Dominic Wightman

Jackdaw

To witness a jackdaw is to see a mind at work. This bird, sleek and sharp-eyed in its grey-black cowl, is more than just a corvid; it is a feathered philosopher of the English countryside, and its behaviour is a masterclass in sophisticated living. Its greatest genius lies in society. Jackdaws mate for life, aContinue reading “Jackdaw”

Frequency

The idea that all men are created equal is a necessary fiction, a polite lie told to maintain order. In truth, humanity hums along at different frequencies, some so low they drag the rest into the static, others sharp enough to cut through the noise. You have felt it—the way certain people seem to drainContinue reading “Frequency”

Sancerre

The glass was cold and slick in my hand. Good white wine, French, sharp with the taste of green apples and wet stone. The sun burned low over the water, and the sea moved like something alive, restless and old. I drank. The wine was clean and bright, the kind that makes you close yourContinue reading “Sancerre”

Mouse

I never liked cats. I grew up with dogs—golden retrievers and labradors. Later, we had a terrier. Fourteen years ago, our house stood alone in the fields. Mice infested it. You’d be talking to a guest and see one scurry up the wall behind them, as if it had crawled from their skull. I boughtContinue reading “Mouse”

Real Rabbits

This week, I was asked to write for one of the national newspapers. I refused. I have written for big publications before. But I prefer writing my books and articles without worrying who might read them. There is a pleasure in being your own Editor-in-Chief—hunting the truth, giving it light, choosing your own words. IContinue reading “Real Rabbits”

The Quiet in Noise

The world is loud. A clamour of voices, machines, and endless movement. It never stops. Silence, real silence, is a rare thing. It isn’t just the absence of sound. It’s the ground beneath it all. Think of the quiet before dawn, when the earth holds its breath. In that moment, you can see things clearer.Continue reading “The Quiet in Noise”

Prost

This week I was accused in the pages of the Daily Mail of drinking peach schnapps from an Evian bottle during the preliminary trial of a High Court civil defamation case. I cannot make any comments over the matter as I’m currently gagged from doing so. All I will say is the following:

Canvas

One hot Saturday afternoon up on the north coast of Cornwall, while meandering through an art gallery with my wife, I stumbled upon a painting. Unlike me at the time, it seemed to pulse with energy. At first glance, the painting appeared chaotic—bold splashes of colour jostled for dominance, interspersed with jagged lines that crisscrossedContinue reading “Canvas”

The Tap Tackle

In rugby, delivering an ankle tap can bring down an opposing player running at top speed, often when they are out of range of a full-contact tackle. In a lot of instances, an ankle tap is all that stands between a defending player and a try. But, if you are on the receiving end ofContinue reading “The Tap Tackle”

Participation Envy

Too often these days, VAR and football officials become the headline. The same across rugby, cricket and other sports. One wonders if from time to time there is a participation envy behind the headline-grabbing, as officials cannot themselves score tries or goals nor hit sixes out of the ground. Or they are that incompetent. IContinue reading “Participation Envy”

Belleza

All the people who I have had the misfortune of running up against have been hideously ugly. More than that, they have lacked beauty in their lives. From the bug-eyed, lifts-sporting presenter to the wretched stalker born with an eye on his nose, from the creepy Australian scoutmaster troll to the wide-arsed Marxist propagandist. TheseContinue reading “Belleza”

DARVO

My colleague Paul T Horgan wrote a piece last week about The Sun’s exposé on the BBC Presenter (‘not another one!’) Huw Edwards. In his article’s title Paul referred to the term DARVO. DARVO is an acronym that stands for Deny, Attack, and Reverse Victim and Offender. It describes a manipulative tactic often used byContinue reading “DARVO”

Longevity

The vicar’s Sunday sermon was Forgive Your Enemies. Towards the end of the service, she asked her congregation, “how many of you have forgiven your enemies?” 50% held up their hands. She asked them all to make a concerted effort to forgive their enemies. The next week she repeated her question. This time about 80Continue reading “Longevity”

Her

Last night, as every night of late, I sat in my chair in the summer room, poring over papers, analyses and tweets. I find the requisite silence there in that place. There are no disturbances save the occasional hoot from an owl. The cantilever floor lamp shines only on my work, so the rest ofContinue reading “Her”

Righteous Incivility

Rudeness is normally viewed as a moral failing, but there are times when it is excusable or even justified. John Henry Newman wrote, “A gentleman is someone who never causes another person pain” (to which Oscar Wilde added the word unintentionally). On this I’m with Wilde. For at times, we may justifiably risk offending orContinue reading “Righteous Incivility”

On Trolls

I remember reading somewhere about Al Qaeda cadres captured and imprisoned in Guantanamo. The young men in question heralded from Indonesia and were asked why they hated the West so much. Some remarked that when they were children they used to watch television through TV shop windows in the streets of Jakarta. They could notContinue reading “On Trolls”

On Truth

What is Truth? The objective residue of reality. That which, hidden or seen, is in accord with fact or fidelity to an original or standard. The criterion of truth depends on authenticity and mirroring exactitude of certainty. Perceiving truth and exposing moral relativism should be human duties. Alas, the fallible nature of mankind inevitably leadsContinue reading “On Truth”

Great Escape

Nothing like a cow escape to get everyone overexcited. The farmer involved was most apologetic. Personally, I do not see the drama in these beautiful creatures stomping occasionally all over one’s lawn. Makes up for the steaks and beef burgers they will turn into. The way I see things, cattle have always been good toContinue reading “Great Escape”

Lockdowns

When History judges whether lockdowns were the solution or a harmful way of dealing with Covid, History will have sight of the facts and will have had time to chew through the data. The cold light of day is far from the chaos of the offices of Prime Ministers and Presidents when their citizens startedContinue reading “Lockdowns”

Economic Imperialism

One of my top sources for economic insight is a blog written by an avowed Marxist. Why would a Marxian weblog appeal to anyone with conservative and capitalist leanings? In short, the blog in question’s number-crunching and power index calculations are opinions that should not be dismissed. If there is anything to be dismissed aboutContinue reading “Economic Imperialism”

Covid & Aliens

A taxidermist in Inverness-shire makes sporrans from roadkill. Such examples of extreme entrepreneurship shall see Britain through Covid-19 and our Brexit departure. I see even the French are already piling their money into UK property in anticipation of Britain becoming a safe haven in an increasingly turbulent world. Expect there to follow capital flows fromContinue reading “Covid & Aliens”

Venezuela’s Calm Before the Storm

Down the track to our remote home in Venezuela we see a dust cloud rising and the distant form of a moving vehicle. I ready the dogs while El Colombiano – our old stalwart finca hand – dutifully fetches his rifle. My mother in law orders the kids inside the house and my wife grabsContinue reading “Venezuela’s Calm Before the Storm”

Sporter

At the touch of a button, the lockwork pivots out to sit in the hand, like a delicate work of art. Hammers, trigger, sears, springs and inertia changeover are all there in a compact package. Details such as the clean, polished finish on all the component parts, the curved backs to the hammers and theContinue reading “Sporter”

Rural Homelessness

According to the homeless charity Crisis, last year 57, 740 households were accepted as homeless in England. In Scotland, 28,226 applications were assessed as homeless and in Wales 7,128 households were threatened with homelessness. Homeless people are over nine times more likely to take their own life than the general population. On average, homeless peopleContinue reading “Rural Homelessness”

Thoughts on Empire

I get called an imperialist quite a lot. This has a lot to do with being a white Englishman with links to the mining sector who regularly travels on business to West Africa and South East Asia. Also, I get mistaken for a gringo when we are in my wife’s homeland of Venezuela, where AmericansContinue reading “Thoughts on Empire”

Shining a light on Britain’s Enemies Within

Good to see that the Corbynites and their murky connections have been lit up today by The Sun newspaper. Not that Boris Johnson and the Conservatives now need much help in winning the upcoming General Election in the UK, this work is useful as it shows how the Hard Left has emerged from the shadowsContinue reading “Shining a light on Britain’s Enemies Within”