The Ritual of Winter Ashes Misery
I should know better than to get up early on a winter morning to watch England get thrashed by Australia. But I can’t help myself. Some deluded part of my brain insists I must endure every abject performance, just in case I miss the once-in-a-generation moment England accidentally do something worth celebrating. In this latest cricketing catastrophe, England have added an extra layer of torment by occasionally looking like they’re on top ...
Is Climate Change Supercharging the Jet Stream – and Ruining Our Chances of Proper Winters?
What We Need for a Classic Winter One of the quirks of UK winter is the “blocking high”. that stubborn ridge of high pressure which parks itself over Greenland or Scandinavia and funnels icy Arctic air towards us. When one of these blocks settles in, we get the sort of winter weather people still get misty-eyed about: crisp days, deep frosts, frozen ponds, maybe even some snow that sticks around long enough to matter. Why Blocking ...
How Much Do You Cost in State Funding?
One thing that I find odd, is that nearly all my working life, I have been told in the media that tax is evil, spawned from the devil of socialism. The truth is, most people cost the state far more than they think and would die in poverty if state health and education was privatised and taxation was abandoned. It would be like living with Mad Max Beyond the Thunderdome. We all know a certain type of person who loves to shout:“I’ve ...
How Farage Exploits the Ever-Expanding Universe of the Blissfully Misinformed
Much has been said in recent days about Nigel Farage’s colourful (read: racist) past, but honestly, I’m not convinced it matters much to his impulsive voter base. If anything, it probably just adds to the charm for some of them. A limited-edition Farage, now available with extra xenophobia. The Trouble With Outsmarting a Man With No Empathy It’s painful to admit, but Nigel Farage is undeniably high on intellect. Unfortunately, ...
Scotland’s Glorious Madness: A Night That Will Live Forever
Oh, what a night! Watching Scotland qualify for the World Cup was nothing short of intoxicating. A full-throttle cocktail of passion, drama, and glorious chaos. From the very first note of a thunderous Flower of Scotland (an anthem to match any) you could feel the electricity in the air. A warning that something extraordinary, or at least utterly unhinged, was about to unfold. Great Start then Denmark Dominate Just three minutes in ...