John Cosgrove
@johncosgrove.bsky.social
Husband, father, grandfather, writer and retired teacher.
I blog at https://johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/
Visit my Amazon Author page here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001KDLZQE
I blog at https://johncosgrove55.wordpress.com/
Visit my Amazon Author page here: https://www.amazon.co.uk/stores/author/B001KDLZQE
I would love to welcome the new commitment to enrichment. Our schools, our curriculum, our children need enrichment BUT...
ALWAYS WITH THE JUDGING!
More and more new ways to fail create nothing but resentment, stress and low morale. They improve nothing.
ALWAYS WITH THE JUDGING!
More and more new ways to fail create nothing but resentment, stress and low morale. They improve nothing.
November 5, 2025 at 8:13 AM
I would love to welcome the new commitment to enrichment. Our schools, our curriculum, our children need enrichment BUT...
ALWAYS WITH THE JUDGING!
More and more new ways to fail create nothing but resentment, stress and low morale. They improve nothing.
ALWAYS WITH THE JUDGING!
More and more new ways to fail create nothing but resentment, stress and low morale. They improve nothing.
An article by Amanda Spielman in The Spectator (editor M Gove) about a report authored by former DfE permanent secretary, Jonathan Slater, prompts the question: how did anyone with so little insight, understanding, humanityor even common sense ever get to be HMCI?
October 30, 2025 at 8:10 AM
An article by Amanda Spielman in The Spectator (editor M Gove) about a report authored by former DfE permanent secretary, Jonathan Slater, prompts the question: how did anyone with so little insight, understanding, humanityor even common sense ever get to be HMCI?
From Private Eye... It amused me.
October 29, 2025 at 9:42 PM
From Private Eye... It amused me.
The walk that never fails to deliver... the soothing sounds of wind and sea... the view that for me sums up the privilege of living in West Cornwall.
October 27, 2025 at 2:58 PM
The walk that never fails to deliver... the soothing sounds of wind and sea... the view that for me sums up the privilege of living in West Cornwall.
Loving Camilla's "gothic hedgehog" costume for the Pope's fancy dress ball but, frankly, Charles could have tried harder.
October 25, 2025 at 10:28 PM
Loving Camilla's "gothic hedgehog" costume for the Pope's fancy dress ball but, frankly, Charles could have tried harder.
Wonderful Tremenheere Sculpture Park this morning (currently half price for locals) with the Mount rising in ethereal splendour from the silver waters of the Bay.
October 25, 2025 at 2:41 PM
Wonderful Tremenheere Sculpture Park this morning (currently half price for locals) with the Mount rising in ethereal splendour from the silver waters of the Bay.
Yesterday's Algarve sunset. Have I mentioned that retirement has its compensations?
October 6, 2025 at 7:51 AM
Yesterday's Algarve sunset. Have I mentioned that retirement has its compensations?
Yes, I miss the buzz of a school in September, with the year ahead laid out before us; the fresh faces, the optimism, the excitement, the sense of latent potential reaching for fulfilment... but mornings like today are a reminder that retirement is both a privilege and a blessing.
September 22, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Yes, I miss the buzz of a school in September, with the year ahead laid out before us; the fresh faces, the optimism, the excitement, the sense of latent potential reaching for fulfilment... but mornings like today are a reminder that retirement is both a privilege and a blessing.
10 year old granddaughter Leila borrowed my camera and took this at the Eden Project yesterday. I have had the camera more than 10 years and can confidently assert I never took a photo of this quality.
August 28, 2025 at 8:19 AM
10 year old granddaughter Leila borrowed my camera and took this at the Eden Project yesterday. I have had the camera more than 10 years and can confidently assert I never took a photo of this quality.
The same beach today: the grandchildren were not taking out any inflatables and a pair of seals were enjoying it so much they didn't seem to mind who was close to them in the water.
August 25, 2025 at 7:49 PM
The same beach today: the grandchildren were not taking out any inflatables and a pair of seals were enjoying it so much they didn't seem to mind who was close to them in the water.
Barbecue on the beach; grandchildren in the water; a lovely way to watch the sun descending at the end of an August Sunday.
August 24, 2025 at 6:45 PM
Barbecue on the beach; grandchildren in the water; a lovely way to watch the sun descending at the end of an August Sunday.
And, this afternoon, with grandchildren...
August 18, 2025 at 8:44 PM
And, this afternoon, with grandchildren...
A fine and very welcome, cool haze made this a comfortable destination for our cycle ride today. We swam; grandchildren snorkelled and rock pooled. It was their father's favourite beach when he was their age.
August 12, 2025 at 3:51 PM
A fine and very welcome, cool haze made this a comfortable destination for our cycle ride today. We swam; grandchildren snorkelled and rock pooled. It was their father's favourite beach when he was their age.
Bakewell: we found fudge, pasties and a beautiful riverside walk... but I saw no tarts.
July 26, 2025 at 5:03 PM
Bakewell: we found fudge, pasties and a beautiful riverside walk... but I saw no tarts.
I see the National Trust at Trelissick has taken a clear stance on the controversy de nos jours. On one side of the shop are books about people's walks along the Coast Path; the other side has novels, though "Cornish" is not entirely accurate for those pictured bottom right...
July 11, 2025 at 12:51 PM
I see the National Trust at Trelissick has taken a clear stance on the controversy de nos jours. On one side of the shop are books about people's walks along the Coast Path; the other side has novels, though "Cornish" is not entirely accurate for those pictured bottom right...
Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat faded away to a grin. Our Cornish Cat doesn't do grins; she will one day fade away to a scowl.
July 1, 2025 at 11:06 AM
Lewis Carroll's Cheshire Cat faded away to a grin. Our Cornish Cat doesn't do grins; she will one day fade away to a scowl.
I know, I know. I posted a photo from almost this exact spot last week... But it somehow seems wrong not to share the view from today's Friday afternoon walk.
June 27, 2025 at 4:06 PM
I know, I know. I posted a photo from almost this exact spot last week... But it somehow seems wrong not to share the view from today's Friday afternoon walk.
What a tremendous privilege it is to have this path only 15 minutes from our front door and the freedom to walk it on a sunny afternoon in June.
June 18, 2025 at 3:56 PM
What a tremendous privilege it is to have this path only 15 minutes from our front door and the freedom to walk it on a sunny afternoon in June.
The Triumph of Hope. Herring gulls mate for life and return year on year to the same nest. So the parents who screamed loud grief and despair for a day last June, when the magpies took their babies, are the same proud pair who now have this fine brood.
June 11, 2025 at 9:15 AM
The Triumph of Hope. Herring gulls mate for life and return year on year to the same nest. So the parents who screamed loud grief and despair for a day last June, when the magpies took their babies, are the same proud pair who now have this fine brood.
1,300 MAT CEOs, paid average salaries of around £150,000, totals £195 million annually. Before academies there were 153 LA Directors of Education; there still are. This guy's £500k isn't the real scandal, academisation has been - and is - a colossal drain on Education finances.
May 27, 2025 at 5:37 AM
1,300 MAT CEOs, paid average salaries of around £150,000, totals £195 million annually. Before academies there were 153 LA Directors of Education; there still are. This guy's £500k isn't the real scandal, academisation has been - and is - a colossal drain on Education finances.
At my age I sometimes think I've seen it all, and then along comes this... A newly elected Reform councillor claiming it's a positive advantage that he lives 36 miles from the town he now supposedly represents. I expect he made it a key point on every leaflet...
May 22, 2025 at 9:09 AM
At my age I sometimes think I've seen it all, and then along comes this... A newly elected Reform councillor claiming it's a positive advantage that he lives 36 miles from the town he now supposedly represents. I expect he made it a key point on every leaflet...
Note to Keir and Yvette. It's not just that our NHS, care homes, logistics... society could not function without immigrants, it's more that I love having friends from all over the World with different cultures and traditions.
May 13, 2025 at 7:24 AM
Note to Keir and Yvette. It's not just that our NHS, care homes, logistics... society could not function without immigrants, it's more that I love having friends from all over the World with different cultures and traditions.
Every morning my Google news feed has stories showing photos of proud pupils and teachers celebrating "outstanding" or "good" Ofsted judgements. Do we care that single phrase judgements were scrapped months ago and have we forgotten why?
May 12, 2025 at 6:01 AM
Every morning my Google news feed has stories showing photos of proud pupils and teachers celebrating "outstanding" or "good" Ofsted judgements. Do we care that single phrase judgements were scrapped months ago and have we forgotten why?
The bluebells are passing their peak but still provided a glorious backdrop to our walk today.
May 10, 2025 at 7:03 PM
The bluebells are passing their peak but still provided a glorious backdrop to our walk today.
6 times on today's walk we were passed by delivery vans; twice we pressed into the hedge to let them by. An extensive, well maintained network of roads is essential for online retailing, which must be why the giants in this field are so keen to pay their fair share of tax. 🤔
May 10, 2025 at 3:20 PM
6 times on today's walk we were passed by delivery vans; twice we pressed into the hedge to let them by. An extensive, well maintained network of roads is essential for online retailing, which must be why the giants in this field are so keen to pay their fair share of tax. 🤔