Category Archives: Tirades

A New Localism: Hope for 2022?

Posted on January 24, 2022 by Francis Pryor

It’s early morning. I’m sitting at my desk, about to start writing. Then, thirty seconds ago it was announced that in December inflation rose to 5.4%, the highest it has been since 1992. Blimey. Brief pause while I gather my … Continue reading →

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Wallpaper Words

Posted on February 5, 2019 by Francis Pryor

What has happened to the quality of political debate and discussion in modern Britain? I don’t know about anyone else, but I find I too often turn on the radio or open a newspaper, or worse, look at a current … Continue reading →

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Autumn Reflections

Posted on November 19, 2018 by Francis Pryor

I’ll start this post with a view of turning birch leaves taken in the glade garden a couple of days ago. At the time I was feeling more than a little stressed: the deadline to produce the final edited version … Continue reading →

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Suburbia: Taking a Different View

Posted on December 11, 2017 by Francis Pryor

It’s so easy to let one’s mind fossilize. Over the years one accumulates opinions and these tend to become more fixed and rigid with time. And I don’t know how others feel, but I find that in these days when … Continue reading →

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Cutting the Mustard

Posted on July 27, 2017 by Francis Pryor

And now for something completely different: a guest blog. It’s by Mrs. Pryor, aka Maisie Taylor, who is not writing about her favourite topics of ancient wood-working, gardens or our new puppy Baldwin (and there’ll be more about him in … Continue reading →

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Britain and Europe: The Long View

Posted on May 31, 2016 by Francis Pryor

Followers of this blog will know that one of my pet hates is the obsession modern politicians have with short-termism. And hence the name of this blog: In the Long Run. Over the past few months my posts have mostly … Continue reading →

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The Iniquity of Unpaid Labour

Posted on March 19, 2014 by Francis Pryor

When I began my life in archaeology in the early 1960s, I worked for several groups of amateurs as a volunteer. I had zero experience, even less knowledge, but boundless and ill-directed enthusiasm. Looking back on those times I am … Continue reading →

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More Words on the Weirdness of the Season

Posted on February 11, 2014 by Francis Pryor

At last I now understand why politicians have invented Quangos (Quasi-autonomous non-governmental  organizations). It is of course to avoid blame. More to the point it’s to avoid having to make long-term decisions. So you tie the Quangos’ hands with stupid … Continue reading →

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Of This, of That (and the Other)

Posted on February 3, 2014 by Francis Pryor

Living as I do a mere metre and a half above sea level (which at this time of year means several metres below high tide levels), I was astonished to hear that the chairman of the Environment Agency has written in … Continue reading →

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My offering for the archaeology blogging festival.

Posted on December 12, 2013 by Francis Pryor

For many years I used to be a member of the Society for American Archaeology, largely because I found its journal, American Antiquity a constant source of ideas and enlightenment. Eventually my groaning bookshelves couldn’t cope any longer, so reluctantly … Continue reading →

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