Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Sep 21Member-onlyA Rom-Com For NeckbeardsWhen Jennifer walked into the office that morning, my heart jumped out of bed, ran downstairs, opened the door and screamed loudly to the neighbourhood: “Hark! I am full to the brim with happy song! I am but a joyful passenger on love’s winged vessel” What this resembled, as I…Work6 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Sep 16Member-onlyThe Day I Met The QueenAnd the end of the line — If there is one thing that exemplifies what it is to be British, then it is our innate fondness for joining a queue, regardless of what lies at the end of it. At the end of time, will we join a queue that snakes to the top of a cliff…Queen Elizabeth5 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Sep 5Member-onlyNavigating both London And My Ongoing AnxietyFriendships, much like house plants, need the occasional spray with the water bottle of love and attention. I am good with the house plants since they have not evolved to the point where they are able to send me text messages or leave me voicemails. They just sit there and…Life11 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Sep 2Member-onlyKilling A Member Of The TeamAnother lengthy hiatus for me caused in part by going on holiday after a few years of not going on holiday. Without sustained effort, I am unable to control the frequency of these bouts of delirium that results in 2000 words hitting your inbox, if you are a subscriber. If…Work8 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Aug 5Member-onlyWhat I’m Listening To Today, Episode #22Birds Don’t Sing, TV Girl — Summer is upon us, and for the first morning in months I woke after eight good hours of sleep and didn’t feel the need to hit the snooze button on my alarm. So, time to put finger to keyboard and give you a little update. My house is currently…Music4 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Jul 26Member-onlyWe Shall Break RecordsOn Monday morning when the sun came out, I felt good. The preceding week had been filled with news stories about a record-breaking event. This is how society likes to frame success, it is how we are raised. We must win at all costs, and there is no greater litmus…Climate Change8 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Jul 15Member-onlyA Bridge Between WorldsWe begin as one must, with the usual apologies. I’m sorry for not posting anything for two (three?) months. That seems even worse now that I’ve said it. My reasons are the following: I didn’t want to. I began a long production run at work, during and at the end…Samuel Taylor Coleridge6 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·May 9Member-onlyThe Mountain ClimberAt the end of March, the Alpine Fellowship Poetry competition was brought to my attention, along with the words: “hey, you write stuff, you should definitely have a go at this”. I was interested, though having some bitter familiarity with the Fellowship, I wasn’t sure I wanted to bring anything…Poem3 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·May 6Member-onlyA Gut FeelingGoing with your gut is not something I’m readily willing to do. I think it’s because a large part of my psyche is dedicated to just seeing what’s going to happen next, so instead of taking whatever decisive action my gut microbes are commanding, I sit and ponder what they…Relationships7 min read
Published in The Manic Depressive’s Handbook·Apr 21Member-onlyThe Mormon ConversionNote to reader: I started penning this — at a guess — sometime in August 2020, when the first wave of the coronavirus had begun to die down here in the UK and there was a collective feeling, I think, of having been through the wringer. A few times. I…Humor8 min read
