Back in the Good Old UK         wow factor 10/10 Spring 2013 This is my first real trip since I returned from OZ. It's the May bank holiday, its not enough that they heist all our dough, the sky is clear and the daytime sunshine is almost hot,...

Paris -money-and the American Dream June 2013                              wow factor 8/10 Last year I visited a friend and his wife by Bus to Paris, an overnight ride for £15. This year it's by train for £32.50 taking two...

THOUGHTS on the GUIDE In precept 6. I mention the GUIDE and a suggested reading. The book is fine, but the author puts rather a lot of emphasis on God. This isn't really necessary, your Guide is with you at a very early age, but we are often discouraged in developing...

DEVON C to C – BEST CAMPSITE – with BIKE FRIDAY devon June 2013 On the train I overheard someone talk about the 3B's, so my fertile imagination conjured up this bizarre tale. (In the style of Adam Curtis) Once upon a time there was three B's; Blair, Bush, and Berlusconi.Blair,...

US of A – AMTRAK – BIKE FRIDAY – and GEORGE W BUSH USA Summer 2004 After 32 years I was returning to the country that I fell in love with 22 years earlier. And 5 years before that, VE Day, when I was 7 years old, I remember taking the...

Cruise to Antarctica – Argey Bargey – a Nazi – and the Brompton cameSometime in 2005 Several years ago I had the ridicules notion to take a cruise to the Antarctica, as its the only way to visit the bottom of the world.Everything started fine, and I arranged to return from...

YOU DON'T HAVE TO BE JEWISH TO ENJOY ZYCLINGThe above is a paraphrase from a poster ad that proliferated around New York in the 60s, for rye bread I think. Anyhow I thought I would explore in this jotting my Jewish identity or lack of it.   When I was a...

DIET and FASTING for a ZYCLISTGeorge Orwell from The Road to Wigan Pier (1937), after describing the horror of working class life in the slums, he then turns on parts of the progressive side of the Socialist Movement: "One sometimes gets the impression that the mere words Socialism and Communism draw...

ZYCLING around INDIA with Brompton     wow factor 8/10(go east old man) Winter 2012 My first knowledge about India, was from the letters my dad sent during the second world war. He had been posted there for a couple of years having a great time cycling through the jungle and...

Radio and Reality It seems that I've used the Radio as a companion for much of my life. In fact right this moment the BBC four Sunday program is on in the background of the I Pad. As a child the wireless was far more influential to my growing sense of...

 Meals on Wheels Eating the ZYCLIST way. This will be the first of an occasional attempt at offering a typical three course meal that is healthy, not too expensive and delicious. It's also easy to pack in a flask to take on your travels . Puree of Vegetable & Chick Pea...

Pedal power! The tricycle champ who still bikes five miles a week aged 100Richard Howard, who won three tricycle gold medals before the start of the Second World War, still bikes five miles a week despite just becoming a centenarian. When you reach the milestone of turning 100, most already live...

Three cheers for this amazing woman who pushed through this cycle safety campaign against lots of official indifference A year ago every household in the city had just received their forms about 20mph limits and now we have our roundels (well with the odd exceptions of Blackberry Lane, Florence Road due...

(RT is funded by our old friend Mr. Putin who loves stirring it up. A bit like me!)

An amazing and powerful speech by activist and journalist Chris Hedges, with clips from the films: 'Children Of Men', 'They Live', 'Escape From LA', and '28 Weeks Later'.

About fifty years ago, I was a bit of a pot head, and took mescaline a few times. But at the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem in 1970, in a stoned state, I did have what I think was a profound spiritual experience, where I felt the joy of being part...

Recently I answered a call from Green Peace , now I didn't throw up everything to put on a Mae West ,( an inflatable life preservative , lots of E numbers, named after a Sex Goddess during WW2 , who had an enviable wit. "You only live once, but if you...

THE SIMILE OF THE DRIVERLESS BUSBy Ajahn Brahm As I live near and am a supporter of Chithurst monastery, I’m often asked to drive the mini-bus to our sister monastery about 70 miles away. Musing around the library, I came across some teachings of Ajahn Brahm the Abbot of the monastery...

THE ABUNDANT GODDESS, AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE CHANGE    June 2013 When I was at Dartington I met Ama Menec a sculptress and historian, and I was impressed with this article she wrote. Localised climate change caused by over exploitation of woodlands, leading to deforestation has been with us since the beginning of...

21 Pictures That Will Restore Your Faith In Humanity 1. This picture of Chicago Christians who showed up at a gay pride parade to apologize for homophobia in the Church.   (Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media) … and the reaction from the parade.   (Michelle Gantner / Maladjusted Media) 2. This story about Japanese...