Sorry to hear about your mother. I miss your weekly shows on odysee. I love the milleniyule series, it's like being a child looking forward to your favourite movies coming on over the Christmas holidays.
So, so sorry for your loss Colin. Please be kind to yourself and take things a day at a time. For me, the high point of your writing this year was the series of essays on Tony Harrison, a poet whose work I’ve admired since I was at school. He’s an old school leftist, but there is much of worth to be found in his writings. Thank you.
It’s sort of thrilling and admirable to read about your writing schedule. And I feel frustrated on your behalf that you aren’t currently getting compensated at anything like your true worth. This world is not always accommodating to those who are reflective and sincere, let alone conservative. I naively assumed that you had some more conventional side gig with your coding or creative skills. But I can see that time is maybe too tight for that. Nevertheless, you clearly have what they (perhaps cringeably) call an impressive ‘skillset’.
It may not be much of a consolation but please be reminded that your writing touches many of us deeply. And explores subtle ideas and feelings that resonate with so many yet which so few other writers can articulate.
So sorry for your loss. I hope that you are able to take comfort in knowing that her mind is free from the darkness that kept her trapped in her thoughts and the past, that she knows your heart now and would not want you carry the burden of circumstance which made reconciliation not possible in her later years and that she watches over you in nothing but love. We are all looking forward to milleniyule and wishing you nothing but the best. God bless, Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Condolences on your loss. I relate to you talking about looking at the past (which I also do), instead of the future. There is comfort to be had in looking back, as we know what happened in the story, whereas the future really doesn't look great. I enjoy your ruminations and reminiscences about what went before, it always brings a cosy feel to reading your essays.
I think you are right about the essay about your Mother. It is no-ones business but yours and if published, would be there to be abused by those who have less than honourable intentions.
Looking forward to Millenniyule this year, and congratulations on ten years!
Condolences on your loss, mate. We all only get one mother. I was quite estranged from mine too. It was still a turning point in my life when she passed away.
So sorry to hear of the death of your mother. I hope your funding increases this year. It's such a hard area to make money at...especially as you say if you are on the 'right'.
Your voice of sanity is vital, Woes. I cannot see you entirely avoiding the 'old topics', given that things will obviously - MUST obviously - get worse before they get better. The sweep of history is vast, perhaps immeasurable in any given age; certainly its tidal wave continues to rear in ours and it has clearly not yet reached its full height. When it does, our beloved Europe will clearly balkanise and break up in coming decades. That's inevitable. Whole cities in the UK: Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester - my own beloved London - will fragment into no-go areas - if, indeed, they manage to retain any geographical identity at all. Black pill? No, just brutal realism. I still think we Europeans will come through the fire. Indeed, the flames will temper and harden the European soul in all the ways that we so obviously need! But it will be a stark age of great purging. Everything weak in us will be consumed in the ashes - and rightly so!
As regards the death of your dear mother and your doubts as to whether to publish your profound thoughts about your bereavement, I can only speak from personal experience - both as a man and as a poet: there is something diamond-like about the truth - and the deeper the truth the more adamantine it becomes...and the more shield-like the protection it offers! If we are brutally honest with ourselves, how can others harm us? Malicious lies cannot injure the man who has already subjected himself to the painfully objective truth of experience. Similarly, it is an axiom of true poetry that its honesty can (when required) serve as a weapon to wield against the brutality of the world.
But the metaphor of weaponry falls short here. In reality, the more we express our deepest thoughts and emotions - the more we submit ourselves to be known by their truths - the more we actually acquire their adamantine quality ourselves! Moreover, consider the great good you would be doing all those who read you in good faith! How much they would benefit from your wisdom. You owe it to the human story to add (not hide) your own most passionate chapters....
As for the bad actors among us (and on the other side) - the devil take them. He will use them accordingly. Great good luck to you in the coming year.
Thanks for all of the effort and thought that you put into your work, it's been profoundly helpful and impactful on my life over the last five or so years. I'm sorry to hear about your Mother and the difficulty of your relationship since the doxing, that is a real tough one to deal with. I hope that you are okay and that you can find peace with the situation. You always seemed like a top guy to me and I'm looking forward to reading your essays when you get round to publishing them, take care.
Sorry to hear about your mother. I miss your weekly shows on odysee. I love the milleniyule series, it's like being a child looking forward to your favourite movies coming on over the Christmas holidays.
So, so sorry for your loss Colin. Please be kind to yourself and take things a day at a time. For me, the high point of your writing this year was the series of essays on Tony Harrison, a poet whose work I’ve admired since I was at school. He’s an old school leftist, but there is much of worth to be found in his writings. Thank you.
Thank you.
🙏🙏
I'm so sorry to hear of your loss. Your input has been brilliant in 2024, long may it continue.
Thank you.
So sorry for loss Woes
Your writing is exceptional and I really hope you can make this your main work. Happy Yule and newyear!
Sorry for your loss, Colin.
Sorry for your loss.
It’s sort of thrilling and admirable to read about your writing schedule. And I feel frustrated on your behalf that you aren’t currently getting compensated at anything like your true worth. This world is not always accommodating to those who are reflective and sincere, let alone conservative. I naively assumed that you had some more conventional side gig with your coding or creative skills. But I can see that time is maybe too tight for that. Nevertheless, you clearly have what they (perhaps cringeably) call an impressive ‘skillset’.
It may not be much of a consolation but please be reminded that your writing touches many of us deeply. And explores subtle ideas and feelings that resonate with so many yet which so few other writers can articulate.
Thank you, Darren. :)
So sorry for your loss. I hope that you are able to take comfort in knowing that her mind is free from the darkness that kept her trapped in her thoughts and the past, that she knows your heart now and would not want you carry the burden of circumstance which made reconciliation not possible in her later years and that she watches over you in nothing but love. We are all looking forward to milleniyule and wishing you nothing but the best. God bless, Merry Christmas and happy new year.
Thank you.
Condolences on your loss. I relate to you talking about looking at the past (which I also do), instead of the future. There is comfort to be had in looking back, as we know what happened in the story, whereas the future really doesn't look great. I enjoy your ruminations and reminiscences about what went before, it always brings a cosy feel to reading your essays.
I think you are right about the essay about your Mother. It is no-ones business but yours and if published, would be there to be abused by those who have less than honourable intentions.
Looking forward to Millenniyule this year, and congratulations on ten years!
Here is a restored video of Edinburgh in times past. I found it very charming and it lifted the spirits :https://youtu.be/RIw5swnCThg?feature=shared
Condolences on your loss, mate. We all only get one mother. I was quite estranged from mine too. It was still a turning point in my life when she passed away.
I will remember you if I win the Lotto.
So sorry to hear of the death of your mother. I hope your funding increases this year. It's such a hard area to make money at...especially as you say if you are on the 'right'.
Your voice of sanity is vital, Woes. I cannot see you entirely avoiding the 'old topics', given that things will obviously - MUST obviously - get worse before they get better. The sweep of history is vast, perhaps immeasurable in any given age; certainly its tidal wave continues to rear in ours and it has clearly not yet reached its full height. When it does, our beloved Europe will clearly balkanise and break up in coming decades. That's inevitable. Whole cities in the UK: Leicester, Birmingham, Manchester - my own beloved London - will fragment into no-go areas - if, indeed, they manage to retain any geographical identity at all. Black pill? No, just brutal realism. I still think we Europeans will come through the fire. Indeed, the flames will temper and harden the European soul in all the ways that we so obviously need! But it will be a stark age of great purging. Everything weak in us will be consumed in the ashes - and rightly so!
As regards the death of your dear mother and your doubts as to whether to publish your profound thoughts about your bereavement, I can only speak from personal experience - both as a man and as a poet: there is something diamond-like about the truth - and the deeper the truth the more adamantine it becomes...and the more shield-like the protection it offers! If we are brutally honest with ourselves, how can others harm us? Malicious lies cannot injure the man who has already subjected himself to the painfully objective truth of experience. Similarly, it is an axiom of true poetry that its honesty can (when required) serve as a weapon to wield against the brutality of the world.
But the metaphor of weaponry falls short here. In reality, the more we express our deepest thoughts and emotions - the more we submit ourselves to be known by their truths - the more we actually acquire their adamantine quality ourselves! Moreover, consider the great good you would be doing all those who read you in good faith! How much they would benefit from your wisdom. You owe it to the human story to add (not hide) your own most passionate chapters....
As for the bad actors among us (and on the other side) - the devil take them. He will use them accordingly. Great good luck to you in the coming year.
Sorry to hearing of the passing of your mother. May she rest in peace.
Thanks for all of the effort and thought that you put into your work, it's been profoundly helpful and impactful on my life over the last five or so years. I'm sorry to hear about your Mother and the difficulty of your relationship since the doxing, that is a real tough one to deal with. I hope that you are okay and that you can find peace with the situation. You always seemed like a top guy to me and I'm looking forward to reading your essays when you get round to publishing them, take care.
My condolences on the loss of your mother.