No Jane No Gain

On finding enjoyment amongst big buts

Happy New Year, Gainers (you have Jane, therefore you have Gain)

Jan 11

6

December 2025

On darkness and light

I started writing a post about a week ago.

Dec 17, 2025

1

November 2025

On almost getting inked

Every so often, maybe once every three to five years, I have an epiphany, and usually when that happens, I have a powerful urge to mark the momentous…

Nov 15, 2025

6

3

1

October 2025

On being deep Green

I’m not sure when it started, probably about six weeks ago.

Oct 17, 2025

4

2

1

On nearly killing my dog

It’s been a rather dramatic time for the dog and, by extension, for us.

Oct 3, 2025

7

8

1

September 2025

On doing my best

A bit of blog data for my nerd friends: this will be my 17th post on Substack.

Sep 17, 2025

9

6

1

On Ireland and magic

Hello and welcome back to NJNG, which is coming to you from a rainy London where I’m sitting watching my dog convalesce in a zipped-up polo-necked…

Sep 5, 2025

3

1

July 2025

On deodorant and twisted knickers

Back at the end of October 2021, the journalist and environmental campaigner George Monbiot, wrote this massive and excellent article, which covered a…

Jul 31, 2025

1

1

On post-menopausal necks and the beauty industrial complex

Last week I found myself caught up in a dilemma about whether or not to spend hundreds of pounds to look like a serial killer.

Jul 24, 2025

7

3

1

On the mysteries of a marriage

We went to a fantastic wedding on Saturday, two lovely people tying an excellent metaphorical knot in front of lots more lovely people, with lovely food…

Jul 16, 2025

6

3

1

On Attenborough and dental plaque

A couple of weeks ago, D and I finally watched David Attenborough’s likely final documentary, Ocean, a brilliant, angering, devastating and ultimately…

Jul 10, 2025

5

1

On Glasto and ageing

Bit later than planned this week as it’s been too hot to do anything much except loll around talking about how hot it is.

Jul 4, 2025

5

2

1