How I learnt to Love Wales and Being Welsh

I think one of the things that would surprise sixteen year old Chris the most is how much thirty-three year old Chris feels about Wales. I wasn't a patriotic kid, and didn't feel any real affection or pride in my Welsh heritage. Welsh was the language of school, and the books we studied there. Sure, …

15 Minutes Blog #GE2017: The Trouble with Trident

The hate filled rag that is the Daily Mail today used it's front page to attack Jeremy Corbyn. This is standard fare for the paper, which is so Tory it may as well be publisher with blue ink. The reason for the attack was that Corbyn refused to answer if he would use Trident, the …

15 Minutes #GE2017: Who to vote for?

The general election is fast approaching, and I thought I'd write about it on my blog. However, to stop it just turning into a massive rant I'm keeping it simple and to a 15 minute timer. So here we go. Ever since Theresa May announced the snap election a few weeks back the British press …

Book Review: The Elephant in the Room by Jon Ronson

Finally the US Presidential election is drawing to a close. The process is so long and convoluted that by now everyone just wants it over with. I'm hoping that Hilary Clinton emerges as the victor because despite her flaws the alternative is terrifying. Donald Trump is an irresponsible narcissist who would be too much if …

Book Review: Playing the Enemy by John Carlin

In 1995 less than half a decade after it's first democratic election and the end of apartheid South Africa hosted the Rugby World Cup. The nation's triumph at the tournament was viewed as an optimistic sign for the country and helped to heal the wounds on the nation's people. This magnificent book details the story …

15 Minute Blog: Out and Down

I could write for hours about today's events, but let's keep this brief, shall we? Britain has voted to leave the EU. Yesterday, reassuring MWF I had said that I felt the British people would do the right thing and not gamble the future on nostalgic nationalism, fear and intolerance. I gave my countrymen too …

Votey McVotefarce (see what I did, there?)

Yesterday was election day here in the UK, with the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and English councils being decided. There were also mayoral elections in London and other cities. As a lecturing do-gooder I urged my "friends" on social media to get down to the polls and vote, but at least I didn't write a …

Votey McVotefarce (see what I did there?)

Yesterday was election day here in the UK, with the Scottish Parliament, Welsh Assembly and English councils being decided. There were also mayoral elections in London and other cities. As a lecturing do-gooder I urged my "friends" on social media to get down to the polls and vote, but at least I didn't write a …

Book Review: Revolution by Russell Brand

To be honest it took me a while to get into this book. I found the early stages a bit of a slog and feared that this was where Brand and I would part ways. It seemed a shame as I've long been a fan and find him an interesting, funny and clever person. The …

10 Minute Blog: Use your vote

Tomorrow is the general election, and I'm going to wander over and exercise my democrat rights by casting my ballot. Who I'm voting for is still a little undecided in my head, but I'm sure that by the time it comes to leave my mark I'll have chosen someone. I was going to write a …