What should we talk about today?
The world according to Kirkey
An exploration of sunk costs, stubborn loyalty, and the psychology of sticking with things long after they’ve stopped serving us. There’s a moment – usually around episode three – when I know. I instinctively grasp that the Netflix series I’ve committed my evening to is going nowhere. The plot is staggering around like a Notts … Read more
I was a late entrant into the cyber world of social media. Like a reluctant guest at a party who ends up hogging the karaoke machine, once I was in, I was hooked. I became a cheerleader, pom poms aloft, shouting into the digital void. But let’s be clear: my online persona – save one … Read more
Is it just me, or have a few formerly rotund comrades undergone such jaw-dropping transformations that you half expect them to be cast in the next Marvel reboot? One minute they’re waddling toward the buffet like it’s an Olympic qualifier, the next they’re gliding past you in Lycra with the smug serenity of someone who’s … Read more
Being accused of forgetfulness, especially as I am forced by dint of nature to accept the onset of adulthood, can be worrying. And as much as I may rebel by simply categorising the data I don’t recall as trivia, the associated accusations of either being uninterested, “you don’t listen,” or idiotic “I’ve told you that … Read more
I’ve reached the season of life where 60th birthdays are no longer rare, and work reunions carry the silent weight of those who will never attend again. The next twenty years—if I’m fortunate—are my golden age. If I can sidestep the big C and keep my mind sharp, I know time will still gently erode … Read more
Looking good at my age—especially since I took the radical step of shaving off all my hair—is no easy feat. The old clichés of having a face fit for radio and one only a mother could love remain painfully accurate descriptors of my public-facing façade. Being bald somewhat limits my ability to reinvent my appearance, … Read more
An agnostic walks into a church sounds like the commencement of a joke, yet the funny thing is this describes my not so guilty pleasure. I guess initially I was drawn to the architectural splendour of these symbols of faith as my rejection of the central tenet of religion remains steadfast. Yet, one day in … Read more
Death is part of the cycle of life, but do final farewells have to follow the traditional format of sorrow, sobriety, and orthodoxy? Can there ever be a place to party and celebrate the life of the dearly departed? I have never been closer to my death than I am today. That’s not an opinion … Read more
Is good fortune purely down to chance or are other forces at play? Could my lost love really be talking to me from beyond the void? According to several academic and medical metrics, I am presently negotiating 50% of the top ten most stressful situations people commonly face. The specifics – at least for this … Read more
During the last four weeks I’ve been sucked into the terrifying vortex of end-of-life care for a loved one. Initially having a cursory knowledge of the adult care system, I have had to learn at breakneck speed, and during this turbulent time I have been introduced to the most incredible human beings – care professionals … Read more