Tourist or Terrorist?
I wander in awe around the city,
Those artisan arches and avenues,
Classic sights along the snaking Seine,
Pausing to admire the iconic tower.
…
Borneo : Beneath the Haze
I hadn’t noticed the smog until the taxi driver mentioned it. We were on our way from Kuala Lumpur airport to the city for a night’s stay before continuing on to Borneo. One of my travelling companions asked if we would be passing any major sights, if so, would he point them out. The driver’s reply was alarming. It would be hard to see anything from a distance. The whole city was covered in a smoke haze. It had been like it for weeks.
He explained more. The haze happens every year. It drifts across from Indonesia; from Sumatra and the Kalimantan province of Borneo. It’s caused by ‘slashing and burning’ – a cheap way to clear land. Some farmers might adopt the technique but the finger of blame mainly points to the palm oil producers creating space for yet more plantations. …
H is for Hawk, by Helen Macdonald
This is one of the best books I’ve ever read: beautifully written, moving and informative. The story is rather unusual – the training of a goshawk – but its many layers cover themes that are common to us all. …
The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
… and how I lost my birthday money.
As a child I loved the TV programme The Man from U.N.C.L.E. Illya Kuryakin and Napoleon Solo were my absolute heroes. Each episode excited and entertained to the full as they battled those evil enemies from T.H.R.U.S.H. …
Short-Lived
They stand erect and still,
a sea of uniformity,
some tower above.
Ranked in regiments and rows,
ruddy faced,
life like.
All those poppies.
All those people.
Modern Metamorphosis
{Hi Magazine interviews ‘The Cockroach Kid’ }
Greg Small was just an ordinary 22 year old living with his parents and young sister. That is, until the day he awoke as an insect. Now he is known the world over as ‘The Cockroach Kid’. Hi Magazine went to interview him in his secret hideout.
Greg and his family are staying in a closely guarded location as the final details are put together for ‘Revelation Day’: his first live appearance. As part of the lead-up Greg agreed to tell his story. We started by asking him about the day that changed everything.
‘Well, to be honest, it was just like any other morning,’ Greg explains. ‘I woke up and lay there, dozing. I felt rough but thought that was down to the party I’d been to the night before. Thought I’d sleep it off. Looking back now my body did feel different – my skin all hard – but I was too busy coping with my hangover. It was only when I heard my sister Greta calling that I woke up proper and realised I was stuck on my back and couldn’t turn over. Then I saw I had all these legs. Jesus, I freaked!’
…
Technology of Our Time
Since the power cut every clock in the house was wrong. I know – I thought – I’ll phone the speaking clock. Or TIM as my mother used to call it, which was less incongruous when the voice was male. Nothing could be easier – simply dial 123.
But things had changed. The woman was almost singing at me.
‘You have reached the Time Enquiry Service sponsored by Zedog Digital Instruments. If you have a tone phone press the star button now.’
Done.
‘Welcome to the Time Enquiry Service. If you want information about the Zedog product range, please press 1.’
…
Not Working
There are few jobs left for the boys,
nobody can relax,
even if some do find work,
we make them pay more tax.
Face the fierceness of cuts ahead,
girls crash glassy ceilings,
bosses say ‘I must let you go’,
no room at all for feelings.
…
I.E.D.
You’re hiding down there in the dust and the dirt,
A parcel of Helmand, all primed to deliver,
In that split second you burst through the sand,
Searing and ripping your random selection,
Somebody’s future sucked up in your swirl,
So his family soon will be softly informed.
…
Credit Crunch Villanelle
The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch,
We played FTSE with our fortunes, and now we mourn the mess,
We blame it on the bankers for they are a rotten bunch.
No longer can we linger over that cosy client lunch,
We have no choice, we have to change and learn to live on less –
The cause of all our troubles is the global credit crunch. …