Up the Back Passage

Introduction This was going to be a book, I’ve been meaning to write it for over 10 years, I had all the chapters planned out, but I’ve never got around to it, so it doesn’t look like it will happen now. Perhaps I can just make it an essay or a blog post. The idea … Continue reading Free Will

1 Dec 2019 - Sunday Some of the earliest evidence of what might be described as trains goes back to Corinth in Greek times. Grooved tracks cut into limestone were used to guide wagons carrying boats along a 6 to 8km long path known as Diolkos. Much like the Panama and Suez canals, the short … Continue reading 25. Trains

November 2019 For those that missed the opening episodes here's a quick recap on the story so far. March - The one where Russ was concerned about his stomach pains. His trip to the GP results in a hospital appointment. April - The one where initial anal hilarity, turns serious after scans and probing instruments … Continue reading 24. The story so far

14 Nov 2019 - Thursday My apologies in advance - there's a rant or two coming. RANT It's election time and it seems the second most important topic is NHS funding. Well, having made use of the service quite a lot recently I'd say - about time. However, I'll first say that all the doctors, … Continue reading 23. Rant

22nd October 2019 - Tuesday "If you ever wondered how; you get triangles from a cow; you need butter, milk and cheese; And an equilateral chainsaw." Lyrics I know at least 3 will recognise from the acclaimed (by a few) band Half Man Half Biscuit. In fact that was the first lyric I ever heard … Continue reading 22. Back Again in the DHSS

9th October 2019 Triple Divide Peak in the Rocky Mountains, in Montana, is unique on the earth. Water that falls at the summit can flow into one of 3 Oceans - the Pacific, Atlantic, or Arctic. That is when the Hudson Bay is considered part of the Arctic Ocean - which it currently is. So … Continue reading 21. Triple Divide Peak

23rd September 2019 - Monday Ice hockey seems to be about the only sport with 3 periods, not halves, or quarters. Back in the past (1900s), ice hockey had 2 halves - each 30mins. But towards the end of each half the ice was so rutted and beaten up that play was difficult. They introduced … Continue reading 20. Ice Hockey

21 August 2019 - Wednesday In early Roman times, the week had 8 days, these were nundinal cycles, at the end of the cycle was a market day. Then in the first centuries of the first millennium it began to be replaced by the 7 day week. Saturdays, inherited from the Romans, are, obviously, named … Continue reading 19 Saturdays

It was 3am on the hottest day the country had ever seen. In the heavy humid night air, dark clouds swirled, rain lashed down, and thunder and lightning joined the boiling cauldron. The Dark Lord arose. No one will ever know what stirred him, maybe just the combination of the stormy night and the concoction … Continue reading 18+ The Dark Lord

8 August 2019 - Thursday Our beautiful planet gives us life, but it also gives us all weight. Without the Earth we are weightless masses. Today my weight has been a topic of discussion. I know my weight - partly having over the last 10 years needed to diet to compete within a judo weight … Continue reading 18. Weight