What’s in a label?
I’ve been trying to write this blog for over a year now, but haven’t been able to figure out where to start. Then recently I spotted a tweet that inspired a response (thanks, I think). I’m someone who has long been resistant to labels, and once upon a time I might have agreed with this […]
To wish the impossible
I have mixed feelings about New Years’ Resolutions. On the one hand, I like the idea of using it as a time to think about what I’m doing, what’s working and what isn’t, and refocus on new challenges. In practice I’ve never been very successful with them. Usually I’ll come up with a bunch of […]
Being a councillor: part 1 – casework
Local politics was never something I paid much attention to when I was younger. Although I grew up in a household where national politics was discussed around the dinner table, I had only the very vaguest idea what local government does. As a young adult, my main experience of actually interacting with my local council […]
Politics and mental health
For all the work that’s gone into reducing stigma about mental health recently, this still feels like a hard thing to write. I’ve not been well recently. This isn’t a new thing; I’ve struggled with anxiety and depression periodically since being a teenager. There have been episodes over the years where things have been particularly […]
Why I was wrong about Fallon Fox
Recently, I’ve been vocal on the topic of trans rights. When people ask me why this is something I care about, I tell them the truth: that I want to support my trans friends who are often on the receiving end of some really awful discrimination, abuse and harassment. That I stand against discrimination towards […]
Life after fighting
Three years ago, I retired from MMA competition. My last fight was on Cage Warriors against now UFC champion Joanna Jędrzejczyk. I knew at the time that it was probably going to be my last outing; after 12 years in the sport, it was time to move on and do other things. 2016 has seen […]
It’s a long way down…
“The next time someone says to me ‘oh, it’s not hard, it’s just sustained’, I think I’m going to punch them in the teeth” – Steve, 3rd belay point. Well, we did it! It took longer than we were expecting, and it wasn’t pretty. There were a few belay change overs that… let’s just say, […]