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The Trigan Empire

The surprise gift this Christmas was a copy of Tales from the Trigan Empire, a large comic, or graphic novel, volume published in 1989. This is clearly not the kind of thing that I would normally read, but it brought back so many memories of childhood. When I was eleven or twelve (1973-74) my parentsContinue reading “The Trigan Empire”

The Pleasure of Reading J G Frazer

Having just completed the third volume of J G Frazer’s thirteen volume version of the Golden Bough, I have to say that I am really enjoying it far more than I would ever have imagined. I don’t think I could read all thirteen volumes one after the other, but with a short break between themContinue reading “The Pleasure of Reading J G Frazer”

Is the Doctor a Vampire

The other night I woke up in the middle of a dream about Dr Who. I have no idea what the narrative of the dream was, but the question that stuck in my mind, as I woke up, was whether the Doctor should be seen as a vampire. This may not be quite as oddContinue reading “Is the Doctor a Vampire”

The Akan Doctrine of God

I have just finished reading Joseph Buakye Danquah’s book on the Akan doctrine of God. This was written in 1941 and first published in 1944. It was part of a larger attempt to bring together the thought and ideas of the Akan people but much of the rest of the text was destroyed in aContinue reading “The Akan Doctrine of God”

Coming Out and Coming Out Again

When asked to write about my ‘coming out story’ shortly after taking up the position of PVC at Swansea University eight years ago, my immediate response was to ask ‘which one?’ I have perhaps been lucky, I never needed a big coming out event. Being gay is something I have always taken for granted andContinue reading “Coming Out and Coming Out Again”

Another Tragedy for Armenia

My partner and I have been passionate about Armenia for many years. We love Armenian music, Armenian art and architecture, the romance of the Armenian church, everything about Armenia, its history and its people. It is with great sadness therefore that we have been watching the news over the last week or so and seeingContinue reading “Another Tragedy for Armenia”

Reflecting on Excellence

We have just come through the league table season, with the Guardian, the Times and even the new look TEF, each offering their versions of the best universities in the UK. On LinkedIn and elsewhere colleagues are finding the numbers that position their universities in the best light and telling the world that they areContinue reading “Reflecting on Excellence”

Paintings of the Post Industrial

A couple of weeks ago I was in Coventry and, having a little time to spare, walked round the Cathedral. It is an incredible building and one of the few twentieth century church buildings that works as a complete whole. It is full of art works, most from the same period as the building ofContinue reading “Paintings of the Post Industrial”

Learning from the Chaos of 1919-1923

I have been reading Robert Gerwarth’s The Vanquished on the recommendation of a friend. We had been talking about some of the reading I have done recently focused on the Caucuses and Eastern Turkey and how I had come to realise that my knowledge of what was happening in this part of the world followingContinue reading “Learning from the Chaos of 1919-1923”

Following the 2015 Consultation on Higher Education and tracking the divides

In November 2015 the UK government published their consultation document, ‘Fulfilling Our Potential, Teaching Excellence, Social Mobility and Student Choice’. The subsequent legislation, the introduction of the Office for Students and the Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF), and the response to this from various relevant bodies in Wales were to have a significant impact on myContinue reading “Following the 2015 Consultation on Higher Education and tracking the divides”