To witness the end of a life
‘Ilford Murder Trial’, News of the World, 10 December 1922, 10 I witnessed the end of a life this week: a coroner’s report of July 1940 tracked the months leading up to the death of the man who I have worked on for the past seven years. I knew he …
Britain from the air: re-seeing the interwar?
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18542080
This is where I write
Note the Hemingway: managing expectations downwards…
The little things that make it all worth while
The coolest knitted thank you gift ever from two of my wonderful students.
Life cycles
This isn’t about bikes. Last night we had dinner with our third year students. They finished their final exams a couple of weeks ago; in a fortnight they’ll find out their results; as term draws to an end right now they’re beginning to pack up the…
Environment, work and the self in industrial Britain
Until the past few decades, the American environmental historian Richard White has recently reminded us, most people have encountered and known nature through the raw physicality of their labour. That insight and the postcard below are the startin…
Welsh Ride Thing
Just back from three days bikepacking in mid-Wales as part of this year’s Welsh Ride Thing. This is what we got up to… Facts and figures: Day 1: 40.35 miles and 3497 feet of climbing. Nice easy spin; great weather; good company. Day 2: 39.77 mil…
Countdown to the Welsh Ride Thing: D-1
After racking up my highest ever monthly mileage in March I’ve just taken a few days off the bike–partly because my legs were screwed but also to escape and do some proper writing while I had chance. Coming back to Oxford has meant a weird combin…
The Trickster Prince 