Archive for June, 2011
Remembering the Japanese tsunami
June 18th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Three months after a giant tsunami devastated the north-east coast of Japan, what does the location look like? Check out these remarkable photographs.
Posted in World current affairs | Comments (1)
That was the week that was
June 17th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
As a semi-retired portfolio worker, my weeks are very varied, but this week was an exceptionally full and interesting one. On Monday, I travelled from London up to Manchester. I spent the afternoon with my step-mother and the evening with my brother, his partner and their daughter who is almost eight now. On Tuesday, I […]
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A whole day looking after my baby granddaughter
June 17th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
My new granddaughter Catrin is now exactly five months old. I’ve seen her most weeks, but usually just for a couple of hours when I’ve often taken her out in her pram or more latterly buggy. On two evenings, I have babysat with her to allow her parents to go out together. This week marked […]
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Which are the worst countries in the world for a woman?
June 15th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Afghanistan Democratic Republic of Congo Pakistan India Somalia Further information here.
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Should the Internet be regulated?
June 14th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I’ve just returned from an unusual venue for a humanist like me – a “Media Futures” conference organised by the Church + Media Network held in a location I’d never previously heard of (Swanick, near Afreton in Derbyshire). I was there to debate the motion “The house would regulate the Internet”. The session was chaired […]
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How long can Belgium manage without a government?
June 13th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
The short answer is: at least a year. It is now exactly one year since Belgium ceased to have a proper government and began muddling along with caretakers ministers. It doesn’t seem to bother Belgians – sorry, the Flemish and the Walloons – much but it does beg the question of whether Belgium can survive […]
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How long can Lebanon manage without a government?
June 13th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
The short answer is: at least five months. Najib Mikati was appointed as Lebanon’s prime minister-designate on 25 January 2011. He was asked to form a new government after winning the support of a majority of members of parliament, but he still not managed to win agreement between the parties – yet one more unstable […]
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A sleepy day in Abingdon
June 12th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
This weekend, Vee and I made one of our regular trips to see our Chinese ‘family’: Zhihao & Hua and their four-year old son Joshua. They have just moved from Oxford to Abingdon and this was the first time that we had visited their new home. Kung Fu Panda (aka Roger) with an ‘angry’ little […]
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A review of “Leo The African”
June 11th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
I had never heard of the writer Amin Maalouf until my recent visit to Lebanon and I had never heard of the historic figure Leo Africanus until I read this novel which I have reviewed here.
Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)
Baby Catrin: progress report (10)
June 11th, 2011 by Roger Darlington
Although a lot of times, I write on this blog about weighty political issues, I know that some of NightHawk’s readers are much more interested in what’s happening to my granddaughter Catrin. Well, she’s almost five months old now and continues to do really well. Since she was born, I’ve managed to see her almost […]
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