The ethos below is my mandate as a Teacher in Education & Activist in Life. With the rise of religious dogma, right-wing extremism, knee-jerk virtue-signalling mob reaction of the left… We need Critical Thinking more than ever. 📸/Raymond Williams quote reminder via Manic Street Preachers

Amongst ancient stones on the edge of Cardiff… Wake Up! ‘For the Children of Gaza’ - Doctors Without Borders. patrick jones inspires passionate poetry on an afternoon of defiance & humanity. ‘The abused becomes the abuser…’ Kudos James Kennedy ✊ for Making Anger Great Again!

#SylviaSunday #PowerOfPoetry🖊️ Anansi, black busybody of the folktales, You scuttle out on impulse Blunt in self-interest As a sledge hammer, as a man's bunched fist, Yet of devils the cleverest To get your carousals told: You spun the cosmic web… Spider - Sylvia Plath 🕸️

Seeing patriotism/nationalism bandied by ignorant idiots: Starmer, Farage, SNP, PC…🤦‍♂️ ‘Nationalism is power hunger tempered by self-deception.’ Orwell ‘Nationalism is an infantile disease - the measles of mankind.’ Einstein ‘I consider myself a citizen of the world.’ Chaplin

The Banksy quote below encapsulates the purpose of Art & freedom of expression. The @manics recently reminded us Critical Thinking is paramount too. Summed up by Margaret E Atwood - ‘Nolite te bastardes carborundorum’. #Film #TV #Theatre #Literature #Music #Art 🎬🎥🎭📚🖊️🎵🎨

We reject & abhor attacks, hate & violence – in writing, speech, action – against Palestinian & Jewish people in any form. We stand in solidarity with the resistance of Palestinian & Jewish people to the genocidal policies of the Israeli government. 🖊️ 🌍 bbc.com/news/articles/…

A Word after a Word after a Word is power. (Margaret Atwood) 🖊️ Weekend to nourish the soul at Hay Festival in the Black Mountains.📚 The Town of Books is a joy to behold - a haven where literature is treasured. 📖 Awaiting the mighty Salman Rushdie on the Global Stage! 🙌🏼

“I am stupidly optimistic…” Salman Rushdie survived a recent murder attempt by a religious zealot, beat a fatwa by dogma extremists after ‘The Satanic Versus’ - tonight he had to endure meeting me! 😝 🙏 Humanist, Critical Thinker, Bastion of Free Speech at Hay Festival! 📚🖊️

Welcome back, Dexter! Alongside Kevin Spacey as Frank Underwood in House of Cards, Michael C Hall as Dexter Morgan is probably the TV character whose ‘life’ I’m most invested in! The flawed humanity, the ambiguity of intent, the dark humour, plus straight up charisma! Kudos!

Racist Reform UK are hosting a conference at Village Hotels in the suburb of Whitchurch in North Cardiff. Shame on them. Stand Up To Racism, Educators, local people are making it clear - right wing extremists, bigots, ignorance is not welcome in this community. #OneHumanity🌍

Tableaux of Cats 🐱 Wonderfully original & creative way to decorate the side of a house. 🎨 Kudos to the owners for brightening my meander & musings on a strangely un-summery day! 🌧️ #ADayInTheLife #SnapshotSaturday📸

Pop life Everybody needs a thrill Dig it! Born on this day - the immortal Prince! The Artist live on stage displayed virtuosity matched by few others. Still remains my greatest gig seeing Prince during his 02 residency in London on the 3121 Tour. This EP is a close reminder!

*singalong*🎶 I'm a model, you know what I mean And I do my little turn on the catwalk!🐱 Fuck me! I’m quoting Right Said Fred!👀 Our cat has morphed into Salacious B. Crumb - the Kowakian monkey-lizard pet that Jabba the Hutt keeps nearby in Star Wars: Return of the Jedi!🙃

Melancholy fills the air of swirling grey clouds as I slip through a side street in Cardiff City Centre. ☁️ 🏙️ “Love comforteth like sunshine after rain…” Venus and Adonis 🪶 📖 Yes, Mr Shakespeare, but where is the sun today? 🌞 👀 🤷‍♂️ #ADayInTheLife #MeanderingMusings

Picture disc anniversary pressing - R.E.M.s debut on 33rpm : Chronic Town. One of the most impactful records of the 80s - this mini album/EP remains fresh & vital to my ears. 🎧 Aside from an iconic gargoyle, the spinning vinyl band evokes imagery of those mop top Beatles! 🎶

That's why I'm easy… like Sunday morning… Lionel Richie’s jam fills the air as I sit in a Portuguese nata coffee joint in the city centre of Cardiff. Reading Patti’s Smith’s Year of the Monkey memoir regales tales of words written & thoughts pondered in similar surroundings.

Pure contentment in Zita’s posture as I begin the day by sharing the love! 🐈 It’s the simple things. 🙂 #ADayInThelife #Catlife #FelineFriend #PetsAtHome #StrikeAPose 📸

Early morning meander past Cardiff City Hall. Emblazoned atop of the buildings are aspirations for life. When did society lose these? Science and Education Poetry and Music And now to slip down a side street to a new day revealing who knows what…? #ADayInTheLife #Snapshots

Good Day Sunshine…🌞 Celebrating Macca’s 83rd birthday with a sublime trilogy of low-fi indie vibe themed albums.🎶 Can’t remember who the records are named after!🤔 McCartney (1970) McCartney II (1980) McCartney III (2020) Press to play - loud!💥 #PaulMcCartney #TheBeatles

Early morning shortcut past Cardiff Castle - emblazoned with Pride - before usual rush hour & gridlock commences. Nata in a Portuguese coffee joint is always uplifting. What a location! Don’t think this district will be as quiet when Chris Brown hits Principality Stadium later!