The junior minister, the very junior minister, buzzed her secretary for a strong coffee; he’d learned quickly exactly how she liked it, well, needed it. She flicked through the daily newspapers before tackling her box. Nice to turn to the opinion section of the Guardian without raising eyebrows or startling her farming constituency. But she happily admitted and it was plain to see that she was a practicing Christian, from a chapel family, and naturally held liberal views on things like climate, environment and the social issues of the day.
Read MoreSurely now and again we have to make ourselves think about humility; we all accept that it’s a good thing, but it’s quite hard to find many advocates for it, or inspiring examples of humility among those in the position to impress us with it. Is humility a gift that should be accumulated relentlessly by the conscientious? Or is it a calling with the awful responsibility to help our less fortunate neighbours with it?
Read MoreHis Royal Highness the King, enjoying the early morning summer sun, reached forward and pulled his spaniel’s silken ears with affection. It was time to explore his gardens together and look for the tell-tale signs of rabbits in the flower beds and badgers digging up the lawn. Good Heavens, he thought, draining his mug of strong tea, I’m in my 90th year and it’s already almost 20 years since the pandemics started sweeping the world.
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