Category: Article
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A Father’s pride
I’m renowned for my matter of fact, steely resolve (cold to some). A good man in a crisis. A man who through boyhood was taught to conceal emotion. Yesterday, that facade fell, and I don’t mind admitting that I cried tears of pride as I watched my daughter perform the role of Cat in the…
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Solitude and loneliness
Mental Health Awareness Week with a theme of loneliness causes me to reflect on my own experiences. I’ve often been called a loner. I don’t have a large circle of friends, and there are only a very small number of true friends that I can confide in. Is it a bad thing? Not necessarily. Whether…
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A Christmas memory
A Christmas memory. My late father was Officer Commanding at Laurel Hill, home of E Company, 5 UDR. When I was a young boy, he would take me with him on or around Christmas or Boxing Day to check in on soldiers at work who were away from their families. He kept a cupboard of…
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Connecting with nature
Mental Health Awareness Week causes me to reflect on the therapeutic nature and benefits of my connection with nature. I’ve always found comfort in nature. Over the years, I relished being exposed to the challenge and calming influence of the elements. As a boy, I became a proficient paddler, keen to find solace in a…
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Afraid of the dark
This is a book review of Afraid of the Dark, A Memoir of Mental Health and Fatherhood, by my schoolmate and talented author, Jonny McCambridge. When I heard about this book being published and available on Amazon, I was swift to place an order. I posted initially on social media when it arrived; This will add…