The sun refuses to relinquish summertime hours, the bumble bees on the marjoram flowers are not complaining. We take our breakfast bowls outside and move the metal chairs into the light beside the crab apple tree. Morning warmth feels like a blessing.
Like the British weather, I am aware my tone here swings through its own distinct phases including pastoral, prophetic, practical and poetic.1 Thanks to dear Dougald Hine for last week’s conversation over a dodgy Zoom link, but a strong hearty energetic connection, today some more thoughts can coalesce into words, possibly in all four of those tones.
I am advocating, as always, for real work, especially with your hands, by ordinary folk, with science, soil, soul, hospitality, home-making, even with beer. Personally I’d prefer bread to beer, but one is the solid and one the liquid of an ancient collaborative culture formed by grain, water, time and yeast.
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This podcast was first published with full transcript, photos, links, footnotes and more on here on Substack on September 16th 2026.
I don’t use AI in any aspect of my research, writing or creative work. I am a member of Writers Against AI.
Thanks for reading and listening to Uncivil Savant.
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