In Old English, the language spoken before the Norman Conquest in 1066, “beorsele” means “beerhall”. Now, the beerhall in Saxon and Celtic society was the centre of community life. It was the court where disputes were settled, fines levied and gifts bestowed; the banquet hall and the great meeting room where news could be shared and discussions could occur in an open, engaged and honest way. This website - this virtual beorsele – will mirror some of those characteristics.

 

This beorsele is like the hidden mansion in the woods in “Le Grand Meaulnes”. If you happened to have found it, then you were either invited by me or have happily stumbled on it. Either way, welcome and well met. I value informed, open and intelligent discussion, particularly when the ideas presented challenge my own. I have a profound dislike for social media and its tendency to become an echo chamber for loud, dissonant and fringe voices. I like to test my thoughts against contrary ideas to see how they fare; to validate, modify and evolve my opinions. I think that this can best be done when I position them against the beliefs of others.

 

I hope that you will both enjoy and benefit from your encounters here.