People are people, so said my sister with profound simplicity in a conversation we had over Christmas. The context of our conversation I cannot remember, nor can I remember specifically whom we were talking about, except that it was someone who had been demonised and demolished, someone who had made a mistake, had spoken without … Continue reading People Are People
To disagree with someone over the weather is one of the most blatant acts of hostility you can commit. Kate Fox agrees with me. In her book, Watching the English, she says, “It would be very rude to respond to ‘Ooh, isn’t it cold?’ with ‘No, actually, it’s quite mild.’” I maintain that to agree upon the … Continue reading Another Way of Seeing Things
“Gentle Jesus, meek and mild, Look upon a little child; Pity my simplicity, Suffer me to come to thee.” I came across this prayer in anthology of favourite prayers chosen by people from all walks of life: a jockey, a fireman, a shepherd, a baker. One was chosen by John Le Carré and his caught … Continue reading Pity Mice Implicitly
What if holding on opinion is over-rated and not making up one's mind is the better place to be?
We use the expression in Ireland, “giving out” – I’m not sure how far it travels. It can mean to tell someone off, to complain, fault-find, or to indulge enthusiastically in expressing one’s dissatisfaction with all and sundry. I have a good friend upon whom I rely for our weekly telephone dose of mutual giving … Continue reading Giving Out
“What seems to us serious, significant and important will, in future times, be forgotten or won't seem important at all. And it’s curious that we can’t possibly tell what exactly will be considered great and important, and what will seem petty and ridiculous.” Anton Chekhov There are many apocryphal stories about people who have fallen out, rifts that have cut deep and … Continue reading Insignificant
‘But it’s the truth. Isn’t the truth a good thing?’ A friend had asked for my input about a tricky situation, a conflict with someone else that was escalating via electronic messages. When I told them I thought their response was too much, that it should be pared back, cooled down, they – quite rightly … Continue reading Holding Back
My Edinburgh Press 