August 2018

I had hoped this year to avoid writing about exams, exam boards, universities, courses, student joy, student pain, grade inflation, etc etc.  However, as August becomes more autumnal, it's not to be. Call me naive, but I really did think...

I was almost taken in by the claims of on a soft toy "born in the English Lake District and inspired by our lovable Herdwick sheep".  Herdy, I was told, "will find a place in your heart".  I think not,...

Last week, the total output of the power station on my roof – Semington A – reached 30 MW.  This after some 7 years.  Although it once took a big coal burner about 10 minutes to do this, to say this, is...

My last word on Germany for now is to suggest you read the Economist article urging the miserable Germans to cheer up.  Here's a flavour of what it says: "Germany’s economy, for example, is powering ahead. Unemployment is at a...

My first memorable experience in Bavaria was a man on a bike in Munich with a teeshirt which said: Rules Rules Rules – except that all the words were crossed out.  Not quite an anarchist, I thought, because the words would then...

I'm with Mrs M for a few days, firstly in Bavaria and thence on the Rhine.  I don't expect to see much of her as she is busy sorting a bit of a language problem [*].  However, as she's omnipresent,...

Why are so many of those who are passionate about conservation not more politically conservative by nature? I found myself musing on this (not for the first time) as I read a recent Economist article on why large parts of the...

38 Degrees has been sending breathless emails about getting involved in shaping post-Brexit environment policy.  Here's how the message (to Caleb B –calebb@inverauchtamucktie.sc) began ... Dear Caleb, It’s crunch time for our environment. Right now the government’s deciding what our...