Tax My House
So, Labour’s signature policy is slapping 20% VAT on private school fees. What a sorry state of affairs – that this is pretty much the sum total of the [...]
Indebtedness
It’s midnight here in Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife. I’m in my hostel - well, it claims to be a hotel, but the evidence and price suggest otherwise. It's hot. [...]
Not Even Paying Peanuts
Introduction and Welcome A warm welcome to my avalanche of new subscribers. I’m humbled to have you. Let’s get to it. My Legal Experience In two decades as a [...]
Beyond the Condom Lesson: Parenthood in a Material World
My experience of 44 years of life is that, for circa 80 per cent of people, trying to be the best parent is their primary purpose - but a [...]
Burning My Ship: and Some Low Points as a Lawyer
Legend has it that when Vikings invaded a new land, they would burn their boats on the beach, so that a retreat wasn’t an option. Their rationale: this would increase [...]
The Evolution of Play
Today, the snow is so heavy that our children's school shut early. As I type, North Yorkshire looks quite spectacular. Back when I was a boy, a snow day [...]
Deathbed Decision-Making
This morning, I attended the funeral of a good friend – one of the most avid readers, and evangelist for, this blog, and donors to my failed election bid. I [...]
Thinking
A few months ago, at breakfast in my hotel in The Canaries, I asked the waiter: “Perdon, Senor. Tienes el pan sin gluten, para dos personas, por favor?”. (Excuse me, [...]
5,000 Apologies
(Written with the permission of my daughter). Until my daughter’s recent diagnosis of Coeliac disease, with the strict gluten-free diet she now observes improving her life immeasurably, for almost every [...]
El Dueno (the owner) and Strangeways
It’s 8pm - vino-o-clock! – here in Puerto De La Cruz, Tenerife. I’m doing something most un-Spanish: dining solo. Sitting here on the veranda of a locals’ restaurant, near to [...]
