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There is something I must dwell on
because I know more than I know and must learn it from myself.

— Marilynne Robinson
Fully human, fully awake, fully alive.

Fully human, fully awake, fully alive.

Every Tuesday morning I take the 25 bus to Heaton Moor where I visit a large Victorian house that is the home of the charity Supportability. For many years I have been teaching a weekly one-hour yoga class to a group of about 13 men and women, of various ages, who...

Everything Flows

Everything Flows

Once again as we move into another year we may find ourselves reflecting on the events of our lives, and the world around us. A of lot things can happen in a year; when I began reflecting on my own life over the past year I discovered: there have been some friends...

The sensory world

The sensory world

In 1948 a small boy was accompanying his mother as she went shopping in London. His mother took him into Selfridges as she wanted to try on a beautiful new-look coat from Dior. The boy’s mother could not afford the coat but wanted to experience herself wearing it,...

It’s A Wonderful Life

It’s A Wonderful Life

Many years ago I found myself in a cinema in Manchester during the festive season. As the lights went up at the end of the film, I looked around to see people wiping tears from their eyes, and likewise during the course of the film I had been moved to tears myself on...

There is a Mountain

There is a Mountain

In October of 1967 the British singer/songwriter Donovan released a new single, ‘There is a Mountain’ which climbed to No.8 in the UK charts. The song was something of a departure for Donovan with its sunny Calypso-style and irresistible melody. Accompanying him on...

Allen Ginsberg’s Howl

Allen Ginsberg’s Howl

On the evening of October 7th 1955, Gallery Six took place in a low-ceilinged former auto-body repair shop in San Francisco.  Gallery Six was an event where local artists within the bohemian community could meet and share their work. That evening, various poets...

What’s The Story?

What’s The Story?

When I was a small boy my mother would read to me bedtime stories, which I used to look forward to with great delight. Two of my favorites were  AA Milne’s “Winnie-The Pooh” and “The Wind In The Willows” by Kenneth Grahame, in which the copy of the latter my mum read...

Put The Needle On The Record

Put The Needle On The Record

Several years ago I decided to purchase a record player. I had been considering this for some time and even though I had a hi-fi system that worked perfectly well, and I was able to play a large collection of my CDs, I felt something was missing. As a little boy...

Only connect

Only connect

I was once waiting for a bus as I travelled to teach a morning class. After a while of waiting for the bus to turn up and no sign of it appearing, a woman walked past and informed me, and the other people waiting, that the bus had been diverted as there had been a...

Live In The Moment

Live In The Moment

When the Stone Roses reformed and played a low-key warm-up show in Warrington Ian Brown spoke to members of the audience who were excited trying to film the gig on their phones. He is reported to have said: “If you put your cameras down you might be able to live in...

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