It took me a moment to realise the significance of last Sunday, but when it dawned on me that this was the first Mother’s Day we hadn’t been able to celebrate with Mum, I followed the lead of many others on social media and posted a photo. The image I chose was one of Mum at age 17, in 1943 – still in the thick of World War 2 but looking so excited and upbeat. When I posted it on Facebook, my … [Read more...] about How Mother’s Day revealed a hidden treasure about my father
Storytelling
What did your 2020 smell like?
I’m no stranger to the process of reflection. The personal development training I’ve done over the years has taught me to reflect every day on what went well, what didn’t go so well, and what I’d do differently next time. But Rach Allen’s questions were deeper than that. She invited me to reflect on the past year – particularly the period after we originally spoke last July for her podcast 40 … [Read more...] about What did your 2020 smell like?
How will history judge us in our ‘digital afterlife’?
I’m something of a sucker for true-crime documentaries, so last week I watched Netflix’s latest, Crime Scene: The Vanishing at the Cecil Hotel. The central story is about the disappearance of Elisa Lam, a 21-year-old Chinese student who stayed at the hotel in 2013. But there are other narrative threads: about the history of the hotel itself (a dark one); the area adjacent to it in downtown Los … [Read more...] about How will history judge us in our ‘digital afterlife’?
Why I’m still a believer (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
On my birthday bank holiday (the Monday after a Saturday anniversary), I sat watching big flakes of snow drift to earth. I was in a melancholy mood, listening to a Spotify playlist of songs from the emotional drama This Is Us - a beautifully curated soundtrack that perfectly complements the series’ superb storytelling.After blubbing my way through two more tear-jerking episodes, I sought … [Read more...] about Why I’m still a believer (yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah)
Let’s write a powerful story for 2021
I’ve just finished watching Game of Thrones. Yes, I know I’m a bit late to the party, but I reckon it’s never too late to watch a timeless epic. My only reference points for the eight-season series were the fan outbursts on social media - especially about that final season - so I knew from the start who won the game, but I didn’t know how they did it. I had major issues with the amount of … [Read more...] about Let’s write a powerful story for 2021
Behold, the Christmas Star is here
In times of turmoil, loss and uncertainty, I’m always comforted by the view outside my window. Nature gets on with it, the seasons unfold as they should, and the sun rises every morning. And, moving beyond the sun, the planets play their part in the solar system with satisfying precision. I have always marvelled at the mechanics of this system, which allows the positions of planets and their … [Read more...] about Behold, the Christmas Star is here