August: Work begins in earnest to re-start my work behind bars at HMP Wymott and to assess options for a new and second start at HMP Manchester. This work continues. Here’s a dip into what that has been like for me so far: Really Nice – And Yet. Someone waves frantically at me through the […]
It’s nice to be wanted. It’s really nice to be wanted in a line of work where rejection can rule. It’s especially nice to be wanted when it’s backed by funding ‘cos that means you can stop fighting to stay alive for a while and focus on what you get out of bed for in […]
My return to mountain biking has brought me pleasure and copious servings of humble pie. This is a good thing – right? – ‘cos one should never get too big for one’s boots, and while the (small) rational coachy bit of me understands this the emotional animal bit still finds it hard to digest: When […]
It’s taken me and age and then some to get back into the prison. What’s that line again? ‘You think it’s hard to break out of prison? You want to try breaking in…’ And that’s after being vetted, cleared by security and having worked there often enough that at least some folks recognise the orange […]
‘Well, this is a first.’ Here I am on the start line of the final race of the day at Round 1 of the Scottish mountain bike cross country champs series https://www.sxc.org.uk and all I can see in front of me are row upon row of riders. Because I’m sat right at the back of the grid. […]
