How I'm doing: increased illness in 2024
I found this old blogpost from April that I had forgotten to publish at the time, about where my chronic illness had got to at that point.
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May 208 min read
Enduring: when suffering doesn't lead to growth
“The word we might use most commonly next to "suffering" is "season." But what if your experience of suffering is your life's climate?...
May 146 min read
Unsupported tropes used to cut disability benefits
One of the government’s most common tropes when it is discussing welfare is a desire to focus support on ‘the most needy’. Superficially...
Apr 194 min read
Sunak perpetuates the myth of the 'sick note culture'
The UK PM perpetuates the myth of the sick note culture, as an excuse to cut support to sick and disabled people.
Jan 1510 min read
Living in a hostile environment with chronic illness
I actually wrote this blog post back in November - still autumn - but forgot about it so never reviewed and posted it. Here it is, a...
Jul 17, 20239 min read
Accepting charity is hard: using a food club in the UK
I went to a food club recently. A food club is where you pay a small-ish amount of money for food that is about to go out-of-date, or...
Apr 7, 202312 min read
Accessing the Divine: attending the BTIC conference 2023
I was pleased to be able to watch, over zoom, the second ‘Accessing the Divine’ conference, held by Boston Theological Inter-religious...
Mar 15, 202310 min read
Turning a terrible mess into a toxic one: #Budget2023
The budget today announced a lot of stuff, and most of it I’m not qualified to comment on. I’m interested, because I have a sister with...
Feb 14, 202310 min read
SAS: who dares illness?
I recently started watching the series SAS: Who Dares Wins, right from the first series. I’ve found it quite addictive, possibly in part...
Dec 13, 202210 min read
Book reviews: Lowborn, Disconnected Youth, and The Least, The Last and The Lost
Lowborn I recently read Kerry Hudson’s 2019 book, Lowborn. I don’t really have much to say about it, because honestly it is so good. And...
Jul 12, 20229 min read
Individualism left and right
One of the things that I have been thinking about a bit over the last few years is the balance between individualism and collectivism in...
May 29, 20227 min read
Depression and faith: is it okay for a Christian to be depressed?
I’ve been thinking about depression and Christianity these last few days as the topic came up in a recent sermon at my church. It’s a...
May 23, 202210 min read
The Least, the Last and the Lost should include the long-term unemployed
I was recently recommended Mez McConnell’s latest book, The Least, The Last and The Lost (I think that’s the right order!). Church Action...
Feb 28, 20226 min read
Standing to worship: does it exclude disabled people?
Yesterday I came across this tweet from Heather Renee Morgan, @H_R_Morgan: “"Stand if you are able" isn't the inclusive statement people...
Jan 17, 20222 min read
Ramblings following loss
It used to be that I was part of a team of people with chronic illness who researched and wrote about the government’s actions on social...
Apr 26, 20214 min read
Reflections on gardening: sin and relationship
I love gardening. I love sitting on the ground in the sun removing weeds, dead-heading flowers or re-training a clematis. I love pruning...
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