My posts
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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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Running through a pandemic
We have seen races and events cancelled and postponed as the world grapples with the ongoing effects of this pandemic. Now there is some light at the end of the tunnel, with some ‘Covid-secure’ races and events billed. I have been reflecting on what this means for me. I was an active club runner, run…
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The return of parkrun
I consider myself a parkrun supporter. I’ve supported, volunteered and run at parkrun events, but the sentiment and tone of the recent announcements feel off-balance to me. For example, the announcement of the delay of the restart of the 5k events on Saturday 5th June. The headline, “Today parkrun UK has announced that it has been forced to delay…
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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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Sunrise Paddle
An amazing way to see the sunrise on the River Wear!
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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…
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26 Bridge Challenge
Like many others, I was due to run the London Marathon, for Crimestoppers – the independent charity that gives people the power to speak up and stop crime – 100% anonymously (and one of our chosen club charities this year). I devised an alternative – a 26 bridge challenge as part of the national #TwoPointSixChallenge…
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The Duergar Nightcrawler Run
Simonside Hills, Northumberland, Saturday, February 23, 2019 Intrigued by the picture on the Duergar Run website of a fierce-looking character, and the prospect of being chased through the fells by a wild creature or suchlike, I decided to find out more. I discovered that Duergar comes from the old Norse word Dvergar which means Dwarf. Many old…
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