Posted by HC in Celibacy / Monasticism / Spirituality on 24 January 2009 | No comments ›
I have spent a couple of months looking after old monks. It may surprise you to know that some of these holy old men are smelly, scruffy and sweary – just like their secular brothers. Read more ›
Posted by HC in Celibacy / Monasticism / Spirituality on 19 January 2009 | No comments ›
Years and years ago I left a monastic community as a young man. Now, I return as a middle-aged one, and I’m still one of the youngsters. This time, though I am doing the caring. Read more ›
Posted by HC in Celibacy / Monasticism / People on 2 November 2008 | No comments ›
I have the yacht to myself. I shall use the time to remember Thomas Merton, it being close to the 40th anniversary of his death. Read more ›
Posted by HC in 'In the news...' / Boats / Monasticism / People / Travel / UK politics / US politics on 21 July 2008 | No comments ›
Every time I do something un-environmental, I think of Jonathon Porritt. He is the embodiment of my guilt. The other day, the phenomenon was given a twist by my reading a column of his. It was uppermost in a mulch of Guardian pages left behind by a passenger on a short haul flight I was taking. Read more ›
Posted by HC in Boats / Books / Monasticism / Travel on 14 July 2008 | No comments ›
Great news that Princess Anne loves lighthouses, and even better to think that she is following in the footsteps of Robert Louis Stevenson. Read more ›
Posted by HC in Boats / Monasticism / Sanctuary / Spirituality / Travel on 12 July 2008 | No comments ›
When it comes to hide-aways, retreats, sanctuaries, I’m you’re man. They are, after all, where I have lived most of my adult life. I dreamed of them for most of my childhood, when my head was filled with Swiss Family Robinson and Robinson Crusoe. So I warmed instantly to Francesco da Mosto’s Croatian lighthouse. Read more ›