There was a time when the internet felt quieter and friendlier. Before social media, before the constant noise, there were just websites and blogs. You’d find someone’s corner of the internet, read what they were thinking, maybe send them an email. It felt more human. And it felt like enough.

These days it’s different. Social media became the default. We stopped building our own spaces and started posting into systems we don’t control. It’s been getting to me for a while.

So I’m changing how I do things.

One of the first things I’ve done is rethink how people contact me. I’ve kept it simple. There’s a form on this site that works and sends messages directly to me. No layers, no logins, no unnecessary hassle.

I’m also trying to take myself off social media altogether. Quietly. I don’t need to be part of something that constantly demands attention. I’d rather have something slower and calmer.

This website is where I’ll try to build that. And the truth is, it can do most of what social media does. I can post a photo of my dinner here, just like I could on Instagram. I can write short thoughts or longer ones, like Twitter or Facebook. People can leave comments if they want to respond. I can still share things, reflect, and stay in touch; just without all the noise that usually comes with it.

The difference is, I control this space. No ads. No feeds. Just a small corner of the internet where I can show up as myself.

It might not be as fast or far-reaching. But I don’t mind that. I’d rather this space felt like a quiet room than a crowded feed.

Thanks for being here.

Lately I’ve been thinking a lot about truth. Not in a grand, abstract way. Just… what’s real, and how hard it is to hold onto when everything around you feels chaotic.

Every day there’s more noise. Politicians saying things that aren’t true. News headlines designed to provoke rather than inform. People doubling down on ideas that fall apart the moment you look at them properly.

I keep coming back to this: people are dying because of all this. Not in some distant, disconnected way. Real people, right now. In Gaza, in Ukraine, on the streets of our own towns. And still, we argue about nonsense while the damage piles up.

It seems simple to me. Look at the facts. Let them guide you. But so many people decide what they want to believe first, and then go looking for “evidence” to justify it. That mindset frightens me. Because once the truth stops mattering, anything can happen.

I don’t have a big answer. I just know I want to be someone who keeps trying to see clearly. Who doesn’t twist things to fit a story. Who stays grounded, even when everything feels like it’s spinning.

This is my little corner of the internet. I’m going to use it to think out loud, to ask questions, and to remind myself of what matters. That might not change the world. But it’s something.

I made vegan leek and potato soup today. It was very nice. The leeks, potatoes and chives were grown in my back garden.

I used this recipe from BBC Good Food but made some substitutions. I didn’t have bullion powder, whatever that is. I used an Aldi vegetable stock cube. I used normal vegetable oil for the pan and olive oil to drizzle. I didn’t have almond milk but I did have oat milk so I used that.

I was super simple to make and perfect comfort food for this blustery autumn day.

As an English person who has made Scotland my home and fervently supports the cause of Scottish independence, the upcoming coronation of King Charles III poses a significant paradox. While the occasion carries historical and traditional weight, it also reignites the age-old debate surrounding the relevance and legitimacy of the monarchy in a modern society.

The coronation of a monarch is a momentous event, steeped in centuries of tradition and pomp. For many, it symbolizes continuity, stability, and national identity. However, as an anti-monarchist, I view this tradition as an anachronism, a relic of the past that hinders progress towards a more democratic and egalitarian society.

Living in Scotland, a nation that has consistently expressed its desire for self-determination, the coronation takes on added significance. It serves as a stark reminder of the unequal union between Scotland and England, where the monarchy is seen by many as a symbol of English dominance and centralization of power. The question of Scottish independence inevitably looms larger during such occasions, igniting feelings of frustration and disillusionment.

Advocates for the monarchy argue that it provides a unifying force, bringing together people from different backgrounds and beliefs. However, as a supporter of Scottish independence, I believe that true inclusivity can only be achieved by embracing a republican system that places power in the hands of the people rather than an unelected monarch. The coronation, therefore, becomes a stark reminder of the hierarchical structure that perpetuates inequality.

In an era marked by global challenges, increasing social awareness, and demands for greater transparency, the monarchy’s relevance is called into question. As an anti-monarchist, I believe that the time has come for the United Kingdom to reassess its constitutional framework and embrace a more modern and accountable form of governance.

Living in Scotland while identifying as English creates an interesting dynamic during events like the coronation. It forces me to reflect on my own identity and consider the potential implications of supporting Scottish independence while observing the ceremonial traditions of the monarchy. The balance between respecting cultural heritage and advocating for change is a delicate one, requiring introspection and open dialogue.

The coronation of King Charles III presents a unique challenge for someone like me—an anti-monarchist residing in Scotland and supporting Scottish independence. It serves as a reminder of the deep-rooted traditions and inequalities that persist within the United Kingdom. However, it also highlights the importance of engaging in constructive conversations about the future of the monarchy and the democratic aspirations of the Scottish people. As the country continues to grapple with its constitutional future, it is vital to embrace diversity, challenge the status quo, and strive for a more inclusive and equitable society.

I actually thought I’d give watching the coronation ceremony a shot, from an anthropology interest point. It all started with Christian praise and offerings, making the whole thing even more objectionable. It’s another layer of oppression, excluding those of other faiths and none from proceedings. I lasted three minutes, got annoyed, switched it off and went for a curry. In my opinion a much more British activity.

Amidst the grandeur of Westminster Abbey,
In a ceremony so lavish, so grabby,
A coronation unfolded, for a new king,
A symbol of oppression, and all that’s wrong with this thing.

For the Republicans, the ceremony was a farce,
A spectacle of privilege, power, and class,
A symbol of the oppression, they’ve long fought to end,
A relic of the past, they could never befriend.

They saw in the coronation, the chains of old,
Of kings and queens, who ruled with power untold,
Who oppressed the people, and squandered their wealth,
Leaving them in poverty, and ill-health.

They saw in the King’s coronation, a betrayal,
Of the values of democracy, so real and so frail,
For how could a king, rule over them all,
When it was the people’s voice, that should always stand tall.

They remembered the struggles, of their ancestors past,
Who fought for their freedom, and cast off their chains at last,
They remembered the bloodshed, the tears, and the pain,
And vowed to never let the monarchy rule again.

They saw in the King’s regal robes, a symbol of greed,
A reminder of the wealth gap, that they so desperately need,
They saw in the crown, a reminder of the oppression,
And vowed to fight on, for a true democratic session.

For the Republicans, the coronation was a sign,
Of the need for change, of a new design,
Where the people’s voice, would always be heard,
And the monarchy’s power, would be forever deterred.

And so, they protested, they rallied, and they spoke out,
Against the monarchy, and all that it’s about,
For they knew that true freedom, could never be found,
With a king or queen, forever crowned.

I wanted to share this quote I came across today.

“We must do away with the absolutely specious notion that everybody has to earn a living. It is a fact today that one in ten thousand of us can make a technological breakthrough capable of supporting all the rest. The youth of today are absolutely right in recognizing this nonsense of earning a living.

We keep inventing jobs because of this false idea that everybody has to be employed at some kind of drudgery because, according to Malthusian-Darwinian theory, he must justify his right to exist. So we have inspectors of inspectors and people making instruments
for inspectors to inspect inspectors.

The true business of people should be to go back to school and think about whatever it was they were thinking about before somebody came along and told them they had to earn a living.”

Buckminister Fuller

I don’t know much about Buckminster Fuller but this spoke to me because I’ve always been puzzled by “automation is taking away people’s work” as an argument against it. For me “automation is taking people’s away people’s work” is an argument for automation.

Who actually wants to work really? If work was fun, if work was something people actually wanted to spend time doing, they would need to pay us to do it. We want to work because we want to live. We need to trade the time working for currency so we can trade the currency for homes and food and health.

The self-service tills in Tesco don’t stop people from doing something they love, the stop people from spending their lives engaged in the drudgery of scanning products. The self-service tills take away the amount of work we need to do as a society.

If we can spend more time as a society making art, enjoying the company of our loved ones or other humans, progressing human knowledge or anything we want, why is that a bad thing?

This blog post is sponsored by Love Yoga Crew who will be serving this at their social on Sunday April 30th.

This dish is actually called Kapora, not pakora. One time, in the 90s Stephanie and her mum had a little too much drink in an Indian restaurant and asked for kapora. It became one of those family private jokes where they asked for kapora every time they wanted pakora. That’s not the funny bit, though.

Stephanie and I went for an Indian meal recently. She was telling me about her pakora/kapora private family joke. I’d also had a little too much to drink so I asked for mushroom kapora. The waiter, responded “yes sir mushroom kapora”. That’s actually not that funny or interesting now I’ve written it down. I guess you had to be there.

Anyway, here her recipe is. Enjoy. If you want to check out Strathaven’s most friendliest, accessible and understanding yoga classes, visit loveyogacrew.com. Stephanie will be serving this kapora/pakora at her monthly social.

Ingredients:

• 200g gram flour.
• One green chilli, chopped.
• One tsp chilli powder.
• One tsp garam masala.
• Two tsp ground corrianda.
• Two tsp tumeric.
• Tsp chilli flakes (optional).
• Two medium potatoes, grated.
• Two large carrots, grated.
• One large onion, finely chopped.
• 40g kale, chopped.
• 40g cabbage, finely chopped.
• Vegetable oil for frying.
• Hot sauce, chutney, pakora sauce for serving.

Method:

1. Mix the gram flour with the spices and slowly add 150ml of water as you stir to form a smooth batter. You can use it straight away, but it’s best to let it settle for an hour.
2. In a large bowl, add and mix all the vegetables together. Add the batter a little but at a time. The vegetables should be coated but not super wet.
3. Fill a pan about a third full with oil and heat. To test if it is hot enough, drop a drip of the batter into the oil. If it sizzles, you are ready to go.
4. Take a handful of the batter and vegetable mix then form it into a small ball. Use a spoon to carefully lower the ball into the hot oil.
5. Fry for three to four minutes or until golden and crispy, using tongs to turn halfway. Remove from the oil and taste to check consistency. You may need to add more water if it’s too thick or more gram flour if it’s too wet.
6. Repeat frying the remaining mixture in batches, ensuring that the pan isn’t overcrowded.
7. Drain the cooked pakoras in a paper-towel lined oven dish.
8. Serve immediately with choice of sauces.

I have more than one watch, well more than one Casio watch to be more precise. I actually think I might have a collection.

About a year ago I needed a new watch, I tried the whole smartwatch thing and never really found a use for it. It was slow and didn’t really do anything I couldn’t do with my phone. I took it to cash converters.

I did want to get a watch rather than rely on my phone. I’m a very time orientated person. I hate being unpunctual and I need a clock in view at all times. Every room in my house has a wall clock, even the toilet.

I wanted a timepiece that was reliable, that was my main concern. I did want it to look good but I wanted to spend as little as possible. I researched and made my decision – the Casio F-91W.

Apparently, the F-91W is the most sold watch in the world, with three million units sold a year and for good reason:

• Durability: The F-91W is built to last. It is made with a tough resin case and band that can withstand everyday wear and tear.
• Reliability: The F-91W has a quartz movement that is known for its accuracy and reliability. It also has a long battery life, so you don’t have to worry about changing the battery frequently. It’s so reliable, the security services in the USA believe it is a sign of al-Qaida.
• Functionality: The F-91W has all the basic features you need in a watch, including a stopwatch, alarm, and backlight. It is also water-resistant, so you can wear it while swimming or doing other water activities.
• Affordability: The F-91W is very affordable, making it accessible to a wide range of people. It is a great option for those who want a reliable and functional watch without breaking the bank.
• Classic design: The F-91W has a timeless design that is simple and stylish. It can be worn with a variety of outfits and for different occasions.

That last point is what seems to have led me down the Casio rabbit hole. I normally value function over for and when I do need to think about form, I like to go for classic simple style. I’m a white Oxford cloth button down and navy crew neck jumper kind of guy.

The nostalgia is why I went for more. I can only wear one watch at a time, so why do I need more? I found myself remembering the good old days of the early 90s where everyone had Casios. I had the calculator watch. I think I may have also had the F-91W at some point.

I now have five Casios and there are two more that I have on my wishlist. I’m not going to discuss them all in this post, I’ll save that for the future. My concern though is that this is an age thing. I’ve never been a collector, I’ve never seen the attraction but I find myself drawn. Am I trying to recapture my childhood? I embrace the future.

Get your Casio F-91 here.

Back in 2017, a few weeks before the general election I wrote a blog post titled “Political betting for the 2017 UK General Election” for people like me who enjoy politics and the occasional flutter. I made recommendations for bets that were good value in my opinion. I’ve republished it here.

I found the post earlier today when I as going through some old files. It was published April 19th, 51 days before the result was known. As I have an hour to kill while I wait for Love Yoga Crew to teach her class, I though I would look up the results and see how much I would have lost.

I’ll list each bet here and calculate returns to a £100 stake. These fantasy bets would have needed to be singles due to related contingency.

• Conservatives to win the most seats @ 1/16 – win
• Conservatives to form the next UK government @ 1/6 – win
• Theresa May to be Prime Minister After General Election @ 1/10 – win
• Hung Parliament, no @ 1/12 – lose
• Labour vote percentage 25-30% @ 9/4 – lose
• UKIP vote percentage of 5-10% @ 6/4 – lose
• Registered voter turnout 55.01-60.0% @ 8/1 – lose
• Total seats – Plaid Cymru, 4 or above @ 8/13 – won

So that’s a total stake of £800 which would have returned… £494.46. A loss of £305.54. I didn’t actually lose that money, just so we are clear. It was a just a game.

I’m not going to make excuses gambling is a mugs game and you should only bet what you can afford to lose. What I will do though is try and find an explanation for how I went so wrong.

I think the biggest contributing factor was Jeremy Corbyn’s excellent performance. He was the Labour Party’s leader and seemed to capture the mood of young people perfectly.

This article from The Guardian explains how Corbyn manage to use the energy of a disaffected youth to increase his turnout and make the election a real contest. Labour we polling 25% at the time I made the prediction of 25-30% vote share but he smashed that with an eventual share of 40%. His support also increased the total turnout and ruined my low turnout prediction.

In retrospect, his (open secret) Brexity credentials convinced many UKIP voters to return to Labour and didn’t seem to put off remainers. I had thought that UKIP’s vote share would tumble, but to go from 12.6% in 2015 to 1.8% in 2017 is ridiculous.

The final loser is the one I’m most unhappy with. The result was technically a hung parliament as the Conservatives only managed to get 317 seats out of the 326 seats needed for a majority, which killed my 1/12 hung parliament, no prediction. The thing is, Conservative leader Theresa May managed to arrange a confidence and supply agreement with the Democratic Unionist Party who are basically the Northern Irish wing of the Conservative Party. Rules are rules though and the bet was a loser.