We are shaped by our experiences more than most of us like to think. And I grew up religious. For all of my formative years, and quite a way into adulthood, religion was the dominant force in my life. So a very big part of how I look at the world has been formed by that. I see religion everywhere. It’s all religion. Especially the parts full of people who would look at me strangely for insisting on this, because religion is alien to them and they don’t understand it at all....

When Jack woke up, it was too quiet. Obviously it was dark, because it was the middle of the night. And naturally the house was quiet. But usually there was at least a bit of noise from the main road, and instead it was weirdly still. And dark, of course. A very strange time to wake up for no reason, in fact. From the bunk bed, Jack only had to raise his head to see out of the gap between the curtains, and it didn’t look as though anything was moving outside, either....

We get the leaders we deserve. Partly because we accept as unstated fact that we need leaders. The people who think it’s important that someone is in charge, are, oddly enough, the ones in charge. The rest of us aren’t so bothered, so we aren’t. And consequently we don’t get to push the point that maybe it’s OK to have less leadership, because we aren’t responsible for the conversation. For some years now, I’ve been quite visible online....

I try to take things with me where I can, Devices that seem normal, not too new, Objects that my hand knows how to grasp As well as thoughts that take no energy to think. There is a spice to newness, but it’s rich, And savoured best when sprinkled on the bland. Too many pieces of a former life Stay back among the pieces of their own, And they are gaps for me, as I for them....