When you reach a certain age you are invited for annual health check-ups by the NHS. I have just had mine. It is a bit like the yearly MOT carried out on a car. However, one thing that I was...

We’ve now arrived at the end of the academic year. Students have got a huge amount of hard work behind them.  Others have a work pattern which is more of a continuum, often relentless.  At this time of year many...

I will let you into a secret. I am a truly terrible linguist. I suppose I can take some comfort in the statistics. It has been calculated that 62% of British Citizens cannot speak any other language, but English, fluently...

I hope that you, dear reader, will be able to get out and enjoy the celebrations for the Queen’s platinum jubilee, whether it’s a street party, a short break away, or just some time off on the Bank Holiday. 70...

I love this time of year. I am writing this on the day when we remember the Ascension; Jesus leaving the disciples and going back to heaven. In ten days’ time, we will remember the in-pouring of the Holy Spirit...

It’s a bit of a shame that Bath didn’t get there first, but Taylor Swift was awarded an honorary doctorate from NYU yesterday. She said that she suspected that she was only given the award because of her appropriately titled...

The Scots language (Scots is recognised as an indigenous language of Scotland a regional or minority language of Europe, and a vulnerable language by UNESCO) has many useful and helpful words available. The word I would like to think about...

I have just finished reading a book called Zen and the Art of Saving the Planet produced by the disciples of the Buddhist teacher Thich Nhat Hanh, (pronounced Tich Nat Ahn).  In the book he is referred to simply as...

On the Road to Emmaus (Luke 24: 13-32) - this story is my favourite Easter Day event. It has fascinating dialogue, a sense of ‘real time feel’ about it and an amazing conclusion about the prompting of the Holy Spirit....

Recently I was visiting New York. One of things I noticed was the high visibility policing of the city. The presence of the New York Police Department (NYPD) was to be seen all over Manhattan. This high visibility approach took...