What are decades to dreams?
Golding, sailing past the island of Ithaka, thought he would return and land within a few months. Then war and life intervened, and it took him more than a quarter of a century. Which goes to show, hang on to your dreams long enough and they can come true. Or, more...
Unsullied attitude
Shirley is among the less known works of Charlotte Bronte. At a time when women had considerably fewer options in deploying their energies and talents, Shirley is a strong character with attitude and resources.  I loved the ‘Pah to all that’ feeling in...
The purpose of a house
To provide shelter? A roof over your head? Security at night from wolves and thieves? A place to stash your stuff? Yes, maybe, all those things and more. But also this: a place to dream in peace. I talked to her about Gaston Bachelard and his idea that the purpose...
Stake your life, again, in what you dream
Isn’t this as good a moment as any to stake your life again in what you dream? The start of a new year, a new decade and a once-every-101-years double-digit (101 years since the last one, in 1919, and 101 years until the next, 2121).And if you don’t have...
Of sweet sleep
Keat’s evocation of perfect sleep is particularly moving considering he was soon robbed of health and ‘quiet breathing’ by the assault of tuberculosis. Â He had also nursed his mother and younger brother through it, losing both of them to its...
An ageless conversation
This distinction between individual and collective dreams comes from the book that inspired nuannaarpoq.com. Both types can fuse into our future, making or breaking it in terms of whether it is bright, liveable or simply bleak. Arctic Dreams probes many of the issues...
A factory of dreams, laughter and sighs
One of the most charming and imaginative descriptions of human beings. Well worth keeping in mind in case you find yourself standing before a panel of Martians demanding that you explain homo sapiens to them. Think about it: all the bread, wine, fish and radishes you...
The joys of this world
Many indeed and I like the short list, but even more the loving depiction of cleaving to the sea and the islands in a gentle autumnal light. May your masts spring branches and fruits, but not before you are safely in harbour. “Many are the joys of this world – women,...Yes, sign me up!
