Warmth is a strong emotion. The layers of belonging, the physical, emotional and basic sensory heat enfolding me. The joyful sense of completeness and achievement stretching out with a long finish, a note held by an orchestra where the strings take up that haunting long finishing note, gently rising, one from another, or perhaps a…

“Ooh… hello, is this the bus for Oliver’s Battery?” “That’s right darlin’. Single or return?” The lady smiled, fishing for the pass in her bulging handbag. “That’s fine. ‘old tight luv”, nodding, eyes flicking from rear camera to wing mirror. The orange blink of indicator smearing across the wet road, he slid open the droplet-beaded…

Dear Mum, The Beast from the East has returned to mark the 3rd anniversary of your departure. The bitter easterly wind scours the valley beyond my window. The view of St Catherine’s is one that you would have loved. My eyes sting with the rawness of the freezing dry Siberian air, even staring through the…