Someone I knew recently flung himself in the River Clyde. He wasn’t a close friend, but he was close enough that I’ve spent a great many hours thinking about him. Update: April 2020. This is a difficult time for all of us and Sceptical Scot editors are seeing increased views of Darren's very powerful article. Samaritans Scotland have gathered resources to help. Click HERE for … [Read more...] about Down to the river of death
The moral certainty trap
The recent discussion of the issue of slavery, sparked by the Charlottesville protests and President Trump’s typically atrocious handling of its aftermath, comes at a time when race, and many other matters of identity, have become the key battlegrounds along which political red lines have been drawn.Such issues, particularly around sensitive, often deeply personal, matters … [Read more...] about The moral certainty trap
A steep learning curve
So far, if I’ve learned one thing it’s that being fully present is the key. This requires removing as many barriers as possible that exist between your partner, your baby and yourself. It means developing an awareness of the distractions competing for your attention and trying to find a balance between tasks and family time.I can understand why some people would throw … [Read more...] about A steep learning curve
Fatherhood fears
Here I am now, standing in the hall, in front of my partner when her waters break as she looms, petrified, in the bathroom doorway. Yes, nine months pass that fast and within 24 hours we would be holding our first child in arms.My partner is very self-reliant. So much so that she decided that driving a car while in labour was well within her remit. Of course, only … [Read more...] about Fatherhood fears
A dad’s first baby diary: the annunciation
It was on the first day of an honest attempt to stop smoking that I received news I would become a father in the Spring of 2016. Any smoker will confirm that emotions are very intense during a nicotine craving. So, it’s hard to say just how badly I took the revelation. If I recall correctly, my mind, faced with this unfathomable new variable, adopted a state of stubborn … [Read more...] about A dad’s first baby diary: the annunciation