Revisiting Great Expectations: Part 1

The start of the affair
25 July 2008
I have always had a soft spot for Great Expectations, Charles Dickens’s final masterpiece, which I first read as a set text for my English Literature GCSE. Most of the books I had to read for English class at school were somehow made much less enjoyable by the simple [...]

Why I Write

Why I Write
24th May, 2007
In just under 16 hours, I will be going to probably one of the most important interviews in my life so far. I had sensed that 2007 was going to be an important year, but this interview really has all the feel of a last chance even with the year only [...]

CDS essay: A Dream of Red Scarves

A Dream of Red Scarves
27th January, 2007
It was recently brought to my attention that although the China Development Society kindly employs me as their resident writer, about four people in the committee actually know who this “John” person is. I have always had underwhelming records with student organisations.
When I entered primary school in China, I [...]

Pr0n

Last night the ITV evening news carried “violent video games” as their main story. I later found out that earlier on the same day, Richard and Judy, national opinion makers, had a similar discussion on violence and video games on their afternoon show. Enough. I will not dignify ITV or Richard and Judy by discussing [...]

Home

Contrary to popular opinion, I do like Hull. I like it in the way that a successful superstar actress has a place in her heart for the pole-dancing industry where she made her first break. What I am trying to say is that I hold my own grumbling affection for my adopted hometown because it [...]