Archive for December, 2012


New Year’s Eve with Catrin

December 31st, 2012 by Roger Darlington

This afternoon, Vee and I at last caught up with Rich, Emily & Catrin who have been visiting various relatives over the festive season. Catrin will be two in less than three weeks, but meanwhile opened still more Christmas presents before we all went to Gabriel’s Wharf on London’s South Bank for lunch at a […]

Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)


My latest short story: “This Life Business”

December 31st, 2012 by Roger Darlington

I have not written a short story for exactly a year – too many part-time appointments have kept me very busy in 2012. But I want to keep my hand in, so I’ve used the festive break to craft  a new story – my 29th. It’s called “The Life Business” and I’ve had the idea […]

Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (4)


Five innovations that might change our lives in the next five years

December 30th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

Every Christmas since 2006, the computer giant IBM has announced what it calls “5 in5” – five predictions of things that will be possible in five years’ time. You can check out this year’s list here. My favourite is the suggestion that we will be able to interpret the meaning of a baby’s cries.

Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)


28 short stories – and counting …

December 29th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

In the summer of 2009, I set myself the challenge of writing five short stories. In fact, over the next six months I wrote 16. Since then, I’ve crafted more and the total is now 28. I know that the Christmas/New Year is a busy one for many people with little time to read a […]

Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (1)


Two reviews of “Life Of Pi”

December 28th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

Nine years ago, I read the Yann Martel novel which I’ve reviewed here. I’ve now seen the Ang Lee film which I’ve reviewed here. Both book and movie are highly recommended.

Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)


Sense and nonsense about science

December 28th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

Celebrity figures can influence others in attitudes to science but many have such fragile egos that they are ready to believe all sorts of nonsense. My favourite this year was Simon Cowell employing someone to introduce good energy into his new home. Every year, the organisation Science About Science publishes a review of the previous […]

Posted in Science & technology | Comments (0)


Boxing Day quiz: what do these names have in common?

December 26th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

Jack Reacher James Bond Jason Bourne Jack Bauer John Connor Jack Ryan John Carter

Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (1)


Could there be a negotiated settlement to the Iran nuclear threat?

December 26th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

The danger to the world of Iran acquiring the capacity to manufacture and launch nuclear weapons – seen by Israel especially as an existential threat – seems to have been running for ever. It was six years ago that I did a posting about serious predictions that Israel would launch an attack on Iran’s nuclear […]

Posted in World current affairs | Comments (0)


How was your Christmas?

December 25th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

Ours was great. This year, all of Vee’s family came over to us: her twin sister Mari and husband Derek, their sons Martin and David, the sons’ wives Isobel and Sharon, and Martin & Isobel’s children Yasmin (7 later this week) and Lucas (4). So 10 of us sat down for lunch of turkey with […]

Posted in My life & thoughts | Comments (0)


A review of “Thursdays In The Park”

December 24th, 2012 by Roger Darlington

A romantic novel in which the lead characters are in their 60s and have sex? Yes, it’s true – and why not? You can read my review here.

Posted in Cultural issues | Comments (0)