Category: Articles
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Work Beats Life
It is well known that British people work the longest hours of any country in Europe. This is probably the one aspect of our lives that we allow to rob us the most of the time, energy and patience we could have with our children. This has long been the case regarding men, but it…
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The Remade Parent
Come mothers and fathers throughout the land And don’t criticize what you can’t understand Your sons and your daughters are beyond your command Your old road is rapidly agin’. Please get out of the new one if you can’t lend your hand For the times they are a-changin’. (Bob Dylan) Having now stated…
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The Economic Crisis: A Perfect Time to Rethink Parenting
Has there ever been a better moment to rethink parenting than right now? The global recession has given us a perfect opportunity to re-evaluate how we live our lives and the ways we bring up children. For those us who are still lucky enough to have paid work there are pressing new demands, such as…
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Contents page
THE REMADE PARENT (Why We Are Losing Our Children & How We Can Get Them Back) Author: Brett Hetherington CHAPTERS: 1. REMAKING PARENTING: Introduction The Economic Crisis: A Perfect Time To Rethink Parenting Why Is The Remaking Of Modern Parenting Necessary? What Is A Parent Anyway? 2. PREVENTING THE EXTINCTION OF THE FATHER & THE…
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The colours of corruption
[This article was first published in Catalonia Today magazine, Feb. 2014] Europe is nauseous from the cancer of corruption. Yes, it still has the glories of its art, its food, its history and its abundant cultural riches – but it is also shot-through with corrupt men and women. And I don’t just mean…
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Why Europe?
[A version of this article was first published in Catalonia Today, January 2014.] (Photo from Desmontando Mentiras, Global Voices online.) Europe exists. It is certainly under great pressure as an economic group (and therefore also as a political construction) but the past has shown that, as an idea and an ideal, Europe exists. When I…
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Knots & Crosses/Juliet Naked
[A version of this article was first published in Catalonia Today magazine in December2013.] In Knots and Crosses, the prolific Scottish crime writer Ian Rankin sets up the absorbing and sometimes slightly unappealing character of detective John Rebus. In this first book in the series, we learn that Rebus’ father has just died,…
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Education in Catalonia
[A version of this article was first published in Catalonia Today magazine in Sept. 2013.] This month thousands of parents across Catalonia will be almost cheering with relief, but most teachers will be feeling a mixture of dread and anticipation. The long summer break is now over and a new school year is…
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What is “the crisis?”
[A version of this article was first published in Catalonia Today magazine, September 2013.] This so-called crisis, which would more accurately be called a “depression” is a thousand varied things that need never have happened. Despite the occasional sensation that life is just continuing on very much as before, the crisis here is certainly the…
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SNUG/Boyhood: Scenes from Provincial Life
[A version of this article was first published in Catalonia Today magazine in September 2013.] Matthew Tree, the prolific British/Catalan writer has just published SNUG, his first novel in his native English. In this work, he shows that he is one of the few writers born in England who is brave enough to…
