On Faggots (food)

Although mostly used as a derogative term, they are also a traditional British dish made from pork heart, liver, and belly.

(An innocent sign outside a restaurant in Bristol, UK)

On the Death of Love

"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings."

-Anais Nin

(Classic Banksy artwork on a building in the streets of Bristol)

On Highclere Castle

Even aristocracy who dwell in lavish castle homes need to find ways to pay their exorbitant taxes.

(Highclere Castle, aka Downton Abbey, open to the public)

On Music Videos

There is nothing that teachers (and students) appreciate more than catchy educational music videos.

On Tents

They can be difficult to set up but are great as practical experience for young people.

(A student setting up a tent in Epping Forest, UK)

On Field Trips

Taking students on field trips involving public transportation requires more supervision than any other teaching related activity.

(A group of students on the tube in London, UK)

On Cloud Gazing

Every once in awhile it's important to take ones eyes off phones and tablets in order to appreciate what's above.

(Clouds over Epping Forest outside London, UK)

On Proofreading

If you are going to place a sign somewhere that it may be viewed by thousands of students preparing for leadership roles, make sure it is proofread first.

(A sign near Epping Forest outside London, UK)

On Non-Qualified Teachers

Individuals without teaching degrees often care and engage students more than qualified teachers.

(Fahim Alam speaking to my Year 9 class last month)

On Trying

"If you're going to try, go all the way. Otherwise, don't even start. This could mean losing girlfriends, wives, relatives and maybe even your mind. It could mean not eating for three or four days. It could mean freezing on a park bench. It could mean jail. It could mean derision. It could mean mockery- isolation. Isolation is the gift. All the others are a test of your endurance, of how much you really want to do it. And you'll do it, despite rejection and the worst odds. And it will be better than anything else you can imagine. If you're going to try, go all the way. There is no other feeling like that. You will be alone with the gods, and the nights will flame with fire. You will ride straight to perfect laughter. It's the only good fight there is."

-Charles Bukowski

(Student-made fire on a Year 7 camping trip near Epping Forest)

On Dietary Supplements

Being unregulated means that supplement companies can essentially get away with fabricating ingredients and results, while denying side effects. 

On Creative Arts

Despite dwindling funds in the arts, imagination and creativity (among young students) never cease to surpass expectations.

(Fourth Plinth award-winning piece from Newham)

On Gender Stereotypes

Many socially and economically prosperous countries still feel the need to perpetuate gender stereotypes through human consumption.

(Gender-oriented Kinder eggs in London, England)