Mir and Mar in India, Day 5

Phew, that was quite the climb!  We are brought to the Edekar caves, which reach over 4000 metres above sea level at their highest point. Thankfully we only go half way, as the humidity has us sweating moments after leaving the air conditioned bus. Edekar means ‘mountain split in two’ in the local Malayalam...

Is that it?

Really? That’s it? It’s all over? Back to business as usual? No, surely not?!! OK admittedly, perhaps not quite business as usual. I know we should still work from home where we can; we have to queue everywhere and rough hands from all the cleansing is now the norm; the pubs won’t be opening for a while and...

Covid Captive

I think I’ve always known that, in the event of being captured, imprisoned or taken hostage, (and this is something I’ve given considerable attention to) I probably wouldn’t be the one who undertakes a gruelling physical regime to keep my pecs tight and my abs toned. I wouldn’t be the inmate doing fifty sit...

C-Word

I am sick of it. We are all sick of it. Totally and utterly sick of it. Sick to the back teeth. Sick to the stomach. Sick as a parrot. I don’t want to hear another advert telling me how to wash my hands. I don’t need to see another sign illustrating what two meters looks like. And seriously, I get the whole...

In the Service of the State

I am at heart a public servant. I haven’t always worked in the public service, and am currently seconded from it to a charity, but my values and ethics are in essence those that underpin everything that is good about the sector. Hard work, diligence, remembering what you’re here for (to provide a service to...

Lockdown Lushes

‘Hands up who’s drinking more than normal?’ Ping. Ping. Ping. The emojis come flooding into our what’s app group; various images of hands held high, some proudly, others more shamefaced, but universal in their arms in the air. ‘Define normal’ I demand before reluctantly posting two hands.  One simply...