My second great granduncle, Arthur Bramah Diplock, outside his shop in downtown Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. How has lockdown been for you?My last blog post was a diary of my family's aborted trip to Morocco. It didn't make sense to write a traveller's guide (as I did with Madeira and Wales) because our trip was, within the first few days, rather more of an adventure … [Read more...] about My family history research led to some truly surprising revelations
Holidaying in a pandemic: A short adventure in Morocco
Day One We arrive to warmer weather than we anticipated (32degC) and I immediately create havoc outside the airport in Marrakech, refusing to pay 200 Dirhams (20 Euros) for the three mile taxi ride into town. This is eventually reduced to 100 but it's too late, I've spied the bus. The driver appears and starts the engine. Just us and one other passenger. He assures us he's … [Read more...] about Holidaying in a pandemic: A short adventure in Morocco
Nonconsumerism: why shopping is killing the planet
Most of what we buy we don’t need, but the culture of consumerism is so ingrained that we believe we do, or, at least, that we deserve to have what we want. Retailers, manufacturers and their advertising agencies tell us so. But is it necessary to become a nonconsumer? The evidence that humanity is suffocating its home planet is mounting; biodiversity loss, global heating, … [Read more...] about Nonconsumerism: why shopping is killing the planet
Climate Crisis: how to act NOW to protect the planet
The science is unquestionable, the message loud and clear, we need to change our way of life. And now. A climate emergency is under way. The only place we know of in the universe which can support humanity is dying. The lives of its seven billion inhabitants are at risk. The response should take the form of a global crisis plan in which the governance of nation states becomes … [Read more...] about Climate Crisis: how to act NOW to protect the planet
Why I left my PhD
I left my PhD after a year. I loved my topic but I didn't want to just read about it, I wanted to live it. I didn't feel the need to prove my knowledge and experience to others and I didn't need to be recognised as a master of my field. The passion was certainly there (in bucketloads), and I did want to promote the idea to others. But that is not a PhD. Talking my thoughts … [Read more...] about Why I left my PhD
