As I See It: Further Reflections on Everyday Life

The essays in 'As I See It' are a selection from those published since April 2017 on my new site — joecollier.blog. Each essay tells the story of some everyday event in my life. Here they are arranged in eight, themed sections, each introduced by a Merrily Harper illustration. In each section the essays are arranged in date order as they appeared originally. You might find some of my observations quirky or unexpected, but all are personal to me and reflect the insights of a 78-year old man trying hard to express himself in plain English.

“Whether in urban London or rural France, Joe’s mind is constantly processing the often puzzling, and sometimes magical, material his seemingly ordinary life confronts him with (a hitchhiker with a weirdly swollen arm, a singing  lift, a wizened potato, a new grandchild).  What is so absorbing and endearing is his commitment to understanding the value of people and things and,  importantly, how he is prepared to change his mind when evidence goes against his initial judgements.” Neil Taylor Emeritus Professor at the University of Roehampton.