Joe Hodson
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joehodson.bsky.social
Joe Hodson
@joehodson.bsky.social
11K followers 64K following 1.2K posts
Paralegal with masters in international maritime law, interested in languages, ethics, governance, environmental protection and human rights. Mythology-loving humanist.
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joehodson.bsky.social
Commoner’s access to social support is under threat? Should we abolish the principle of conditionality in relation to state benefits? How can we reverse the criminalisation of deviance, and the de jure or de facto decriminalisation of activities by the rich and powerful? How can we protect the idea of precedent in common law, which has been developed over time according to what many generations have come to regard as just behaviour? We will also consider the role of the Charter itself, as well as the values and principles that should be included in the preamble and that apply to all areas of the Commons - the natural, social, civil, cultural and knowledge Commons. Our Commons Series is being organised in collaboration with Guy Standing. For details of past events in the series see our Reviving the Commons page. Kairos, 84 Tottenham Court Road, London W1T 4TG Doors open at 6.30pm for drinks. Events starts at 7pm. £8 Frequent Visitor and Supporter Members; £15 Standard (includes Community Members); £10 Struggling financially; £8 Under 30s; £20 Supporter. Food complimentary. (To find out more about membership, visit our Membership page.)
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Looking forward to this event tomorrow!

Reviving the Commons: The Civil Commons - Kairos share.google/3aVx0DNdXXCJ...
Reviving the Commons: The Civil Commons Tuesday November 11th Doors & drinks 6.30pm; Event starts 7pm The Civil Commons is the structure of institutions that ensure every commoner has an equal right to justice. The Civil Commons is built on principles of affordable representation, independent qualified judiciary and full respect for due process. The withering of our Civil Commons has been one of the least noticed tragedies in the decline and loss of our Commons. How might we revive and expand our Civil Commons? In this participatory event - part of our year-long series on the Commons - we’ll explore a vision for our Civil Commons, and begin to draw up a set of principles and demands for inclusion in a new Charter of the Commons being developed at Kairos over the course of the year. Economist Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London and author of Plunder of the Commons, will briefly outline the history of the Civil Commons. We’ll then hear a series of short presentations from legal and social policy experts on the principles and values they would like to see enshrined in the Charter, combining both a radical approach with some first steps towards achieving it. Contributions will be from: David Whyte, Legal scholar at Queen Mary University of London Apolline Rogers, Head of Innovation Lab, Client Earth David Hunter, senior counsel at law firm Bates Wells Awol Allo, Senior Lecturer in Law at the University of Sheffield Neil Howard, social protection Neil Howard, social protection scholar and anthropologist from the University of Bath We’ll then break into groups to discuss their ideas before coming back together to collectively agree on a set of principles and demands to include in the Charter. No previous knowledge is required – either of the Commons generally or the Civil Commons specifically. All are welcome to contribute or just come to listen. The evening will include a break for a one-pot vegan supper. Areas for discussion will include: How can we ensure equal access to justice for all, under both criminal and civil law? Currently the law prioritises corporate and capital interests over commoners' interests. How might we shift that balance? How might we take power away from the wealthy and put it into the hands of the people? How might we expand the law to include the more-than-human world, and enshrine the rights of nature into our legal system? Could citizens assemblies and other forms of deliberative democracy be used to give commoners greater input into the creation of new statutory laws? How can we repurpose the legal profession to become a a pillar of our democratic framework, rather than a professional service. How might lawyers start to see their role as part of the system of checks and balances against state overreach and corporate excess rather than guns for hire? How can we ensure equality of access to our social support networks, and rigorous due process when a
November 10, 2025 at 2:31 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Yet my heart Throbs to know one thing: tell me, if your art Can tell so much: shall Banquo’s issue ever Reign in this kingdom? All Seek to know no more. Macbeth I will be satisfied: deny me this, And an eternal curse fall on you! Let me know. Why sinks that cauldron? and what noise is this? Hautboys First Witch Show! Second Witch Show! Third Witch Show! All Show his eyes, and grieve his heart; Come like shadows, so depart! A show of Eight Kings, the last with a glass in his hand; Ghost Of Banquo following Macbeth Thou art too like the spirit of Banquo: down! Thy crown does sear mine eye-balls. And thy hair, Thou other gold-bound brow, is like the first. A third is like the former. Filthy hags! Why do you show me this? A fourth! Start, eyes! What, will the line stretch out to the crack of doom? Another yet! A seventh! I’ll see no more: And yet the eighth appears, who bears a glass Which shows me many more; and some I see That two-fold balls and treble scepters carry: Horrible sight! Now, I see, ’tis true; For the blood-bolter’d Banquo smiles upon me, And points at them for his. Apparitions vanish What, is this so? First Witch Ay, sir, all this is so: but why Stands Macbeth thus amazedly?
October 31, 2025 at 7:37 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
republican noun [ C ] us /rəˈpʌb.lɪ.kən/ uk /rɪˈpʌb.lɪ.kən/ Add to word list a supporter of government by elected representatives of the people rather than government by a king or queen SMART Vocabulary: related words and phrases
October 19, 2025 at 7:58 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
Luke 23:28 has some interesting implications:

- putting oneself and others before God isn't just allowed but encouraged here - even when he's being crucified

- but this seems not to apply to the disciples, who are still seen as cowards for doing so
granted. 25ἀπέλυσεν δὲ τὸν διὰ στάσιν καὶ φόνον βεβλημένον εἰς φυλακὴν ὃν ᾐτοῦντο, τὸν δὲ Ἰησοῦν παρέδωκεν τῷ θελήματι αὐτῶν. 25He released the man who had been thrown into prison  g for insurrection and murder, for whom they asked,  h but he delivered Jesus over to their will. The Crucifixion 26Καὶ ὡς ἀπήγαγον αὐτόν, ἐπιλαβόμενοι Σίμωνά τινα Κυρηναῖον ἐρχόμενον ἀπ᾽ ἀγροῦ ἐπέθηκαν αὐτῷ τὸν σταυρὸν φέρειν ὄπισθεν τοῦ Ἰησοῦ. 26 i And as they led him away, they seized one Simon of Cyrene, who was coming in from the country, and laid on him the cross, to carry it behind Jesus. 27Ἠκολούθει δὲ αὐτῷ πολὺ πλῆθος τοῦ λαοῦ καὶ γυναικῶν αἳ ἐκόπτοντο καὶ ἐθρήνουν αὐτόν. 27And there followed him a great multitude of the people and of women who were  j mourning and lamenting for him. *Highlighted* 28στραφεὶς δὲ πρὸς αὐτὰς [ὁ] Ἰησοῦς εἶπεν· θυγατέρες Ἰερουσαλήμ, μὴ κλαίετε ἐπ᾽ ἐμέ· πλὴν ἐφ᾽ ἑαυτὰς κλαίετε καὶ ἐπὶ τὰ τέκνα ὑμῶν, 28But turning to them Jesus said, “Daughters of Jerusalem, do not weep for me, but weep for yourselves and for your children. *End highlight* 29ὅτι ἰδοὺ ἔρχονται ἡμέραι ἐν αἷς ἐροῦσιν· μακάριαι αἱ στεῖραι καὶ αἱ κοιλίαι αἳ οὐκ ἐγέννησαν καὶ μαστοὶ οἳ οὐκ ἔθρεψαν. 29For behold,  k the days are coming when they will say,   ‘Blessed are the barren and the wombs that never bore and the breasts that never nursed!’ 30τότε ἄρξονται λέγειν τοῖς ὄρεσιν· πέσετε ἐφ᾽ ἡμᾶς, καὶ τοῖς βουνοῖς· καλύψατε ἡμᾶς· 30 m Then they will begin to say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us,’ and to the hills, ‘Cover us.’ 31ὅτι εἰ ἐν τῷ ὑγρῷ ξύλῳ ταῦτα ποιοῦσιν, ἐν τῷ ξηρῷ τί γένηται; 31For  n if they do these things when  o the wood is
October 7, 2025 at 6:39 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
It's a pity all the lawyers who could have warned Noah about this enormous "by means of flooding" loophole had just been drowned...
הֲ ק מֹת י אֶ ת -בְּ ר ית י א תְּ כֶם , וְּלֹא-י כָּרֵ ת כָּל -בָּ ׂשָּ ר Vahakimoti et-beriti itchem velo-yikaret kol-basar And I will establish My covenant with you; neither shall all flesh be cut off עֹוד מ מֵ י הַ מַ בּול; וְּלֹא -י הְּ יֶה עֹוד מַ בּול , לְּ שַ חֵ ת הָּ אָּ רֶ ץ od mimei hamabul velo-yihyeh od mabul leshachet ha'aretz any more by the waters of the flood; neither shall there any more be a flood to destroy the earth. וַיֹאמֶ ר אֱֹלה ים, זֹאת אֹות -הַ בְּ ר ית אֲשֶ ר- אֲנ י נֹתֵ ן בֵ ינ י Vayomer Elokim zot ot-habrit asher-ani noten beini And God said: 'This is the token of the covenant which I make between Me ּובֵ ינֵיכֶם, ּובֵ ין כָּל -נֶפֶ ש חַ יָּה, אֲשֶ ר א תְּ כֶם-- לְּ דֹרֹת, עֹולָּ ם uveineichem uvein kol-nefesh chayah asher itchem ledorot olam and you and every living creature that is with you, for perpetual generations: אֶ ת- קַ שְּ ת י , נָּתַ ת י בֶ עָּנָּן; וְּהָּ יְּתָּ ה Et-kashti natati be'anan vehayetah I have set My bow in the cloud, and it shall לְּ אֹות בְּ ר ית , בֵ ינ י ּובֵ ין הָּ אָּ רֶ ץ le'ot berit beini uvein ha'aretz be for a token of a covenant between Me and the earth. וְּהָּ יָּה, בְּ עַנְּנ י עָּנָּן עַל -הָּ אָּ רֶ ץ, וְּנ רְּ אֲתָּ ה הַ קֶ שֶ ת, בֶ עָּנָּן Vehayah be'aneni anan al-ha'aretz venir'atah hakeshet be'anan And it shall come to pass, when I bring clouds over the earth, and the bow is seen in the cloud, וְּזָּכַרְּ ת י אֶ ת- בְּ ר ית י, אֲשֶ ר בֵ ינ י ּובֵ ינֵיכֶם Vezacharti et-briti asher beini uveineichem that I will remember My covenant, which is between Me and you ּובֵ ין כָּל-נֶפֶ ש חַ יָּה, בְּ כָּל- בָּ ׂשָּ ר uvein kol-nefesh chayah bechol-basar and every living creature of all flesh; וְּלֹא -י הְּ יֶה עֹוד הַ מַ י ם לְּ מַ בּול , לְּ שַ חֵ ת כָּל -בָּ ׂשָּ ר velo-yihyeh od hamayim lemabul leshachet kol-basar and the waters shall no more become a flood to destroy all flesh. The New Heaven and the New Earth ΑΠΟΚΑΛΥΨΙΣ ΙΩΑΝΝΟΥ 21 Καὶ εἶδον οὐρανὸν καινὸν καὶ γῆν καινήν. ὁ γὰρ πρῶτος οὐρανὸς καὶ ἡ πρώτη γῆ ἀπῆλθαν καὶ ἡ θάλασσα οὐκ ἔστιν ἔτι. REVELATION 21 Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more.
September 29, 2025 at 3:58 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Similarly vibes from Krishna in the Bhagavad Gita - ghoulishly arguing that reincarnation and death's inevitability warrant a cheaper attitude towards life and death and belittling Arjuna's empathy.

Not much seems to be said about proportionality - or is that found elsewhere in the epic?
2.11 Contents of the Gītā Summarized श्री भगवा नुवा च अशो च्यनन्वशो चस्त्वं प्रज्ञा वा दां श्च भा षसे । गता सूनगता सूंश्च ना नुशो चन्ति पण्डि ताः ॥ ११ ॥ śrī-bhagavān uvāca aśocyān anvaśocas tvaṁ prajñā-vādāṁś ca bhāṣase gatāsūn agatāsūṁś ca nānuśocanti paṇḍitāḥ śrī bhagavān uvāca—the Supreme Personality of Godhead said; aśocyān— that which is not worthy of lamentation; anvaśocaḥ—you are lamenting; tvam—you; prajñā-vādāḥ—learned talks; ca—also; bhāṣase—speaking; gata—lost; asūn—life; agata—not past; asūn—life; ca—also; na—never; anuśocanti—lament; paṇḍitāḥ—the learned. The Blessed Lord said: While speaking learned words, you are mourning for what is not worthy of grief. Those who are wise lament neither for the living nor the dead. 2.18 Contents of the Gītā Summarized अन्तवन्त इमे देहा नि त्यस्यो क्ताः शरी रि णः । अना शि नो ऽप्रमेयस्य तस्मा द्युध्यस्व भा रत ॥ १८ ॥ antavanta ime dehā nityasyoktāḥ śarīriṇaḥ anāśino 'prameyasya tasmād yudhyasva bhārata antavantaḥ—perishable; ime—all these; dehāḥ—material bodies; nityasya —eternal in existence; uktāḥ—it is so said; sarīriṇaḥ—the embodied souls; anāśinaḥ—never to be destroyed; aprameyasya—immeasurable; tasmāt—therefore; yudhyasva—fight; bhārata—O descendant of Bharata. Only the material body of the indestructible, immeasurable and eternal living entity is subject to destruction; therefore, fight, O descendant of Bharata. 2.27 Contents of the Gītā Summarized जा तस्य हि ध्रुवो मृत्युर्ध्रुवं जन्म मृतस्य च । तस्मा दपरि हा र्येऽर्थे न त्वं शो चि तुमर्हसि ॥ २७ ॥ jātasya hi dhruvo mṛtyur dhruvaṁ janma mṛtasya ca tasmād aparihārye 'rthe na tvaṁ śocitum arhasi jātasya—one who has taken his birth; hi—certainly; dhruvaḥ—a fact; mṛtyuḥ—death; dhruvam—it is also a fact; janma—birth; mṛtasya—of the dead; ca—also; tasmāt—therefore; aparihārye—for that which is unavoidable; arthe—in the matter of; na—do not; tvam—you; śocitum— to lament; arhasi—deserve. For one who has taken his birth, death is certain; and for one who is dead, birth is certain. Therefore, in the unavoidable discharge of your duty, you should not lament.
September 28, 2025 at 10:20 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
. וְּכָּרֹוזָּא, קָּ רֵ א בְּ חָּ י ל: לְּ כֹון אָּ מְּ ר ין עַמְּ מַ יָּא, אֻׁמַ יָּא וְּל שָּ נַיָּא vecharoza karei vechayil; lechon amerin amemaya, ummaya velishanaya And the herald cried aloud: 'To you it is commanded, O peoples, nations, and languages, בְּ ע דָּ נָּא ד י -ת שְּ מְּ עּון קָּ ל קַ רְּ נָּא מַ שְּ רֹוק יתָּ א קַ תְּ רֹס ׂשַ בְּ כָּא פְּ סַ נְּתֵ ר ין, סּומְּ פֹנְּיָּא, וְּכֹל, זְּנֵי זְּמָּ רָּ א be'iddana di-tishme'un kal karna mashrokita katros sabbecha pesanterin sumeponeyah, vechol zenei zemara that at what time ye hear the sound of the horn, pipe, harp, trigon, psaltery, bagpipe, and all kinds of music, ת פְּ לּון וְּת סְּ גְּדּון לְּ צֶלֶ ם דַ הֲ בָּ א, ד י הֲקֵ ים נְּבּוכַדְּ נֶצַר מַ לְּ כָּא tippelun vetisgedun letzelem dahava, di hakeim nevuchadnetzar malka ye fall down and worship the golden image that Nebuchadnezzar the king hath set up; ּומַ ן-ד י -לָּא י פֵ ל, וְּי סְּ גֻׁד --בַ ּה -שַ עֲתָּ א י תְּ רְּ מֵ א, לְּ גֹוא- אַ תּון נּורָּ א יָּק דְּ תָּ א uman-di-la yippel veyisgud; bah-sha'ata yitreme, lego-'attun nura yakidta and whoso falleth not down and worshippeth shall the same hour be cast into the midst of a burning fiery furnace.'
September 21, 2025 at 7:45 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
For sure, one shouldn't idealise Harold but this approach of intentionally both-sidesing an invasion to the point where you want there to be a "Team William" - i.e a "Team Village-and-Crop-Burner" - seems horrendously vacuous.
I met President Emmanuel Macron recently at the event at the British Museum where the Bayeux Tapestry is being moved to, and I was very quick to reassure him that we had told the French story, the Norman story, with as little bias as possible. There are a lot of stories about William post the Battle of Hastings itself, and how he acted pretty monstrously, but there’s no doubt that he had his own domestic space, his relationship with Matilda and his son. Nikolaj brought so much complexity to that role, and as a result, I think that the show feels balanced. We didn’t want one hero or one villain, we wanted the audience to be split and we wanted people to sit on the sofa and have someone on Team Harold and someone on Team William. I said to Macron: ‘I promise you that we have been fair in depicting both sides of the story’, and a lot of that was to do with Nikolaj’s brilliant, sensitive performance.
September 7, 2025 at 12:03 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
It is nuts that a party founded largely in rebuke to Labour's pandering to Farage immediately starts by debating whether to also pander to Farage!

What kind of alternative is this!?
While Corbyn is said to favour this interim name, Sultana does not, preferring "The Left Party"; one Corbyn ally meanwhile proposes "The People's Party". The disagreement illustrates a wider debate: to what extent the new party should appeal to Reform voters. (Fitzpatrick argues they must, telling The House: “It would be wrong to assume that everybody’s just suddenly racist. What they are is angry at establishment parties who have let them down.”)
September 6, 2025 at 11:36 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
One last photo from the Iceland trip: a geothermal waterfall in Eyjafjörður taken from the whale-watching boat.
Sky, fjord, and waterfall pouring down a cliffy shore.
September 6, 2025 at 7:42 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
Completely surreal dialogue from book 4 of the Iliad - Zeus and Hera sound like children negotiating the breaking of each other's toys.

"Fine, you can sack my favourite city but I get to sack one that you like too"

"Oh alright then - these three are my favourites, if you must"
25 αἰνότατε Κρονίδη ποῖον τὸν μῦθον ἔειπες: 26 πῶς ἐθέλεις ἅλιον θεῖναι πόνον ἠδ' ἀτέλεστον, 27 ἱδρῶ θ' ὃν ἵδρωσα μόγῳ, καμέτην δέ μοι ἵπποι 28 λαὸν ἀγειρούσῃ, Πριάμῳ κακὰ τοῖό τε παισίν. 29 ἕρδ': ἀτὰρ οὔ τοι πάντες ἐπαινέομεν θεοὶ ἄλλοι. [4.25 ff.] “Most dread son of Cronos, what a word hast thou said! How art thou minded to render my labour vain and of none effect, and the sweat that I sweated in my toil,—aye, and my horses twain waxed weary with my summoning the host for the bane of Priam and his sons? Do thou as thou wilt; but be sure we other gods assent not all thereto.” 30 τὴν δὲ μέγ' ὀχθήσας προσέφη νεφεληγερέτα Ζεύς: 31 δαιμονίη τί νύ σε Πρίαμος Πριάμοιό τε παῖδες 32 τόσσα κακὰ ῥέζουσιν, ὅ τ' ἀσπερχὲς μενεαίνεις 33 Ἰλίου ἐξαλαπάξαι ἐϋκτίμενον πτολίεθρον; 34 εἰ δὲ σύ γ' εἰσελθοῦσα πύλας καὶ τείχεα μακρὰ [4.30 ff.] Then, stirred to hot anger, spake to her Zeus, the cloud-gatherer: “Strange queen, wherein do Priam and the sons of Priam work thee ills so many, that thou ragest unceasingly to lay waste the well-built citadel of Ilios? If thou wert to enter within the gates and the high walls, 35 ὠμὸν βεβρώθοις Πρίαμον Πριάμοιό τε παῖδας 36 ἄλλους τε Τρῶας, τότε κεν χόλον ἐξακέσαιο. 37 ἕρξον ὅπως ἐθέλεις: μὴ τοῦτό γε νεῖκος ὀπίσσω 38 σοὶ καὶ ἐμοὶ μέγ' ἔρισμα μετ' ἀμφοτέροισι γένηται. 39 ἄλλο δέ τοι ἐρέω, σὺ δ' ἐνὶ φρεσὶ βάλλεο σῇσιν: [4.35 ff.] and to devour Priam raw and the sons of Priam and all the Trojans besides, then perchance mightest thou heal thine anger. Do as thy pleasure is; let not this quarrel in time to come be to thee and me a grievous cause of strife between us twain. And another thing will I tell thee, and do thou lay it to heart. 40 ὁππότε κεν καὶ ἐγὼ μεμαὼς πόλιν ἐξαλαπάξαι 41 τὴν ἐθέλω ὅθι τοι φίλοι ἀνέρες ἐγγεγάασι, 42 μή τι διατρίβειν τὸν ἐμὸν χόλον, ἀλλά μ' ἐᾶσαι: 43 καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ σοὶ δῶκα ἑκὼν ἀέκοντί γε θυμῷ: 44 αἳ γὰρ ὑπ' ἠελίῳ τε καὶ οὐρανῷ ἀστερόεντι [4.40 ff.] When it shall be that I, vehemently eager to lay waste a city, choose one wherein dwell men that are dear to thee, seek thou in no wise to hinder my anger, but suffer me; since I too have yielded to thee of mine own will, yet with soul unwilling. For of all cities beneath sun and starry heaven 45 ναιετάουσι πόληες ἐπιχθονίων ἀνθρώπων, 46 τάων μοι περὶ κῆρι τιέσκετο Ἴλιος ἱρὴ 47 καὶ Πρίαμος καὶ λαὸς ἐϋμμελίω Πριάμοιο. 48 οὐ γάρ μοί ποτε βωμὸς ἐδεύετο δαιτὸς ἐί̈σης 49 λοιβῆς τε κνίσης τε: τὸ γὰρ λάχομεν γέρας ἡμεῖς. [4.45 ff.] wherein men that dwell upon the face of the earth have their abodes, of these sacred Ilios was most honoured of my heart, and Priam and the people of Priam, with goodly spear of ash. For never at any time was mine altar in lack of the equal feast, the drink-offering, and the savour of burnt-offering, even the worship that is our due.” 50 τὸν δ' ἠμείβετ' ἔπειτα βοῶπις πότνια Ἥρη: 51 ἤτοι ἐμοὶ τρεῖς μὲν πολὺ φίλταταί εἰσι πόληες 52 Ἄργός τε Σπάρτη τε καὶ εὐρυάγυια Μυκήνη: 53 τὰς διαπέρσαι ὅτ' ἄν τοι ἀπέχθωνται περὶ κῆρι: 54 τάων οὔ τοι ἐγὼ πρόσθ' ἵσταμαι οὐδὲ μεγαίρω. [4.50 ff.] Then in answer to him spake ox-eyed, queenly Hera: “Verily have I three cities that are far dearest in my sight, Argos and Sparta and broad-wayed Mycenae; these do thou lay waste whensoe'er they shall be hateful to thy heart. Not in their defence do I stand forth, nor account them too greatly. 55 εἴ περ γὰρ φθονέω τε καὶ οὐκ εἰῶ διαπέρσαι, 56 οὐκ ἀνύω φθονέουσ' ἐπεὶ ἦ πολὺ φέρτερός ἐσσι. 57 ἀλλὰ χρὴ καὶ ἐμὸν θέμεναι πόνον οὐκ ἀτέλεστον: 58 καὶ γὰρ ἐγὼ θεός εἰμι, γένος δέ μοι ἔνθεν ὅθεν σοί, 59 καί με πρεσβυτάτην τέκετο Κρόνος ἀγκυλομήτης, [4.55 ff.] For even though I grudge thee, and am fain to thwart their overthrow, I avail naught by my grudging, for truly thou art far the mightier.
September 5, 2025 at 2:43 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Kairos re-opens for the autumn!

www.kairos.london/event/friday...
Friday Drinks Friday September 5th, 6.30pm- Iipm Our weekly bar night resumes, with free entry and a pay bar serving cocktails and other alcoholic and non-alooholic drinks as well as vegan food. Whether you're a regular Kairos attendee or have yet to come to one of our events, if you're on your own or with a group, or if you just wanta quiet catoh up with a friend, all are welcome. Booking isn't essential, but if you'd like to eat, please tell us you're coming so we can prepare enough food. Above text followed by "find out more and book" button
September 2, 2025 at 5:43 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Well, I'm back!

Day 18 - 01/09/25

London - Haddenham

Feels strange to commute from the city of my workplace to work from home, but need to unpack etc.
Entrance to Kings Cross station Entrance to Marylebone station Haddenham and Thame Parkway from the bridge A duckpond in Haddenham surrounded by reeds and willows, with shops in background
September 1, 2025 at 7:08 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
Day 17 - 31/08/25

Hamburg - Cologne - Brussels - London

Forced to make an unscheduled overnight stay due to train delays - however, it's close enough to not be a severe disruption.
Entrance to Hamburg station View of Rhine from train window near Cologne. Interior of London - Brussels Eurostar.
August 31, 2025 at 11:30 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Day 16 - 30/08/25

The North Sea - Hirtshals - Hjørring - Aalborg - Kolding - Hamburg
Hirtshals coming into view from the viewing gallery of the Norröna Streets and and a building with turret in Hjørring View from a high railway bridge somewhere in/ near Rendsburg - trees, houses, a river, a boat Trains in Hamburg station at night
August 30, 2025 at 8:43 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Day 15 - 29/08/25

The Atlantic Ocean - The Faroe Islands - The Shetland Islands - The North Sea
Tórshavn harbour at night, from deck View of Shetland Islands from deck at middayish Sunset over North Sea from deck
August 29, 2025 at 8:01 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
It's a sort of informal family tradition - whoso goeth to Iceland shall return bearing certain treats
Harðfiskur (dried cod), and salty liquorice
August 28, 2025 at 9:59 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
Day 14 - 28/08/25

Seyðisfjörður - The Atlantic Ocean
River with foliage, evergreen trees, rocks and houses on banks. Mountains obscured by low cloud. The utterly unique café Kiosk 108 in Seyðisfjörður, mountains in background HMS Norröna docks in Seyðisfjörður harbour
August 28, 2025 at 8:32 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
Waterfall up even closer, foliage in foreground Waterfall from other side Seyðisfjörður from other side of waterfall The bit where it got too high to climb - rugged rocks, with grassy stalks visible on top
August 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
A Seyðisfjörður waterfall, from various stages of ascent - this felt like a fitting send-off to Iceland:
Waterfall from base Waterfall from bridge half way up Waterfall up close Seyðisfjörður from high up
August 27, 2025 at 3:05 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Day 13 - 27/08/25

Akureyri - Mývatn - Egilsstaðir - Seyðisfjörður

Last whole day in Iceland
View across fjord on cloudy day with evergreen trees on near slope View of lake from bus window with islands in middle and mountains in distance View over lake to rocky island/shore. Inside of bus including empty chair visible in foreground Rainbow road leading to blue Seyðisfjörður church, mountain in background mostly obscured by fog, houses and restaurant in foreground.
August 27, 2025 at 1:19 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Now for the return journey!

Day 12 - 26/08/25

Reykjavík - myriad stops - Akureyri

Of interest on this route is the settlement of Bifröst. Sadly there's no rainbow bridge to Asgard, but it is surrounded by something else quite striking - a cooled lava field.
Bifröst from the bus window. Road, sky, handful of buildings, lava field, and mountains in background More lava field from the bus window Lava field close by the road
August 26, 2025 at 11:23 AM
joehodson.bsky.social
One more thing for today, not as spectacular but a bit of family lore: we drove past Sólheimar which I recall is where my mum and her siblings lived for a few years while their parents worked there at a school for children with learning difficulties:
Fields and a few buildings and vehicles, and mountain in distance, near where I saw the Sólheimar sign.
August 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM
joehodson.bsky.social
Kerið is a volcanic crater containing a lake, apparently with the acoustics of a Greek theatre.
View of the crater from the base, with plant life visible in the water Similar to previous, but focusing more on the water and its plants, with shore rocks on near side visible Trees and grass on the crater's edge, with lake and far side visible.
August 25, 2025 at 5:45 PM