AllCripps & Ink
Andrew Cripps is a writer, poet, climber, activist, and hip-hop artist from Bristol, UK.
With an affection for chaos, a wide knowledge of music, a sharp pen game, and a true love for nature, he’s building his legacy in words. Adventure and misadventure rule his life; writing completes it.
Introductions…
Welcome, welcome, welcome.
Step right up.
This blog would be the freakshow of the circus… if the Internet was a circus and I was John Merrick.
With that said, I hope to make you laugh, cringe, cuss, question everything, and maybe even go a bit creatively crazy.
I’ll be getting personal, sharing poetry, fiction writing, as well as many true stories, articles, and accounts of the weird and wonderful.
So I hope you come for the quirky and stay for the causes.
Much love, dear readers. Enjoy the ramblings of a humble madman.
My Latest Posts
- A Very Short Poem About Uncertainty | Poetry
Icy the wind of uncertainty;
Dull the landscape of your fears.
Chance of survival — certainly.
There’s power in those tears.— Andrew Cripps
- Indie Game Review | Moonlighter
Dungeons: riches and fame await. But so, too, does danger and death. Whether merchant or hero, the journey is perilous. Be free, adventurer — I hope it is profitable.
Moonlighter was a small and lightly packed mixed bag.
Put together by Spanish studio Digital Sun, and released in 2018, the title contains fantasy, sci-fi, and rogue-lite features. Crunching Koalas (another indie studio) also helped with the porting of a mobile version of the game that is available via Netflix. (I played the console version.)
It’s mainly a platformer; collecting artifacts and selling them in your late father’s shop. There’s not much to it after that. There were weapons, armour, and health you can upgrade along the way, as well as rings of power, new townsfolk to recruit, and even familiars that will follow you around and help you in battle. (I didn’t realise this was a thing until well into the game, though.)The game’s descriptions have no words, just a small series of pictures that pop up briefly — if that. So, it’s up to you to figure out what it means and what other secrets may be lurking in the game. (Upgrading your shop is another thing — Make sure you check your walls and surfaces.)
Deep within the Golem Dungeon. I wish that there’d been more movement available; even just a little. What I mean here is that it’s literally just one town and four caves (not including the final boss cave). Yes, each one is randomised when you enter, but including some neighbouring towns to visit would’ve made the game less samey and wouldn’t have you stuck in one spot, running back and forth repeatedly. Same with side quests — there were almost none other than item requests. And no real collectables — other than items to craft. Again, something that would’ve added some diversity to the game and taken the edge off the grind of collect, sell, upgrade, collect, sell, upgrade (rinse, repeat) that you will find yourself doing.
The shopkeeper side of the game was fairly fun actually, and a huge part of this minimalist title. Improvements were decent enough, but certainly could’ve been improved. The emporium upgrade allows for more actions, but you really won’t sell much from it before the game is finished — unless you want to go for 100%. (Which I could not.)
The Shop Retro art styles like Moonlighter’s will always win me over to some degree. With a slight overhead view like Pokémon or OG Zelda, the game had soft, sprite-based animation with simplistic music reminiscent of some lost retro fantasy game from the late 90s.
The wishlist function was a godsend. Especially if you’ve a memory as bad as mine. Utilise it or heamorage time.
Character naming and design wasn’t too unimaginative, though I’ll let it be known I’d always prefer to have the option to name my own character, especially in games that only have dialogue boxes and can be easily programmed.
Caution! Some levels are just minefields and can essentially set you up for an almost instant death — so if you play, check your health before moving rooms and be ready. And the Wanderer! This invincible, ever-chasing, malevolent ghost that moves between dimensions and smashes you and any loot that may be about — it’s not too hard to dodge, but don’t get caught in a boss fight with it following you. Pain in the ass, if anything. I’d have liked a fighting chance against this one-hit-KO monster. Also, some backstory might have been nice.
The Wanderer — desperate to smush me into the moss of the Forest dungeon. The entire story was a bit thin. There were lots of opportunities to divulge more information on the world, characters, creatures, and dungeons — other than finding camps and skeletal remains of dead adventurers, and talking to townsfolk — but it ended up a lacklustre outline of a story.
[SPOILER] And it ended a tad ridiculously: dimensional pirates, I dunno… *sighs*… I mean, okay, the closure wasn’t too bad, but at every turn, some creativity was neglected. The final twist kinda made me chuckle when I was told exactly what I’d been doing the entire game. Whoops; you’ll see if you play.
This game could have been absolutely amazing but ended up seeming a little rushed and somewhat sub-par in the way of story. Entertaining enough, but many ball drops when it came to design.
I’m going to give it a generous 6.3 / 10
Moonlighter 2: The Endless Vault is set to be released later this year, so we’ll see if they’ve made any improvements.
- We Live in the Future
We live in the future.
Around us, a sci-fi story unfolds.
What is our purpose?
What rights to life we’ve sold.
I scream into the ether:
Stop! Before it’s too late.
But all that answers are spectres,
Who all suffered their ill fates.
Ghosts in the machine
howling the codes that govern.
Humans gather like witches;
A dark but mortal coven
Numbers are the gods;
Puppets are prophet and priest
Overlooking our fragile world;
in the name of profit they preach.
Everything at our fingertips,
But knowledge slips further away.
The algorithm demands
That we remain watching — always should we stay.
We’ve made movies about our own demise, but do any of us listen?
We’re blind, deaf and dumb monkeys failing at our mission?
- Walking Beside Bipolar: A Partner’s Reality
Being the partner of someone with Bipolar is tough… not just lifting a heavy box tough, but lifting a heavy box covered in thumbtacks and trying to carry it through a pool of tar while some unknown figure hurls darts and insults at you.
You’ll probably be ignored, shouted at, scorned, belittled, and sometimes even lied to. It’s not fun, especially when you have any kind of anxious attachment — like I do.
It’s certainly not for the faint-hearted.
And unfortunately, you can’t exactly change them; you can only understand, bolster your own emotions, and move forward — or quit… quitting is an option, but (and you don’t have to take outright abuse) what type of person are you if you give up when the path gets a bit rough?
Self-improvement and set gentle, loving boundaries (when your partner isn’t manic or depressive) is essential. Learn how to sit in uncertainty, learn to listen without solving, learn to validate, and be understanding.
I’m no clinical psychologist, but I had to learn very quickly how to become a better man. I don’t know where it will go, but I have my wants and needs, and they haven’t been forgotten, but I’m able to take that step back now. It made me become more secure in my attachment style and softened my voice, as well as improving my patience.
Recognising the signs and symptoms can also make a huge difference in how you navigate the tougher moments. Patterns like sudden shifts in energy, changes in sleep, racing thoughts, irritability, impulsive decisions, or withdrawing completely can all be indicators of where your partner is emotionally. Noticing these changes early doesn’t mean you have to fix anything — it simply helps you understand the landscape you’re walking through and prepare yourself with a little more compassion and steadiness.
If you are going through this, I implore you to see it as a learning curve, and not just a hardship. Remember your own worth and go forward in light and love.
If you need support, my best advice is get a confidante, who can stay reasonably objective and open-minded, and another to hug.
There are also great webinars and support groups that are run by Bipolar UK — bipolaruk.org
After that, there are a number of helplines you can call if you’re struggling yourself:
United Kingdom
Samaritans (24/7) — 116 123
NHS Talking Therapies — via GP or self-referral (search “NHS Talking Therapies”)
Shout (24/7 text support) — Text SHOUT to 85258
CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably) — 0800 58 58 58
Bipolar UK — Support groups & online community (bipolaruk.org)
United States
988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline (24/7) — Call or text 988
Crisis Text Line — Text HOME to 741741
The Trevor Project (LGBTQ+ youth) — 1-866-488-7386
Canada
Talk Suicide Canada — 1-833-456-4566
Text 45645 (evenings)
Australia
Lifeline Australia — 13 11 14
Beyond Blue — 1300 22 4636
New Zealand
Lifeline Aotearoa — 0800 543 354
Need to Talk? — Call or text 1737
Europe
Germany — TelefonSeelsorge
0800 111 0 111
0800 111 0 222
France — SOS Amitié
01 45 39 40 00
International
Befrienders Worldwide — directory of crisis lines in many countries
befrienders.org - 10 Word Werewolf | Micro-fiction. Challenge
[To write a Werewolf story in 10 words]
Breath
Inhales.
Growls
Brave
And
Deadly.
Where?
Oh
Look,
Fangs.(Read multiple ways)
- Point and Click Review | Syberia 3
The great migration of giant ostriches, a spiritual journey, villainous pursuers, a terrible monster. The Youkal people are being hunted, as are you. Will Kate Walker complete the ancient rituals, save her saviours — and herself? So much is yet to be seen.
This slow, slightly clunky, narrative-driven, puzzle-based adventure from Microïds is not a typical point-and-click game — and I’m sure there’s some kind of console gaming stickler that wouldn’t allow it to be classed as such. The console version allows you to control character movement rather than pointing and clicking, granted. But with that said, the Syberia games are still firmly rooted in the point-and-click genre, and PC versions still hold true to that.
I played Syberia 1 and 2 nearly ten years ago; then, in 2017, Syberia 3 relaunched and rebooted the story, keeping the adventure alive. With updated graphics and animation that sit somewhere between realistic and cartoon, it felt soft, quirky, and interesting in its simplicity — sort of like a plain hot chocolate in December; especially if the hot chocolate was served in a slightly cracked mug.
The controls were a little sluggish but held up their end of the bargain: improving on the original games. Although there was certainly a type of awkward pixel-hunt feature to some of the puzzles, it certainly tried to be less frustrating. I spent a little too long trying to find some tiny item tucked into a shaded corner of a dark scene. My biggest frustration is that, even if you already come across something that would help complete a task, you can’t use it due to it only being part of the artwork. A prime example — mild spoiler, btw — is when you have to find something to smash the lights on the boat. I literally found a whole workbench of hammers, but nope, it made me do another few laps of the ship until I stumbled across what I needed right near where I’d started.
Okay, maybe I was being a bit blind, slow, and stoned, but I swear, this game tucks things away and doesn’t adhere to sense in that way. This was my main, and I think only true issue with Syberia 3 — almost.
Some of the voice acting was abysmal. It often felt as though the voice actor was a gifted-but-shy child doing a book reading at the front of a full class — rapid and without breath between words. Either the writer forgot punctuation, or the VA refused to acknowledge it. There was one character in particular that I wanted to throttle instead of listening to any more of her babble. If you play it, you’ll 100% know who I mean. Otherwise, like with the animation, character control, and story, I accepted and even enjoyed its ever-so-slight humdrum nature.
Some of the puzzles were okay, some were even clever, and others were outright dumb. For the most part, Syberia 3 is a walking sim with a story. Yes, there were parts that felt a bit tedious, and parts that even felt as though, for all your actions, the narrative was being driven along like an eighty-nine-year-old behind the wheel of a tractor. But don’t let that put you off. Syberia 3 was a heartfelt, beautiful game layered with spiritual notes, friendship, political nuances, and villainous plotting. It has updates in gameplay, like how you can now gain intel to complete tasks in different ways by speaking to people, a feature I quite enjoyed — including the speech options.
So granted, if you cannot hack slow, walkabout games with a slight lag, then go for GTA 6, but if you’re a gamer that likes imperfections, soft and slow-burning adventures, curious alternate worlds, and quiet excitement, then this is a vibe.
With all its downfalls, I’m giving it a 7.7/10. It wasn’t too long, it fit the bill for a cold autumn adventure, and even came with a free DLC, An Automaton With a Plan, that follows a long-lost friend during his part of your journey.
Once again, I yearn for the next game due to the overarching adventure of Kate Walker remaining incomplete. Syberia: The World Before is definitely on my short-term bucket list of games, but I am really hoping there is a simple fast-travel system introduced.
- Lessons From the Squirrel
Here we are, approaching a new year. The winter has set in, and as much as many of us wish we could hibernate like squirrels, we must push on.
That being said, there are many lessons we can take from those twitchy, tree-dwelling rodents.
Below are a dozen ways we can improve our lives by taking on board the tactics and traits of a squirrel and how to translate them into our lives.
1. Squirrels store food for winter.
This is clear: plan ahead. Save and prepare for future challenges instead of living only for today. So when you meet a crossroads or obstacle, you will have the tools and capacity to deal with it with ease. Remember the 6 Ps: Proper Preparation Prevents Piss Poor Performance.
Oh, and keeping the fridge stocked is also a good idea.
2. They forget where some nuts are buried — which helps trees grow.Mistakes can create unexpected blessings. Even our forgotten efforts can lead to growth or benefit others. So don’t fuss and fret about a f**k-up; embrace it and know it may just lead you to something beautiful, or it may strengthen you as a sprig becomes a mighty oak.
3. Squirrels adapt their diet to seasons and environment.This translates to being flexible. Adapt to changing circumstances rather than resisting them. Becoming flexible will allow you to fit around most obstructions with ease. Staying hard and trying to force things will end up with something breaking; maybe yourself, maybe something external.
Nothing is softer or more flexible than water, yet nothing can resist it — Lao Tzu.
4. They are highly observant and alert to danger.Stay aware. Awareness and mindfulness help avoid unnecessary risks and stay safe. Don’t be paranoid, of course, but become aware of those hidden forces that will try and set you off balance and even harm you — look even from within. Also, balaclavas and knives. Just saying.
5. Squirrels are incredibly persistent — they’ll try multiple ways to reach food.Don’t give up easily. Persistence and creativity often lead to success when the first attempt fails. Because what kind of person would we be if we gave up at the first sign of trouble? Combine with number 4 for an unflappable and confident approach to life. Failure is where we learn; growth and strength come from the readjust.
6. They are social animals that communicate through sounds and tail movements.
Communicate clearly. Use both words and actions to express yourself effectively. Communication breakdown is one of the biggest problems in the world today. Whether that be in relationships, at work, in society, and even in governments — especially governments, actually.
If we learn to communicate properly, we can skip over all the drama, all the wrongdoings, all the fear and misunderstandings. Let’s talk!
7. Squirrels take calculated risks, leaping between trees.Be brave but wise. Take smart risks that lead to growth — courage with caution. It’s no good taking a leap of faith if there’s a high chance of jagged rocks below, but if you’ve done the work and suspect that work has resulted in a catch net being there for you… do it!
If you keep taking calculated risks, you will keep getting considerable rewards — Amit Kalant.
8. They have strong memory and spatial intelligence.Use your mind well. Train your memory and awareness to navigate life’s complexities. Because that’s really all we are… a brain driving a meat suit on a rock hurtling through space. But remember that the brain must almost always concur with the heart, lest you become cold and calculated like a machine.
9. They maintain balance with their tails while climbing or jumping.Keep balance. Maintain stability between work, rest, and relationships. This is where we find our very being. Swaying too far one way or the other will only lead to you falling down, one way or another.
I wrote a whole article about the balance of life. Read it HERE.
10. Squirrels groom themselves regularly to stay clean and healthy.
Self-care matters. Cleanliness and health upkeep are small but vital acts of discipline. Okay, some people take this to the extreme; it’s okay to have a duvet day, leave your hair messy, or not wear makeup and strut around in your comfys, but hygiene is important. Bad hygiene can lead into, or further down, the depression rabbit hole. Dress nice occasionally; it empowers you. And don’t forget your teeth. Dentists suck but so do abscesses and people with bad breath.
11. They play and chase each other, especially young squirrels.Enjoy life. Playfulness keeps energy and creativity alive — don’t forget joy.
Not every day is good, but there’s something good in every day. Enjoy this life; it’s the only one we get.The most important thing is to enjoy your life… to be happy; it’s all that matters — Dalai Lama.
12. Squirrels defend their territory but don’t hoard excessively.Know your limits. Protect what’s yours, but don’t let greed control you.
Simply put, own your sh**, don’t be greedy.There is enough in the world for man’s need, but not for man’s greed — Mahatma Gandhi.
…
There you are, twelve lessons from the squirrels. So, get out there, live your life, take leaps of faith and forage happiness and wealth. Love to all.
- Heavy as a Brick | Poem
Heavy is the brick you carry…
You may throw it through a window,
but what trouble that would bring.
You may bestow it onto another,
but what kind of present is that.
You may throw it to the bottom of the sea,
but what will polluting do?
Hold that brick tight, and your hands will hurt.
Swallow it, and you’ll choke
But look at it; study its so-called perfections,
and see, it is just a brick.
Place it down carefully on solid foundations
and build the life you want.
- What a Beautiful Existence | Aquarium Appreciation & Farm Fun
Sometimes, I have to pause and take it all in — the strange, fleeting wonder of simply being alive. There’s so much beauty that surrounds us every single day, often hiding in plain sight.
What a beautiful existence. So many amazing creatures. Here is an appreciation post for an aquarium and farm I visited with my partner.
I’ll keep it brief, but I thought I’d express my wonder for the experiences available to us and for every bit of life on this planet. Every beating heart, every furry paw, every fin and tentacle, shell, and hoof.
We share this planet — don’t forget.
We have so much at our fingertips: cinemas, theatres, fine dining, fantastic walks, zoos, aquariums, and so much more. But do we truly appreciate what is around us? Do we value what we have access to?
Sometimes, I find myself taking for granted everything I’ve seen and done, and have to remind myself that past generations never had this opportunity — neither do many in this era.
We are so fortunate to exist in this time, even if some are doing a wonderful job of destroying everything around them.
So, with that said, enjoy these photos of the wonderful wildlife from the aquarium and farm.
- Medication Eradication | Brexit has failed
Brexit has truly screwed us here in the UK. Not least of all, the NHS and access to medications.
Bipolar meds — along with a long list of others (including seizure meds and ADHD meds) — are non-existent or constantly unavailable, and for many people these aren’t “nice to have”. They’re life-saving.
For people with bipolar disorder, suddenly not having medication isn’t just inconvenient — it can mean severe depression, dangerous mania, psychosis, hospital admissions, or worse. You can’t just stop these meds or “wait it out”. The same goes for seizure meds, where missed doses can be genuinely life-threatening.
This isn’t a one-off supply issue. Brexit has added delays, red tape, and supply chain problems, and the UK is now clearly being deprioritised. The NHS is firefighting, pharmacists are apologising, and patients are left panicking.
Please petition your MPs and spread the word about this potentially dangerous situation. This isn’t abstract politics — it’s people being left without the medication that keeps them stable, functioning, and alive.Among many other problems, I can honestly say: Brexit has failed. Now it’s up to us all to get this country back on track. Improve its infrastructures and bring the focus back to the people, not the greedy 1%.
- Mental Health | Routines (And Why They’re Hard)
Building routines is hard — especially when the shadows of mental health challenges follow you around. But that’s why it’s even more powerful to try. When you set up habits of self-care, you’re giving yourself a structure that holds you up on the days when everything feels just a little bit darker.
Think of exercise as a soft flashlight: regular movement helps you push the shadows back, even if you’re not banishing them entirely. A good diet is another beam — feeding your body isn’t just about strength; it’s about giving your mind the nutrients it needs to stay more steady. And then there are the simple things — brushing your teeth, washing your face, calling a friend, or just checking in with someone who cares. These aren’t small. They remind you that you matter, and that connection matters.
Don’t forget to express yourself. Especially artistically; this will bring the mind escape — not in the sense of binging Netflix or doomscrolling socials, but a way that soothes the mind and acts as silent confidant.
It’s absolutely okay to not be okay sometimes. Mental health isn’t a straight road, it’s a weaving, winding, overgrown path of darkness and light. There will be days where the routine feels like too much, when getting out of bed feels like a huge effort, when eating or doing anything feels overwhelming. On those days, you don’t need to “win” — you just need to show up for yourself, as much as you can.
Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means giving yourself grace. Some days the routine will carry you. Other days, you’ll carry the routine. Either way, you’re doing something — you’re choosing to protect yourself, to heal, to hold on. That is strength.
If things feel like they’re getting too dark, if the shadows feel too close — reach out. Talk to someone. You don’t have to go through it alone. Asking for help is not a sign of weakness; it’s you investing in yourself. You are worth the effort.
Free Mental Health / Crisis Helplines
Here are some key free helplines in different countries:
United Kingdom
Samaritans: 116 123
Shout (24/7 text support): Text SHOUT to 85258
Mind (advice & information): 0300 123 3393
United States
Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Dial or text 988
Canada
Crisis Services Canada: 1-833-456-4566
Australia
Lifeline Australia: 13 11 14
France
National Suicide Prevention Helpline: 3114 (24/7)
SOS Amitié (listening support): 09 72 39 40 50
Germany
TelefonSeelsorge (crisis counselling): 0800 111 0 111 or 0800 111 0 222 - Do it! | Poem
You do it for you, to be better for them.
Show that your view is letting you win.
For focus, for mind, for body, for soul,
For sight, for time that will try taking its toll.
Do it for earth and the stars in the sky,
Watching you win, learn lessons, and try.
Do it for pain, for comfort and bliss,
Do it for the moments you won’t want to miss.
Do it because, and do it for fun,
Do it for patience, and do it for love.
Do it for family, real ones and friends,
And break down the walls to do it again.
Do it for enlightenment, do it for God,
Or if that’s not your thing, then do it for dogs.
Do it for others, and do it for pets,
Do it for the ones that always forget.
Do it for change, and do it for life,
Do it because you’re enjoying the ride.
Do it in down times, do it when blue,
Do it when your pathway is covered in glue.
Do it when winning, and do it to learn,
Do it when things crumble, fracture, and burn.
Do it today, next week, and next year,
Do it especially when it’s something you fear.
Do it for choosing, do it to tell,
Do it for a reason to humbly rebel.
Do it to silence, do it to tunes,
But always remember, do it for you. - I Need Your Advice | Help Shape the Future of This Blog
I’ve been experimenting a lot on this blog lately — sharing everything from articles and reviews to fiction, poetry, and random musings. While it’s been exciting to explore so many different styles and topics, I’m at a point where I’d love your input.
Which types of content do you enjoy the most? Are there pieces you’d like to see more of? Are there areas I could maybe scale back on — or should I just keep posting everything I can?
Your feedback really matters and will help me shape the direction of this space. So, please drop a comment and let me know your thoughts. Every opinion helps, and I can’t wait to hear from you!
Thanks for being part of this journey. 💫
- Indie Game Review | Crypt Custodian
Death awaits us all… but only the unfortunate are judged by a passive-aggressive frog. Let me walk the duat a thousand times before making me the janitor of the afterlife.
This cute metroidvania game showed promise — but fell down like a two-legged stool on a ship in a storm.
The designers took mythological lore and reduced it to classist drivel. Good spirits go to the palace, bad spirits live outside — instead of exploring places like Elysium and Tartarus (Greek), Náströnd and Valhalla (Norse), or the many trials of the Duat (Egyptian). I guess it’s for kids, but why dumb it down so far? Do we not want substance in our games anymore? Do we not want children learning as they play?
From the start, the names were beige. Kendra, the ruler of the underworld doesn’t quite have a satisfying ring to it. Pip the guide… meh. Pluto (the protagonist) was fine, but, as I will always say: I’d rather name my own character. Overall, weak character design and arcs, as with the world building and story.
Side note: Kendra is a ****. Pluto lived a good life, then, upon death, smashed a couple of broken statues en route to an appointment with her. Instead of letting us in, Kendra got pissy, banished us outside, and made Pluto janitor of the underworld. A passive-aggressive, entitled bint from the get.
The art — that could’ve been straight out of a kids’ book — I actually enjoyed. Shame the levels were surrounded by blank space.
The soundtrack was soft, relaxing, and easy on the ears, but forgettable. What happened to the detailed game and sound design of the 90s and 2000s? Bring it back, I beg you.
The game dragged on longer than expected, and monotony set in: samey jump/dodge puzzles, average-to-annoying enemies, and little diversity in the world-building left the whole experience feeling a bit bleak.
I was glad there were upgradeable moves and that they weren’t complex. Otherwise, this would’ve gone straight to the bin.
The story was thin, lacking real substance. It leaned on modern smash-and-slash mechanics rather than a wholehearted narrative — which could’ve made it more engaging. Yet again, imagination and storytelling take a back seat to brain-rot gameplay.
Ultimately, I couldn’t finish Kyle Thompson’s title. I didn’t have the heart (or time). Others may enjoy it — probably kids with more patience to run around smashing things endlessly. But would you want to give your kids this brain-rot? (I know I wouldn’t.)
My verdict: 3.8 / 10.
The cartoon art and soundtrack held it up, but the story did nothing to keep me invested. Too long, too simple, too much grind for too little reward. And yet, I’d be curious to see what comes next from Top Hat Studios and H2 Interactive.
- Protest (Short) | Based on a True Story
Oh, how the sirens wail. A shudder.
Are they coming for the gangster? For the crook? For the officials ordering murder? Or do they come for me and my placard? My knees shake as polished boots march and surround us.It explodes as though we’ve all been doused in nitroglycerin. Fires surround us. Booming calls to war excite those armoured men and women staring at us with intent from behind those perspex windows they want to bring down upon my head.
A young lad falls; five surround him. He’s making a wheezing noise, his cries are growing weak. I throw my body over his. I immediately feel the sting of the strikes. I can feel the welts appearing.
One platoon passes, another forms in the street. We sit up together, clutched in one another’s arms. He mumbles, “I’m not sure I’m ready for any more.”
“Neither am I,” I reply. The sound of boots moving in unison arrives. We brace.[Based on a protest I attended]
Actual photo from the protest - The Dance of Equilibrium
Finding balance isn’t usually about attaining it once and holding steady forever — it’s more about the continual act of re-adjusting. When you notice yourself swaying too far in one direction, you shift your weight, recalibrate, and sometimes even swing into motion the other way. That’s the rhythm of being human.
Take work–life balance, for example. When you’ve been grinding too hard, pouring every ounce of energy into productivity, it’s easy to neglect the softer, social, or soulful parts of yourself. Eventually, you burn out — and in that exhaustion, you might swing toward freedom, play, rest, or even a bit of rebellion. And that’s okay. In fact, it’s part of the process.
Because balance isn’t stillness — it’s movement. It’s the dance between effort and ease, discipline and spontaneity, structure, and flow. We lose it, we find it, we lose it again. In those cycles of momentum and correction, we learn how to stay centred not by being fixed but by being flexible.
That’s the real equilibrium — not the absence of motion, but the art of moving with awareness.
- The Weight That Shapes Us
Life has a way of pushing down on us all; nobody is safe. The struggles we face can feel like a kind of gravitational force — intense, heavy, and relentless. So much so that at one point or another, we all feel the fear… a fear it might break us. Every disappointment, loss, and uncertainty can seem to pull us closer to the ground, wearing us thin, shaping us through pressures we never asked for.
And yet, it’s that very pressure that gives life its meaning. Diamonds form under the weight of the earth. Muscles grow through resistance. Strength — as in: true, lasting strength — emerges only when we are tested. In the same way, our struggles carve depth into our character. Without them, we’d remain untested, unformed — smooth surfaces without the grooves, divots, and markings that make us unique.
It’s easy to wish for a lighter life, one free of friction. But if everything came effortlessly, we’d lose the very thing that gives value to joy, love, and peace: the knowledge of what it takes to earn them. Struggle gives context to growth. It reveals our resilience, our compassion, and our capacity to endure.
So when life feels unbearably heavy, remember this: gravity may pull you down, but it also keeps you grounded. The same weight that wears you down is the force that makes you real; stronger, wiser, and more deeply alive.Mistakes will be made, wrong turns will be taken, but along the journey, we become who we are. Allow every challenge to shape our success, and most worries will become a victory if rumination is kept at bay.
You’ve got this. I believe in you. (Now say that back.)
- Little Black Nose | Free Verse Poem
Out on a walk this Sunday, I was sitting in a sunny spotlight in the woods, watching people go by, when a bright-eyed collie came up to me. She sniffed the air, smiled, allowed me to pat her head, then left. What a pleasure.
The gentle, endearing beast took my blues and, in a split second, made them glow gold instead. She also reminded me of my own collie that is no longer with me. So, in honour of such a lovely pup and my own Nushka, I’ve written this poem.
…
Little Black Nose
I smile
Oh, that little black nose of yours,
Wriggling, puffing, huffing, and wet.
It fills silence with joy.
How impressive that snack radar is;
Never have you missed a trick — or a stick.
How polite you are.
No whining or crying or snaps at all,
Just soft eyes requesting — “If there’s enough.”
You deserve the world.
I smile.
The smell of your coat is an antidote;
You give me spiritual enlightenment and peace.
Simply lay your head on my lap.
You sit with that black nose glistening,
Enjoying the sun. Peacefull bliss, no cares;
Until I say that four-letter word.
You’re my personal trainer and confidant,
My daring accomplice in adventure,
Gatekeeper of the abode.
I smile.
Such a crazed, manic episode I’m gifted
When gold sands are below your pads;
Laps of zoomies, a flurry of fur.
A thousand friends, always more;
Sit, roll over, that squirrel is interesting — woof.
A gentleman shaking a paw.
That little black nose, sniffling and true,
A show of affection to cherish always.
I reserved you a boop.
I smile.
When you bounded into my life, I beamed.
My heart lit up like a summer dawn and more;
You kept it warm in winter.
Sharing yawns late at night is a gift for two.
Your coat has soaked up so many tears —
Bless your cotton socks.
Your presence builds harmony in my soul.
You’re an architect, scholar, prince, and beast.
Never change.
I smile.
You make worries run scared, are a conduit of sense;
You fill tiredness with helium and bury anger —
Gone, like those bones.
I’m sure you’ve a space saved in Heaven,
But in your presence, hell would be bareable.
Even Cerberus would bow.
You may be slowing down now,
You may be going a bit deaf and blind,
But that black nose keeps snuffling.
Thanks for your life of smiles.…
In honour of Nushka, my dog — and my five minute friend at Blaise.
AllCripps & Ink 