Life
What Makes a Man
Our contributor Neil Ferrier looks back at the men that made him what he is today.
Ten Tips for the Aristocratic Imposter
Picture yourself conversing with the U.S. Ambassador to Russia, flanked by a billionaire founder of a chemical manufacturing company on your left and a governor on your right. If your background is similar to my own you might, as I often did, experience imposter syndrome in moments like these. How do you hold your own in conversation? What do you bring to the equation?
Arthur Lochmann and the Ethics of Doing
How many times have we contemplated our work? And how often is it a work that will last for decades, if not centuries to come? Craftsmanship gifts us a hint to our precarious human condition, it makes us appreciate the short lifespan we are given, easily surpassed by a well measured wood joint.
Making Everyday a Special Occasion
In this economy, personal investments come at some extra cost: the care we diligently owe to worthy items, a cashmere jumper, a silvered candelabra, a bespoke shirt, some made-to-order shoes, or whatever else it might be. “Let’s save it for a special occasion”, so we say. The expression is a familiar one, one we use a lot of the time. And, to be honest, I think it’s wrong.
Coffee With the Traitors’ Club
It was just another weekend for them, but as laughter rippled down the tables, a lump swelled in my throat. I forced a smile and circled my coffee cup with a finger, lost in thoughts of when I had last shared such a moment with friends. I thought back to the Saturday night pre-drinks. The summer BBQs that burnt holes in the night sky. The long walks home to the ferocious tune of Jeff Beck. All then as vivid as the haze of smoke above me.
Notes On Mental Health
Being strong means being able to give voice to our thoughts, release our feelings, face life's constant noise, and open up, especially to those close to us.
And to be free is to navigate this world with a clear sense of self, embracing your unique essence and cutting through the distractions.
Everything Matters and I Don’t Know Why
When my father palmed me a copy of On The Road he said, “I don’t know why, but I think you’re going to like this.”
Whether he thought it would change my life or not, I don’t know. But I like to think he knew what he was doing, because until that point I hadn’t thought much of reading or writing, and I’ve been writing ever since.
Below the blue. Above the grain. Between the sticks.
It’s a peace that I haven’t experienced in some time. Not since I lived on the farm, deep in the roots of the English countryside. Encompassed by the dry, sun-drenched odour of the earth. Moved only by the breeze that carries the promise of a summer harvest. Serenaded by the background sound of nature.
Considered Conduct: Are You Sitting Comfortably?
Sir Ranulph Fiennes knew no boundaries but his own. He tested them over a lifetime against the most inhospitable places on earth. Fate fought back in 2003: the explorer extraordinaire suffered a heart attack on a plane waiting to depart from Bristol airport. He was 59 years old; spent three days in a coma, and required double-bypass surgery to survive. Four months later, he completed the Land Rover 7x7x7 Challenge, running seven marathons across seven continents in seven days…