The New York Times bestseller list

‘What’s wrong?’ says the book. ‘Nothing,’ I say. ‘Liar.’ ‘Am not.’ ‘Are.’ ‘Aren’t.’ ‘Pants on fire. You’re hopeless. You should … More

Ken

His real name was Crispin. Bespectacled, quiffed, bandy legged, Ken wore the aloof expression of the terminally lonely, a tilt of … More

#NaBloPoMo 24 – See you later

Today is the last day of NaBloPoMo, that month in the year when someone decides it is a nice idea … More

#NaBloPoMo 22 – When Josephine Corcoran interviewed me

As we draw to the end of NaBloPoMo, I have invited Josephine Corcoran to collaborate with me on a joint-interview. … More

#NaBloPoMo 20 – On ambition

It wasn’t much of a day. I was in noodle-mode, sticking things into my day book, quotes and articles and … More

#NaBloPoMo 19 – My son’s coats

Come to me as a heap on his bed, the Jurassic layers of his early adulthood here in Exeter abandoned … More

#NaBloPoMo 18 – Afterwards

After they left, the house went very quiet. No one really knew about the quietness but me. I played a … More

#NaBloPoMo 17 – Coffee? (meditation on a blog post by Josephine Corcoran)

If you came round for coffee these days you’d be offered decaff. Doctor’s orders, I’d say. And against my better … More

#NaBloPoMo 16 – To autumn

What I love about autumn is the night arriving early. What I hate about autumn is the day leaving even … More

#NaBloPoMo 14 – Some secrets

One of the signs of my anxiety is when I start to look obsessively at stationery blogs. I adore NCIS. … More

#NaBloPoMo 13 – His notebook highlights strewn

Dean Paul Granny § ‘What students in classrooms say is an exceptionally precious learning resource. Every time a teacher receives … More

#NaBloPoMo 8 -Try to Praise the Mutilated World

Try to Praise the Mutilated World   Try to praise the mutilated world. Remember June’s long days, and wild strawberries, … More

Cooking in a Bedsitter

There is still no sign of the book. I go for a walk; it is not there. I visit our … More

The empty house

True to its word, the book has disappeared. There isn’t a trace of it in the house, not even a … More

Tracks, by Tomas Tranströmer

Tracks   2 am: moonlight. The train has stopped out in the middle of the plain. Far away, points of … More

Remission anniversary ten

The way I found out, just as with my diagnosis, was via a segment of a conversation about other things. … More

Your worst book

‘I’m depressed,’ the book says. ‘We can’t both be depressed,’ I say. ‘One of us needs to function.’ ‘Well it’s not … More

Waving the white flag

‘It’s over,’ I say. ‘You’re always saying that, too,’ the book says. ‘Always ‘tired’, or ‘busy’, or ‘giving up’. People … More