Category Archives: Personal

My Book!

Posted on October 23, 2018 by bsixsmith

My book, Kings and Comedians: A Brief History of British-Polish Relations, has been published today and is available on Kindle and in paperback, as well as from Amazon.co.uk. It contains war, repression, liberation, art, heroism, war, betrayal, poetry, war, football … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Britain, Personal, Poland | Leave a comment

In Praise of the Human Body…

Posted on May 4, 2017 by bsixsmith

Yesterday I ran my first half marathon in one hour and forty-six minutes. The first sixteen kilometres were tough but fun. There were people cheering. There were kids with water, juice and raisins. There was pathetic thrill of overtaking people. … Continue reading →

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For My Grandmother…

Posted on January 24, 2017 by bsixsmith

When I was a child I collected soft toys. This was not a stereotypically feminine exersize in playing house but an ambitious, undeniably eccentric form of worldbuilding. Each glove puppet, slipper, teddy bear and doll became a character: from “Eddie”, … Continue reading →

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On Being An Uncharismatic Christian…

Posted on January 19, 2017 by bsixsmith

For some people, growing up as a Catholic makes one feel bad for enjoying oneself. Growing up as a Charismatic Christian can make one feel bad for not enjoying oneself. I hate people exaggerating the trials of their youth. Sometimes … Continue reading →

Posted in God, Personal, Religion | 2 Comments

The Year of Dead Celebrities…

Posted on December 26, 2016 by bsixsmith

I would be lying if I claimed to have been affected by the celebrity deaths of 2016. I rarely listened to Bowie, Prince or George Michael. It had been years since I had watched a Gene Wilder film. I had … Continue reading →

Posted in Media, Personal | 2 Comments

Merry Christmas…

Posted on December 25, 2016 by bsixsmith

A small song by yours truly.

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Mein Weltanschauung…

Posted on December 20, 2016 by bsixsmith

Ben Southwood, Sam Bowman and Anonymous Mugwump have written on their influences. I felt like doing the same: partly because it is diverting and partly because it makes some sense of what has lead me, after strange adventures in liberal … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Personal, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Winter…

Posted on November 13, 2016 by bsixsmith

I enjoyed a break from politics this weekend in the Beskid Mountains. This blog needs a break from it as well.

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Getting Rid of Books…

Posted on August 15, 2016 by bsixsmith

I am on holiday in England, at my parent’s house, and am throwing out some of the old books that I had left with them. I have hundreds here: the result of a childhood and adolescence spent rummaging through charity … Continue reading →

Posted in Books, Literature, Personal, Uncategorized | 6 Comments

On Compassion…

Posted on June 25, 2016 by bsixsmith

I recently enjoyed a holiday in the beautiful Polish city of Gdansk: known for the grim shipyards where Lech Wałęsa first led striking Polish workers in their opposition to the communist regime but also boasting grand old churches, elegant streets … Continue reading →

Posted in Behaviour, Personal, Poland | Leave a comment