Old School

Britain’s oldest schools offer a remarkable window into the country’s religious, political and educational history. Long before the modern school system emerged, these institutions were founded to educate clergy, train administrators and preserve learning in an age when books were scarce and literacy was limited. Among the most ancient surviving schools are The King’s School, Canterbury, St Peter’s School, York, and Sherborne School.

Each began in the early medieval period and endured immense upheavals, including Viking invasions, the Norman Conquest, the Reformation and modern war. Their histories reveal how education in Britain developed from monastic instruction into the broad academic tradition associated with independent schools today.

The King’s School, Canterbury is widely regarded as the oldest school in England, tracing its origins to 597, when St Augustine arrived from Rome to convert the Anglo-Saxons to Christianity. Education formed part of the new religious foundations at Canterbury Cathedral and St Augustine’s Abbey, where boys were taught Latin, scripture and church music. Although the earliest records are limited, the school’s connection with these monastic communities suggests a continuous tradition of learning on the site.

Its modern form dates from 1541, when Henry VIII, after the Dissolution of the Monasteries, re-founded the institution by royal charter and established fifty King’s Scholars. Over the centuries, the school survived the turbulence of the English Civil War and even wartime evacuation during the Second World War, while preserving its setting within the cathedral precincts. Its long history makes it a striking example of how medieval religious education evolved into the prestigious independent school tradition known today.

St Peter’s School, York traces its beginnings to 627, when it was founded in connection with York Minster during the conversion of Northumbria to Christianity. Like Canterbury, it originated in the world of the early Christian church, where schools existed primarily to educate future clerics and administrators. Tradition associates the school with Alcuin of York, the great scholar who later served Charlemagne and helped shape the Carolingian Renaissance in Europe. This link gives St Peter’s an importance beyond England, connecting it to the revival of learning across western Christendom.

The school was later re-established under a royal charter in the sixteenth century, a pattern common among ancient English schools whose medieval religious foundations were reshaped after the Reformation. Over time, it evolved into a major independent school while retaining its historic identity. Its endurance from the seventh century to the present demonstrates the resilience of educational institutions rooted in both faith and civic life.

Sherborne School, founded in 705 in Dorset, emerged from another important religious centre, Sherborne Abbey. It was established during the Anglo-Saxon period, when monasteries and cathedrals were the principal guardians of literacy and education. Although younger than Canterbury and York, Sherborne still belongs to the earliest generation of surviving British schools. Its medieval roots were similarly transformed in the sixteenth century, when Edward VI granted it a charter in 1550. From that point it developed into a grammar school and, later, one of England’s best-known public schools.

 Sherborne’s history illustrates how ancient institutions adapted to changing political and cultural circumstances while preserving a sense of continuity. Through the centuries it educated clergy, scholars, statesmen and writers, linking the modern classroom to the intellectual life of early medieval Wessex. Today the school remains deeply conscious of its origins, using its heritage as part of its identity while embracing contemporary education.

Together, these three schools show how education in Britain was originally inseparable from the church, royal authority and the preservation of learning. Their earliest forms were not schools in the modern sense, but religious communities dedicated to instruction, discipline and scholarship. Yet their survival across more than a millennium is extraordinary. 

Each institution was reshaped by the Reformation, renewed by royal authority and gradually transformed into a modern school, but all retained a strong sense of historical identity. The King’s School, Canterbury stands out for its connection to the coming of Christianity to England; St Peter’s School, York for its intellectual links to European learning; and Sherborne School for its place in the cultural development of Anglo-Saxon Wessex. Studied together, they reveal not only the longevity of Britain’s oldest schools, but also the enduring importance of education in shaping national life.

Please find below a poem on education by Thomas Grey. This poem gave us the phrase “ignorance is bliss”.

Ode to a Distant Prospect of Eton

To each his suff’rings: all are men,
Condemn’d alike to groan,
The tender for another’s pain;
Th’ unfeeling for his own.
Yet ah! why should they know their fate?
Since sorrow never comes too late,
And happiness too swiftly flies.
Thought would destroy their paradise.
No more; where ignorance is bliss,
’Tis folly to be wise …

                                          Thomas Grey, 1742

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are much appreciated. 

Dermot Moroney

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The X Factor

The phrase ‘The X Factor’ has attained common usage in the English language, often used to describe an indefinable quality that makes someone or something stand out from the crowd. The phrase the X Factor is linked to the popular television talent show of the same name crated by Simon Cowell but the origins of the phrase date back much further, with roots in British culture, science, and language.

The term ‘X Factor’ has been used in English for many decades, long before it became associated with televised entertainment. ‘X’ in mathematics and science represents an unknown quantity or variable. The ‘factor’ element refers to a characteristic or component contributing to a result, so together, ‘X Factor’ denotes a mysterious or elusive quality that is difficult to describe or identify. Perhaps the first and most famous scientist to possess the X Factor was Albert Einstein who knew all about scientific and mathematical X Factors. His sheer presence popularised science to a global audience and he is still recognised to this day.

image of Albert Einstein

The phrase X Factor gained widespread popularity in Britain through its adoption by the media, particularly in discussions surrounding entertainment and sport. For example, sports commentators would refer to a player having ‘the X Factor’ if they possessed a mysterious ability to influence the outcome of a match, even if their technical skills were not the most outstanding. One such footballer who had the X Factor was Vinnie Jones of Wimbledon. He possessed intangible qualities such as leadership and a determination to win at all costs.

image of Vinnie Jones demonstrating the X factor against Paul Gascoigne

Similarly, in show business, the phrase was used to describe performers who had something special—an inexplicable charm or magnetism—that attracted audiences. The Sex Pistols or Oasis for example. This characteristic was often seen as more important than technical ability or training, as it was seen as the key to true stardom.

image of Oasis in the early days

In 2004, the phrase ‘The X Factor’ was catapulted into mainstream consciousness with the launch of the British television talent competition of the same name. Created by Simon Cowell, the show sought to find individuals who possessed not only talent but also that elusive ‘X Factor’—the quality that would make them a star. The show’s format explicitly referenced this concept, as judges and audiences were encouraged to look for contestants who stood out due to their unique appeal, personality, and presence, rather than just their singing ability. Some of those who appeared in the X Factor show and went on to become successful include One Direction, Little Mix, Leona Lewis and Olly Murs.

image of Simon Cowell's X Factor logo

The origin of the phrase ‘The X Factor’ is rooted in both scientific and cultural history, reflecting the British penchant for describing the indefinable qualities that set individuals apart. Its transition from scientific jargon to cultural shorthand, and finally to global phenomenon via television, illustrates the enduring appeal of mystery and uniqueness. Whether used to describe a footballer, a singer, or a business leader, ‘The X Factor’ remains a powerful expression of that special something which cannot be taught or measured, but which makes all the difference.

The X Factor

It’s coveted, sought after, once found
people think it’s happy ever after

It can’t be bottled, mined, found in
a tin, caught in the air or hidden
at the bottom of a wheelie bin

It can be a passport to fortune and fame
and things may never be the same again

A double-edged sword that can bring
affluence, manic discord, madness

No one knows how it’s made or where
it’s from but you’ll know it when you
see it, hear it, feel it

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment below as they are always appreciated.

Dermot Moroney

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Hag Stone Charms

According to the dictionary, charm can mean a quality that makes you like or feel attracted to someone or something. For instance, “she was a woman of great charm” or “I don’t trust that easy charm of his”. A charm can also be deemed to have magical powers, to ward off evil spirits such as an amulet like a rabbit’s foot (not so lucky for the rabbit). Charms can also be imbued with supernatural powers and magic to protect the wearer.

Historically, charms can found way back in time in natural things such as rocks, stones or pebbles and these charms are to be found all over Britain. One such example of these is a hag stone or witch stone, fairy stone or holy (sacred) stone, and it is a small piece of rock/stone with a naturally occurring hole in it caused by water erosion whether by a river or the sea. The stone has also been rounded by the actions of water.

Image of a collection of Hag Stones

In folklore, hag stones are believed to possess potent protective powers. Their associations with witches and the supernatural stem from the belief that the hole in the stone acts as a portal, a window through which harmful magic or evil spirits can be warded off. Placing a hag stone above a doorway or tying it to a key ring was thought to prevent witches from entering the home or causing harm. Farmers would attach them to their barns to protect livestock, while sailors carried them for luck and safe passage across treacherous waters. The hag stone’s reputation as a talisman was widespread, and stories of its powers abound in local legends.

Image of Hag Stone as lucky charm to be placed over a house doorway

One of the most fascinating aspects of hag stones is their ability to reveal the unseen. Tradition holds that peering through the hole of a hag stone allows one to glimpse into the realm of fairies, spirits, or other supernatural beings. This belief is rooted in the idea that the hag stone’s aperture acts as a lens, transforming the ordinary landscape into a magical vista. The stone became a tool for divination and discovery, a bridge between worlds.

The name ‘hag stone’ itself is evocative, conjuring images of witches and wise women. In some traditions, these stones were said to offer protection against the ‘hag’—a term once used for witches or malevolent spirits. The adder stone, as it’s sometimes called, links the object to serpents and ancient Druidic practices. The intertwining of pagan rituals and later Christian beliefs ensured that hag stones retained their mystique, even as the nature of their magic was debated and reinterpreted.

Today, hag stones are often collected as souvenirs or displayed as decorative items. Beachcombers and enthusiasts delight in finding them, recognising their rarity and the folklore attached. The stones are sometimes incorporated into jewellery, hung in gardens, or placed on altars, maintaining a link to the ancient traditions and superstitions that once governed rural life.

Image of Hag Stone jewellery by John Smith

Hag stones are much more than mere rocks with holes. They are embodiments of cultural history, symbols of protection, and gateways to the imagination. Whether seen as magical artefacts or geological curiosities, their presence on a beach or in a collection speaks to a deep human desire to find meaning and mystery in the world around us. To discover a hag stone is to stumble upon a story, one that stretches across time and continues to enchant those who seek the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Hag Stones

Ambling along the beach
absent minded yet looking
for clues

in amongst the driftwood
and sea holly there
you were

unassuming, not shouting your
presence despite the wind,
rain, sea’s restless churning

the world can be traced with
your eye, protection descends
from celestial power

ancient reminder of time’s
endless line and an echo
reframing the past.

Dermot.

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Robins

Robins (Erithacus rubecula, European Robin) are small birds with a distinctive red breast and are a common sight throughout Britain and indeed, throughout Europe apart from bits of the Mediterranean coast and northern Scandinavia. These little birds can also be found in parts of North Africa and out into Turkey, Iran and central Russia. In Britain, it is found in parks, woodland and gardens and is quite a tame bird which has been known to eat food from people’s hands. In Europe, however, the robin is much more cautious as they are shot in their thousands for sport and food though quite why anyone would want to kill and eat a such a charming bird is beyond me but there you go.

Image of a robin (Erithacus rubecula) 

How the robin came to have a red breast is the topic of much folklore and mythology in many different countries and has been associated with good luck, fire, happiness, rebirth and even messages from departed loved ones. Indeed, it is equated with so much symbolism and hope which may be a reason for it being such a loved bird.

In Celtic mythology, two kings constantly battle for power or control over the seasons of the year. The dark Holly King and his twin, the Light Oak King try to dominate each other at the Winter and Summer Solstices through the beginning and end of the seasons. The Holly King takes the form of a Wren and the Light Oak the form of a Robin. The Holly King (Wren) rules from Midsummer to the Winter Solstice and the Light Oak (Robin) rules from the Winter Solstice to the Midsummer Solstice. The wren brings darkness and reflection and the robin brings light, earth fertility and growth showing the robin and wren epitomising the changing seasons of the year.

Image of Celtic Summer Light Oak King (Robin) and the Winter Dark Holly King (Wren)

In European mythology, the robin appears to be a sacred and protected bird and if anyone kills one it was supposed to bring bad luck. In Norse mythology, the robin was sacred to and protected by Thor, god of lightning and anyone found hurting the bird was in serious trouble. In German mythology it was believed the presence of a robin stopped lightning from striking. In medieval times the wassailing ceremonies to welcome the new year saw gifts of food being left out for robins who were seen as good spirits hopefully bringing luck for the following year.

Robins have come to be seen as messengers from the spirit world. There is a saying ‘robins appear when loved ones are near’ and a robin may be seen nearby ready to escort the deceased from this world to the next. Robins can be seen on the day of the funeral and will appear later to remind the bereaved that everything is going to be fine and that the departed loved one in the spirit world is at peace. The appearance of the robin lets people know that those left behind are not alone. Consequently, the little bird has become a symbol of good news and hope for the future.

Image of the robin as a messenger from the spirit world

Today, robins are synonymous with Christmas. This may be due to the robin being associated with Christianity and Jesus in particular. In Christianity, it is believed that a robin fanned the flames of a fire with its wings to keep Baby Jesus from overheating after he had just been born. However, a sudden gust of fire scorched the then brown bird’s breast turning it red and the new red breast was passed on to every robin generation since.

The robin has also become associated with Christmas thanks to the penny post created by Rowland Hill in 1840 and this led to the invention of the Christmas card in 1843. The postmen who delivered the mail wore red tunics and were called ‘Robins’ so Christmas cards began to have the small bird illustrated on them as well.

Image of the robin at Christmas/wintertime

The robin is a bird steeped in mythology, religion, growth and freedom. It is revered in many parts of the world and is a bird protected by friends in high places so do not hurt these birds as it may be bad luck if that happens. This small bird is an emissary from the spirit world delivering messages of peace to the loved ones of those who have departed. At Christmas the robin adorns Christmas cards and decorations symbolising peace and love during the cold winter season. All in all, the robin is a little bird with a big story to tell.

Robins

At Christmas time in the dark and
cold, the Robin red breast
shines hope, love, peace

It heralds a budding new season
bringing fertility, growth, plenty
in a warm summer land

In legend he wards off lightning,
storms, protecting loved ones
from harm and ill-luck

And took a thorn from the
crown to ease the pain of
Jesus’ crucified suffering

Or sits on a branch to let
you know the spirits of those
departed are nearby

It greets the dawn with the
sweetest of songs to welcome
the newborn day

The robin does all this and
more and tells us to look to
the future, learn, love, explore.


Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are much appreciated.

Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

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Achievement

Achievement can mean many things to many people across all cultures, ages, backgrounds and social status. In essence, achievement involves an act of accomplishing a task, a goal or achieving something through courage, determination and skill. A dictionary definition of achievement may not provide a glimpse of the effort and intention required for someone to attain their target nor the personal sacrifice required to reach their allotted goal. Achievement is personal but it can also be local, national or international such as scoring a winning goal in a local football cup competition or a gold medal in the Olympics.

For most people, achievement is deeply personal and can be associated with self-development development, self-improvement or pursing one’s hobbies. Personal achievement can be measured in passing examinations, learning to speak another language or learning to play a musical instrument. Here it could be argued that achievement involves the experiences learned along the way in addition to any certification which recognises such attainments. When pursing achievement an individual learns many things about themselves and develop attributes such as perseverance, inner strength and tenacity. Self-esteem, self-confidence and self-motivation are also improved through the process of achievement.

celebrating academic achievement

Achievement can also be celebrated in wider society such as passing examinations, gaining a university degree, or being promoted at work. This means achievement is recognised and validated by external sources such as exam bodies, continuing professional development courses or work progression routes. This can mean increased social status, increased financial renumeration or public recognition such as winning an accolade of some sort. However, if external recognition is the basis of achievement, the lack of personal fulfilment may form internal disaffection and, therefore, the need to for more external validation which can have negative consequences for the individual concerned.

It is important to consider that achievement is rarely a straight-line process and journey. There are setbacks, disappointments and outright failures which are part and parcel of the achievement experience. Consequently, overcoming obstacles, barriers and setbacks are what makes achievement all the sweeter, character building and more rewarding when it occurs. Learning from mistakes, overcoming obstacles, adapting to new environments and persisting in the face of adversity are essential for building character, inner strength and resilience. These newly found attributes help individuals to overcome challenges in the future. People in all walks of life have faced moments when defeat is staring them in the face. Yet somehow, somewhere they conjure up the wherewithal to overcome defeat and go on to great success. Therefore, setbacks provide the opportunity for growth and propel people to their goals.

physical achievement on an assault course

Achievement and its meaning can change over time and today in the modern world achievement may not necessarily be defined by material wealth, social status or celebrity status. Many people now seek to define achievement as something more personal, creating greater work-life balance, enhancing their sense of well-being and contributing to local comminates, their local environment and wider society. Volunteering, joining art groups, poetry societies, local football clubs or helping out in hospitals are all forms of achievement on a personal level and are celebrated as such by the participants.

Ultimately, achievement is highly personal and is a highly individual experience. Such a journey is formed by personal values, societal influences and the different challenges and obstacles people confront along the way. Whether these achievements are large or small, public or private accomplishments is irrelevant as they are all successes that are highly personal to those who undertake them in the first place. All achievements add to an individual’s esteem, help to build a meaningful life and encourage people to achieve their potential. Engaging in achievement activities allows the individual to develop the capacity to grow and inspire themselves and others to attain and improve their skills. This allows people to acquire resilience and develop an inner strength that creates self-confidence, inner satisfaction and a sense of achievement. What more could anyone ask for?

Achievement

Be in no doubt, you’re in with
a shout, you’re going to succeed

Aim for the sky, no obstacle too tough
or too high, you’re going to succeed

You’ve done the hard yards and played
the right cards, you’re going to succeed

Give it your best shot, let it have all that
you’ve got, you’re going to succeed

Believe that you are strong, that you can
do no wrong, you’re going to succeed

When you cross that line with your best
Finishing time, you know you have succeeded

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

Dermot

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Goal!

In football it’s an old saying that goals win games. How many times have you seen a game where one team has all the possession but fails to score and the other team has one chance, takes it and wins the game. Some games are like this but sometimes late winning goals are much more significant.

One such game occurred on May 26th 1989 when Liverpool played Arsenal to be First Division champions. It was a game between first and second with Arsenal three points behind Liverpool and needing to win by two clear goals to become champions. Liverpool needed a draw or a win to become champions. At 90 minutes Arsenal were leading 1-0 which was enough to hand Liverpool the title.

However, after a Liverpool attack breaks down the Arsenal goalkeeper throws the ball to Dixon who sends a long pass to Smith who passes the ball on to Michael Thomas who charges into the Liverpool penalty area. Thomas waits for the Liverpool goalkeeper to commit himself to a save and Thomas lifts the ball into the net. The Liverpool ground exploded into chaotic celebrations. Arsenal scored their second goal at 90+2 minutes thereby winning the game and becoming First Division champions for 1988-1989 season.

Michael Thomas winning the 1989 League Championship for Arsenal at Anfield

Some say the significance of this game was that it rescued English football from the misery of football hooliganism, the Heysel and Hillsborough tragedies and paved the way for the formation of the Premier League three years later in 1992.

Another such game was the 1999 Champions League final in Barcelona between Bayern Munich and Manchester United. Going into the game United were on course to win the Treble as they were already Premier League champions and had won the FA Cup as well. However, in the final after 90 minutes, United were 1-0 down and 3 minutes of time were added on. United had a corner which Beckham sent into the Bayern penalty area. This was poorly cleared and Giggs sent the ball back into the Bayern goal area where substitute Teddy Sheringham put the ball in to the Bayern net.

The goal was timed at 36 seconds into injury time. Thirty seconds after the restart United forced another corner which Beckham sent into the Bayern penalty area finding the head of Teddy Sheringham who nodded the ball across the face of the goal. The second United substitute Solskjaer reacted quickest and prodded the ball into the back of the Bayern net. The second United goal was scored with 43 seconds of the game remaining.

Many of the Bayern players were so distraught to have lost the game in such a fashion that they could hardly restart the game. Shortly after the game was over, United were European champions and became the first English club to achieve the Treble, winning the Champions League, Premier League and FA Cup in the same season. The Treble winners also confirmed their domination of English football winning their last Premier title in 2013 when manager Sir Alex Ferguson retired from the game after 26 trophy laden years.

Manchester United, European Champions and treble winners in 1999

Perhaps the most famous and iconic game in Premiership history occurred when Manchester City played Queens Park Rangers (QPR) at home on Sunday 13th May 2012. City went in to the final match on the final day of the season as Premiership leaders from arch-rivals Manchester United on goal difference. Manchester United were playing away at Sunderland. City needed to match or better United’s result at Sunderland. Additionally, QPR needed a draw to escape relegation from the Premiership.

As luck would have it, QPR were leading 2-1 after 90 minutes and there were 5 minutes of added time to play. Despite nearly constant pressure, QPR hung on until the second minute of added time when a Silva corner was headed in by the City striker Edin Dzeko headed to make it 2-2. By this point news came through that results elsewhere meant QPR were safe from relegation but also that United had beaten Sunderland and as things stood United were going to be league champions. City needed to another goal to become champions.

In the 94th minute City forward Balotelli despite being on the ground passed a ball to striker Sergio Aguero who ran further into the QPR penalty area and unleashed a savage shot that flew into the back of the QPR goal. The Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler roared simply “Aguerooooo” as the ball hit the back of the net and the stadium erupted into emotional chaos. City had won their first Premiership title and won their first league championship in 44 years under manager Roberto Mancini.

"Aguerooooo" winning the 2012 League Championship for Manchester City

The significance of this game, and this goal in particular, is that City under new manager Pep Guardiola from 2016 would go on to dominate the English game. Since 2016 City and Guardiola have won 18 major trophies including winning the Treble of the Premier League, the FA Cup and the European Champions League in 2021 equalling Manchester United’s Treble in 1999. City are only the second English club to complete the Treble.

GOAL!

Five minutes left to play
two goals down are they
going to throw it all away

Come on, come on, we need
a goal, just one more goal
to ease our aching desperate soul

A loose ball, a bad clearance
it’s in the back of the net, it’s
called perseverance

Three minutes left, keep on
Up the attack, no holding back
just pressure, pressure, pressure

Bad tackles, desperate defending
the noise is unrelenting, just hit the
shot, give it all you’ve got

Aguerooooo!


With thanks to Sky Sports commentator Martin Tyler for the iconic “Agueroooo”.

And thank you to you for reading. Please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

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Butterflies

When thinking of a butterfly most people imagine small delicate creatures with amazing wing colours and patterns. In Britain for instance, there is the Peacock butterfly recognisable by the ‘blue eyes’ on its wings and it is found in gardens, woodlands, parks and coastal areas. The Red Admiral is a big, beautiful butterfly which migrates from North Africa and Continental Europe to British shores over the summer. Another migrant butterfly to Britain is the Painted Lady which flies in from the desert edges of North Africa and the Middle East and can be found in any part of this country.

Butterflies usually live on a liquid diet of nectar which they access from deep within flowers using a long tongue called a proboscis. The buddleia shrub is especially favoured by butterflies and for that reason it is sometimes called the ‘butterfly plant’. Butterflies will also eat ripened or rotting fruit which is turning into liquid making it easier for them to access. There is also the suspicion that rotting fruit such as apples or pears may be turning into alcohol and the butterflies appear to enjoy a few pints in the sunshine - just like humans in the beer garden on a sunny day!

Although some butterfly larvae are carnivorous, they stop this behaviour upon reaching adulthood and begin to eat nectar. However, there are some butterflies that have an almost dark secret where their dietary habits are concerned. These butterflies do not eat nectar for food but are in fact carnivorous and predate on carrion.

In southern England, there is a carnivorous butterfly called the Purple Emperor which feeds on rotting animal flesh primarily in woodland areas. It appears that because of its carnivorous nature, groups of people in July each year, the butterfly equivalents of birdwatching ‘twitchers’, can be found wandering around woodlands leaving out rotting fish, rotting meat, animal corpses and even faeces as bait for the Purple Emperor. According to some Purple Emperor chasers, urine-soaked fox dung is the favourite food bait to photograph this elusive butterfly.

Image of a Purple Emperor butterfly (BBC, 2015)

The Purple Emperor spends much of its time 250 feet up in the oak forest canopy where it defends its space aggressively, even attacking birds if they get too near which is not standard butterfly behaviour! Getting them to ground level can be tricky hence the foul smelling and probably foul-tasting food traps to lure them there. Unfortunately, the Purple Emperor only survives each summer from July to the end of August. However, numbers seem to be rising in part due to conservation efforts particularly in the Southwest of Britain to preserve this stunning butterfly.

In South America there is a butterfly family called the Riodinid which contains around 1300 different types of butterfly. These butterflies are also known as ‘metalmarks’ due to small metal looking marks on their wings. The adult Riodinid butterfly feeds on flowers, mineral deposits in damp sand and mud “puddings” but its favourite food seems to be rotting carrion. In a field study in Ecuador, rotting carrion placed in food traps was the most frequently recorded food source for the Riodinid butterflies. Other types of food bait were used but were not eaten as much as the rotting carrion.

Image of Dyson’s Swordtail (Rhetus dysonii, Riodinid) from Ecuador

It may be that by diversifying its food sources and diet these types of carrion-eating butterflies are more capable of adapting to changing environmental conditions thereby giving their species a better chance of survival in tough times than other non-meat-eating butterflies. The Riodinid is a very successful species and this success may be in no small part to its varied dietary habits.

Another butterfly deemed to be carnivorous is the Harvester butterfly of North America. Some argue that the Harvester is carnivorous at the larvae stage only where it eats hairy aphids. Others indicate it eats hairy aphids as an adult as well. However, the adult Harvester butterfly seems to be from another planet with its alien looking eyes and its larvae seems to possess the face of a monkey as the images below suggest. Either way, the Harvester butterfly is widely considered to be the only carnivorous butterfly in North America.

Images of Harvester Butterfly pupae with ‘face’ and Harvester Butterfly with 'almost ‘alien’ eyes

So, the next time you are in a garden or a park or in the woods, whenever you see a butterfly, just remember, some of those beautiful nectar eating creatures have cousins who eat decaying meat for a living.

Butterfly

Butterfly, butterfly, why do
you flutter by butterfly?
Why don’t you rest
a while, spread your wings,
cool down and let things
wander by.
Open your beauty and smile
in the joy of just being, sitting
there, seeing the day unfold,
bright, brash, bold
in summer’s garden.
Have a sweet drink of nectar
from the buddleia, cornflower
or the aromatic Rambling
Rector rose.
Then rested, refreshed
you can be on your way to
whatever fun and adventures
life conjures up on this
lovely, warm, sunny day.

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are always welcome.

Dermot.

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Journal

What is a journal? Well, a journal can be a number of different things depending on what it is to be used for. For example, a journal can be an academic article for publication, it can be a type of personal writing document or a personal reflection tool used when in education or training environments.

In academia, journals are periodicals that publish original research on specific topics such as political science or nursing, critical analysis documents and some may also be peer-reviewed articles. However, peer-reviewed articles and journals used to be the “gold standard” in publication but this is not now necessarily the case now due to some peer-reviews being subject to biases that favour/disfavour research topics, institutions or demographic groups. This means impartiality and validity are at risk thereby negating the content and reputation of this type of journal/article.

Academic journals are written for specific research groups, specialists or disciplines and are generally not meant for wider publication and readership. That is not to say these types of research journals are not in the public domain, but this will depend on the topics being disseminated through journal publication. 

Journals are supposed to be to be platforms to explore the latest research, discussion or discourse in a particular field or discipline. In essence, journals are supposed to be the apex of academic inquiry and research in a given discipline. However, journals can also have a personal element such as a reflective journal which can be used as part of a training portfolio. These types of journals allow the trainee to identify how they feel, what they learn, their experiences during the training and the successes or failures of the training course. Reflective journals are essential parts of degrees such as nursing, counselling and sports therapy as ways in which the students can identify their development, feelings and experiences as they proceed through the degree.

Image of Gibbs (1988) Reflective Cycle for a Reflective Journal

In many ways, a journal of this type is a kind of diary where the writer/student writes about themselves, how they learn, what they learn, their personal reflections and identify their own experiences and learning on a journey or training programme. A personal reflection journal can also highlight some issues for the writer. For instance, there may be a fear of self-disclosure as this type of journal requires the writer to reflect on their own feelings, thoughts, emotions and memories.

Self-reflection involves self-confrontation, and people may not want to rekindle or face memories, times and incidents which they find unsettling. These types of journals may lead to unpleasant personal home truths or acknowledge painful experiences which have been buried. In turn, this can then lead to anxiety issues as going into the past and one’s subconscious can be a debilitating experience depending on the memories that appear.

Conversely, the reflective journal can also be a journey of self-discovery which ultimately leads to personal reconciliation with the past and a consequent catharsis and liberation from the emotional shackles of that past. In essence, a journal can be used as form of personal therapy known as writing therapy where the writer can express ideas and thoughts that they may not be able to verbally articulate to themselves or others.

Image of a junk journal

Another form of journal is that of the junk journal. In essence, a junk journal is made up of materials that may normally be thrown in the bin, hence the name junk journal. These types of journals can include items of personal interest such as old newspaper articles, drawings, pieces of artwork, leaflets or even old pictures. Indeed, junk journals can be places where artwork of all types can be included whether self-painted or downloaded from the internet. Old maps, letters (if anyone writes them anymore), Christmas cards or birthday cards can be included in a junk journal. In short, anything of personal interest can be in such a journal and it can be as creative as the author wants. In fact, it could be a reflective junk journal which expresses the author’s thoughts, feelings, experiences and emotions through creative junk. In essence, a journal can be in any format and on any topic you want. It’s up to you.

Journal Time

Journal, Journal, is there a kernel
of truth in all that I have written?

Did I tell you about the times
that I was smitten, that I fancied
her, her and her, that I shied
away too timid to say or
do anything?

Did I tell you of the heartaches,
heartbreaks of going wild
about a lover, a song, some
misplaced sense of injustice
or someone doing wrong?

Then again, was I only fooling myself
when I should have known better,
followed my heart to the letter
but there you go, what did I know
then or now?

So, tell me Journal, Journal is there a
kernel of truth in what has been written?
Was it a journey of revelatory reflection
or an exercise in cynical self-deception?

Thanks for reading, Dermot.

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Slugs

Slugs. The word conjures up images of slime, plants being devoured and all round negativity. People with allotments and gardens may view them as the “enemy” as they can reduce plant or vegetable leaves to stalks and seem to be especially partial to gorging on Hostas. Indeed, certain slugs cause an estimated £8 million worth of damage to agricultural crops each year. The three types which inflict the most damage are the grey field slug, the garden slug and the keel slug. Consequently, they have acquired a bad boy reputation.

image of slug damage to a Hosta (Gardeners Path, 2023)

Slugs are from the Gastropod family which derives from Greek meaning “stomach foot”. In essence, this means that the slug’s foot is on its belly which it uses to move around. To ease its movement, slugs produce a mucus which acts as a lubricant when out and about. The mucus trail is also a navigation aid to help them return to their home tunnel.

There are around 40 species of slug in Britain and only a few can be classed as pests. These gastropods play a vital role in breaking down rotting vegetation and are essential composters. They will eat leaves, flowers, lichens and decaying plant material. Some slugs like Shelled slugs (Testacella) eat mainly worms and sometimes dead slugs while the Leopard slug (Limax Maximus) eats fungi, lichens and live slugs.

image of Leopard Slugs, Limax Maximus (Game and Wildlife Conservation Trust, 2016)

Traps containing beer, milk and grape juice are also good at controlling slug numbers. They can also be picked up and taken somewhere else or placed in a compost heap so they can munch their way through that rather than crops or flower beds.

Try and entice some hedgehogs into the garden as they will happily devour all the gastropods they find. Before a hedgehog eats a slug, it first scrapes off the slime as this doesn’t taste too good which seems fair enough. It’s probably best not to use slug pellets in the garden as they contain a poison which seeps into the food chain and kills many animals including the hedgehog.

A newcomer to the British slug scene is the Ghost Slug (Selenochlamys ysbryda) with ysbryda being Welsh for ‘ghost’. The Ghost slug was first discovered in Caerphilly in Wales in 2008 and is believed to have entered the country through imported soil or plants from its native Ukraine. As such it is classed as a “non-native” species having been introduced by humans.

image of the Ghost Slug, Selenochlamys Ysbryda, (BBC Wales, 2024)

The Ghost slug feeds voraciously on earthworms by sucking them into its mouth like spaghetti where 2000 razor sharp teeth finish the job. The insatiable appetite for earthworms makes this animal a dangerous predator as earthworm activity allows air and water into soil which enables plants and crops to grow and keep the soil in good health.

Currently, Ghost slugs are confined to South Wales and Gloucester and sightings should be reported to wildlife trusts in these areas including a photo, location, map grid reference and the date of the sighting. This information will be helpful in identifying areas where this gastropod breeds to ensure there is no further spread of this very efficient earthworm predator.

So, the next time you are eating spaghetti bolognaise and sucking a spaghetti string into your mouth just remember the Ghost slug eats worms the same way. Thanks for reading the blog and poem and enjoy your spag bol!

   Slugs           Hostas 

                and 

A trail of slime led to the
    scene of the crime and its
        site of devastation. The Hostas
             had no vegetation, their very
                  being was broken, beaten as
                              everything seemed to have
                                 been eaten. All was still and
                                   quiet, the culprits had long
                                since fled into the night, no
                            clues were left as to their
                  whereabouts or which way
           they may have been heading.
       It could have been the rose
    bush, strawberry patch or
 ornamental bedding. But
security will be improved,
  defence strategies reviewed
      and a warning sign put in
          place saying:
             Do not eat the 

                 Hostas.  Get  

                    yourself over 

                         to Costa and 

                            try the  millionaire
                                            shortbread 

                                                         instead.

Thanks for reading, and please leave a comment as they are always appreciated.

Dermot.

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Navigation

Navigation is according to the National Geographic the art and science of determining the position of a ship or plane or other vehicle and guiding it to a specific place. Consequently, navigation requires someone who can work out the vehicle location compared to other locations.

Some methods of navigation have been around for millennia such as the ancient mariners using landmarks or observing the movement of the sun and stars. Minoans who lived on Crete from 3000-1100 BC left records showing they used the stars to navigate.

At sea, mariners use a navigation method known as dead reckoning which uses the course and speed of a ship to determine its position. Piloting can also be used in narrow waterways by using geographical landmarks to determine a ship’s position.

Image of dead reckoning course plot

Navigating on land whether on foot or in a vehicle involves the use of maps, reading the terrain, referring to a compass and landmarks such as hills or buildings to identify location. If you are in a town or city then maps that feature bus routes, train stations and underground stations are also accessed to provide information of location.

Celestial navigation or astronavigation involves the use of the sun, moon, stars, constellations and the horizon using an instrument such as a sextant to calculate position and location when travelling on the open sea which has no landmarks to aid navigation. A navigator needs to be aware of the different stars and constellations in the northern and southern hemispheres. For example, the Southern Cross constellation appears only in the southern hemisphere and the Plough constellation appears only in the northern hemisphere.

Other forms of navigation include the use of a satellite system called global positioning system or GPS. This system is owned and financed by the American government’s Department of Defence but anyone with a GPS receiver can use it. The GPS is a form of radio navigation and provides very accurate location and position information for the GPS receiver. This form of navigation can be used at sea or on land.

Navigation is not confined to travelling on land, sea or air. People navigate their way around their email inbox identifying which emails to answer, which to prioritise and which to ignore and/or delete. Indeed, people now have to navigate their way around websites of all descriptions whether in work or for personal use.

In fact, there are four types of website navigation. The first is the top menu which is the main website navigation bar usually at the head of the website page. The next navigation aid is the footer menu which may have a lot of information or just basic site information.

Image of footer menu navigation aid

The third type is the side bar which is used in ecommerce and information heavy sites such as blogs. The sidebars can be on the left or the right of the screen page. The fourth type of website navigation is called breadcrumbs which are hierarchical that show how pages are nested within each other. Breadcrumbs are good for helping users find their way around within a website of specific interest to them such as online shopping websites.

Indeed, any organisation or business uses navigation to identify issues, plot course corrections and develop new ways of implementing services or products. Governments too, whether local or national, also use navigation tools to find out what voters are thinking regarding policies or voting intentions in a forthcoming election.

These methods can include focus groups, survey research using samples and populations, opinion polls, mail surveys, telephone surveys, interest groups or lobbying and protests such as marches to measure public opinion. From these methods policy documents, laws and manifesto declarations can be identified and implemented.

Which brings us to the present day and the current government is preparing to navigate its way around the ongoing unrest in Britain over issues such as legal and illegal immigration, open borders, two tier policing, the integration of communities with conflicting and contradictory belief systems, the axing of winter fuel payments for pensioners, net zero costs and the impending increases in taxes for the people of Britain.

How the Labour government navigates its way around these issues will determine whether it remains in power. The future of Britain as a stable, unified and functioning country is at stake as it could all too easily descend into a balkanised failed state.

Navigating the Alphabet (children’s poem)

To get from A to B to C
I’ll have to take a compass
with me and D to E to F I’ll need
a map but I’ve left it on the
shelf. So from G to H to I I’ll
be guided by the sun in the
sky. From there I’ll travel to
J and K and L so I’d better make
sure I locate a hotel and after a
hearty breakfast it’s off to M and
N and O where I’ll have a much

better route to go. Then on to
P, Q and R and a night spent
reading the stars and off to S
T and U where the cliffs and
the sea provide an amazing
view and onwards to W, X, Y
and Z where after a tiring
day out it’s time for bed. And in
the morning it’s all the way back
to A, B and C for you and me.

Thanks for reading and please leave a comment as they are always appreciated. Dermot.

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