the cars sloshing through the puddles of Long Lane. But then, as Tom Lehrer...

“Pomicide” Opening my Guardian app I could scarcely believe my eyes: 33 for 7. Soon, very soon, Australia were all out for 60. Some...

I relish short cuts. I’m not just talking about turning right onto Blindman’s Lane to avoid the FiveWays junction. I’m talking about...

We know the damage they do - but what possible difference could I make? That’s the problem. “The number of single-use plastic bags...

Under the cover of darkness an elite group from the Special Boat Service – including my uncle Ken – was inserted onto the French coast...

I am supremely googleable – yes, that’s a real word, in English and in Russian. With a name like mine I have to live with the knowledge...

This has to the most perceptive joke ever about the Christian life. Probably you will already know it – but for those who haven’t, here...

I was sitting with Alan Saunders on the back seat of his parents’ Ford Zodiac driving up Brooke Road West. Suddenly his mother swivelled...

It’s essentially the Samson approach to negotiations. Simply threaten to bring down the whole edifice down – even it comes down on you...

“There are no road signs in English. Everything is in French. It’s really not practical.” So sadly concluded Xiao Liu from Beijing, on...