I once met the journalist Patrick Cockburn, and he was a bit grumpy. Which made me sad because I have a long-term crush on Patrick. His sharp often caustic analysis, especially of violence and conflicts across the Middle East, has guided and inspired me for many years: I call him my intellectual crush, and there’s […]
When Weapons Trump Aid
I once experienced the quite terrifying sight of a man outside my gate with a machete in one hand and a Kalashnikov in the other. He wasn’t a guard – and the single guard who worked the gate fled. I still vividly remember watching the armed man as he paced back and forth; I knew […]
Shadow scripts…..one you might have missed
My bloke and I have just been to Lanzarote, a wonderful trip (i.e. cheap & sunny). Shining blue skies, 26 degrees all day, volcanoes, cactus and frothing waves punched by Atlantic gusts. You get the picture. Though we went hand-baggage only – easier than it sounds, you can buy sun-cream and T-shirts anywhere these days […]
Nobody wins in Gaza or Israel
Is it over? Last night I received a deluge of messages and calls about the ceasefire that’s now news around the world. Ola, my friend inside Gaza, was jubilant – ‘the street is filled with celebrations!’ She Whatsapped me. I could almost hear the intense relief in her voice. ‘thankfully ceasefire has been announced officially!’ […]
