Blogs

After observing the unedifying General Election campaign nationally and being involved in several local Hustings, I have to honestly say I am feeling very uninspired and pretty low about the overall state of English politics. In my view, we face an unprecedented global ecological challenge and a menacing destabilisation of democracy. Together these two call for an intense campaign to de-carbonise as soon as possible on the one hand, and a profound and radical overhaul of our political and economic systems and structures on the other. This means we need to set out detailed programmes to...

Are there any connections between Easter and Ecology? Jesus, the son of Joseph from Nazareth, was a key participant in a new Jewish reform movement. In the face of the political oppression, religious corruption and economic exploitation of his day, his short ministry focussed on the release of those with heavy burdens, the freeing of the stigmatised and the healing of brokenness. By including the excluded, breaking social barriers and sharing acts of human kindness, he reminded those around him of God’s call to Israel to be a people of compassion and mercy, justice and peace. He also...

Pensions & Savings

Business owners will be disappointed that the Chancellor has reduced the amount they can save for retirement over their lifetime from £1.25m to £1m. Only a few years ago, the lifetime limit was £1.8m - so this represents a massive reduction in the ability to save for retirement. The good news is that the annual allowance has not reduced as was feared, so the opportunity still exists to save a significant sum this year. Business owners may want to use this year’s allowance and any unused allowance for the last three years prior to the year end, rather than...

Before the course started

This evening I start my first session of insomnia treatment with Stephanie Romiszewski who is a Sleep Physiologist at the Sleepyhead Clinic in Exeter. I am both excited and nervous as I begin this journey into the unknown, a little sceptical, as nothing I have tried in the past has made the slightest bit of difference to aid my sleep, not even sleeping tablets and I have believed, for quite some time now, that I am beyond help.

First, let me tell you a bit about myself. I am 44, happily married, with a beautiful 8-year-old son who is my world. I...