Category Archives: Stories From the Road
Nine Tips for International Development Practitioners
March 2016 marked ten years since I began working in International Development focusing primarily on local economic development. So I thought this a good time to put down a few insights that I have found useful or which I think … Continue reading →
Fearless Hopelessness
“Whenever there is a simple error that most laymen fall for, there is always a slightly more sophisticated version of the same problem that experts fall for” Amos Nathan Tversky Many NGOs working in international development are finding that their … Continue reading →
The Creator of Yerevan
When I arrived in Yerevan I began to construct a new city; it is very similar to the Yerevan on my city tourist map and it is similar to the Yerevan of the people who have lived here all their … Continue reading →
The People of Rome
There was once a traveler who was on his way to Rome, it was a long and dusty path and he had misgivings about the city. He had heard so much, travelled so far and he was nervous about how … Continue reading →
Stone Soup
Once upon a time there was a traveler who walked all day without food and arrived at dusty village; two rows of small stone and mud walled houses with broken tiled and tin roofs each side of a stony potholed … Continue reading →
The Abilene Paradox
We were sitting around playing cards. It was hot, almost 45 degrees Celsius. There was me and my wife Diana and Diana’s sister Debbie and her husband Steve. There was almost no wind outside and the air was shimmering like … Continue reading →
The Bear that Enjoyed Reading
In olden times bears were worshiped by humans. They were often used as symbols of the Christian church because they were clever, powerful, wonderful climbers and fast runners. Because of their many attributes there was once a man who set … Continue reading →
The Kings New Clothes
Once there was a proud king who spent much money on fine clothes so that all could see that he was indeed a man of great importance. He spared no expense to keep his reputation as someone who always wore … Continue reading →
The Saint’s Tooth
Once upon a time, there was a village where the people were very poor. There were many reasons for this. The ground was hard clay and covered in small iron pebbles. In the dry season top soil became a fine … Continue reading →
The People of Rome
There was once a traveler who was on his way to Rome, it was a long and dusty path and he had misgivings about the city. He had heard so much, travelled so far and he was nervous about how … Continue reading →
What am I doing here? 