Long Form

Back in 2016, I wrote a book called A Site for Sore Eyes in the immediate aftermath of the Didcot A Power Station collapse. I gave the profits of that book to three of the four bereaved families impacted by that tragedy (the fourth family politely declined). I sold more books overseas than I sold…Read moreRead more

There is a story about England’s World Cup winning captain Bobby Moore. During a training session, the England coach – Sir Alf Ramsey – yelled HALT and everyone froze in their positions. Without looking around, Bobby Moore knew precisely where everyone was; his own players and opposing players alike. It is said that his exceptional…Read moreRead more

The cab of a modern demolition or construction machine is a model of ergonomic excellence; a soundproofed, dust-suppressed, wi-fi connected, Bluetooth-enabled paradise built around a seat more comfortable than anything you might find in a typical home. These is a place for everything; and everything is in its place. Each joystick is perfectly within reach…Read moreRead more

It’s late. You’re on your way home after a tough week. The motorway zooms past in a blur as headlights bounce off the rain-slicked tarmac, causing you to squint your eyes. You’re concentrating on the road ahead, on getting yourself home safely. But there’s something else playing on your mind. You’re thinking about the hydraulic…Read moreRead more

We squandered a once in a lifetime opportunity. We. Us. The British public, the world, society. We had a chance, and we threw it away. The COVID-19 pandemic and more specifically, the ensuing lockdowns, should have served as a societal reset. Kept apart from family and friends, that period reminded us all of the importance…Read moreRead more

I’m not a Manchester United fan. Let’s get that out of the way up front. I support West Ham, and have done for more years than I care to count. And for most of those years, I dreaded our meetings with Manchester United. They didn’t just beat us. They dominated us. Humbled us. They humiliated…Read moreRead more

We live in an age of instant gratification. 280-character posts on Twitter or X, as we now call it. Short-form vertical videos that barely register as they flicker across our retinas. Global news reduced to political soundbites and clickbait headlines. I read just such a headline yesterday. It came out of Australia and it stopped…Read moreRead more

Are equipment manufacturers restricting your right to repair? Are we, as an industry, walking into a trap? A trap laid – deliberately or otherwise – by equipment manufacturers? Are we on the brink of a new era where we’re not just discouraged from maintaining our own equipment but actively prevented from doing so? For years,…Read moreRead more

As children, we’re fed a series of white lies and untruths: Carrots help you see in the dark. Cracking your knuckles leads to arthritis. Watching too much TV will turn your eyes square. As adults, we’re told a different set of fibs: Politicians have our best interests at heart. Trickle-down economics works. Hard work always…Read moreRead more

The article you’re about to read is part essay; part confession. It is a story about how, amidst tragedy, I/we default all too easily to cliche. When a person dies, we immediately dig out the phrase “our thoughts are with their friends and family”. In the event of a company collapse, we dredge up the…Read moreRead more