Hannah Ryland with her late dad, Stuart Hi, my name is Hannah. I’m 16, and recently, I lost my dad, suddenly, to suicide. He suffered with his mental health, from what we’ve discerned it was undiagnosed bipolar disorder, for 35 years, and not once did he receive any proper support for it. He always said… Continue reading No one deserves to battle alone – by Hannah Ryland
Category: Social commentary
Men and the menopause…and other period-dramas
Photo by Min An on Pexels.com I will never forget a trip to the supermarket with my Mum when I was about 12. As we unpacked the trolley, I held up one item and said quite loudly ‘What kind of towels are these? They’re tiny!’ The cashier suppressed a laugh and my Mum looked a… Continue reading Men and the menopause…and other period-dramas
‘The Hill We Climb’: a new expression of an ancient message
Photo by Archie Binamira on Pexels.com In the past few months various high-profile ‘Christian Prophets’ confidently predicted a Trump win. Some have apologised, some cling to conspiracies which they believe prove they were actually right. All of this nonsense does the Church no credit. But God works in mysterious ways. And in the heart of… Continue reading ‘The Hill We Climb’: a new expression of an ancient message
Finding Light in Deepest Dark – by Corin Pilling
After a challenging year, we're all adjusting to new expectations of Christmas. The year has taken its toll and even as we rally for the celebrations, many of us are exhausted. The run up to the end of 2020 has been incredibly hard, impacting our emotional and mental wellbeing as we struggle to respond to… Continue reading Finding Light in Deepest Dark – by Corin Pilling
Blokes, beer & banter. But can we talk about things that really matter?
Covid-19 has ruined many things. It has taken loved ones, destroyed livelihoods, damaged mental health, disrupted education and suspended much of the family and community life we hold precious. But there has been some silver linings. And for me, one of these is how much more time I have spent with my oldest group of… Continue reading Blokes, beer & banter. But can we talk about things that really matter?
‘Beware of Pity’: an old story with a timeless message
"There are two types of pity. One, the weak-minded, sentimental sort, is really just the heart’s impatience to rid itself as quickly as possible of the painful experience of being moved by another person’s suffering.” The novel Beware of Pity was first published by Austrian novelist Stefan Zweig in 1939. I have just read the… Continue reading ‘Beware of Pity’: an old story with a timeless message
Why I’m no longer talking to Black people about race (the way I used to)* – by Adrian Lock
(*with apologies to Reni Eddo-Lodge, author of Why I’m no longer talking to White people about race) An open letter to other White people in the UK... Dear fellow faded Africans, On the 25 May 2020, the death of George Floyd rocked our White world. In the following weeks, global protests even reached the bastion… Continue reading Why I’m no longer talking to Black people about race (the way I used to)* – by Adrian Lock
The petrol station Samaritan: how ‘Namaste Man’ saved my birthday
Photo by Artem Podrez on Pexels.com It is my birthday this week, so with lockdown easing, our family all got in the car to visit my parents yesterday. It was our first trip together for months. My three children were especially looking forward to a slap-up (if socially-distanced) Sunday lunch cooked by their Granny. As… Continue reading The petrol station Samaritan: how ‘Namaste Man’ saved my birthday
Something YOU can do on Windrush Day – by Adrian Lock
On Windrush Day, today, we celebrate the contribution of so many from the Caribbean that responded to the UK government’s request for help to rebuild post-war Britain.They came, suffered ongoing racial abuse, but struggled through, becoming part of the nation’s backbone, fulfilling so many of our keyworker roles, which many of their children and grandchildren… Continue reading Something YOU can do on Windrush Day – by Adrian Lock
Confessions of a racist – by Adrian Lock
No-one I know wants to be called a racist. Do you? All my White friends would be horrified by the accusation. We would all sign up to a ‘progressive’ set of values that would say diversity is ‘a good thing’ and racial discrimination is a ‘bad thing’. We are all horrified by the killing of… Continue reading Confessions of a racist – by Adrian Lock
