@richardjjbridle.bsky.social
Author at brownhatstories.com
The World of Inspector Fatima Dieng
Tales of Propitious Peregrinations
The House of Comens
The World of Inspector Fatima Dieng
Tales of Propitious Peregrinations
The House of Comens
"They don't exist!" Fokisi repeated himself "What do you make of that then? Where does that leave your investigation?"
Lisa again put her hand on Fokisi's, urging him to calm down.
Lisa again put her hand on Fokisi's, urging him to calm down.
January 24, 2026 at 11:21 AM
"They don't exist!" Fokisi repeated himself "What do you make of that then? Where does that leave your investigation?"
Lisa again put her hand on Fokisi's, urging him to calm down.
Lisa again put her hand on Fokisi's, urging him to calm down.
"Geoff, I hope I have not irrevocably offended Sanath, or yourself, or in any way jeopardised the relationship between you two. You do understand that I was under instructions, basically ordered, to ask that question?"
January 24, 2026 at 11:19 AM
"Geoff, I hope I have not irrevocably offended Sanath, or yourself, or in any way jeopardised the relationship between you two. You do understand that I was under instructions, basically ordered, to ask that question?"
"I will be candid with you. You can be a little insensitive, due to ignorance, but I think you are trustworthy and can keep a confidence. You know about the insurgency in 1971?"
January 23, 2026 at 12:17 PM
"I will be candid with you. You can be a little insensitive, due to ignorance, but I think you are trustworthy and can keep a confidence. You know about the insurgency in 1971?"
"Bravo!" exclaimed Kieran clapping his hands vigorously. "Now at last I can go outside and do justice to a cigarette or two."
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United in Death: a Brown Hat Investigations story — Brown Hat Stories
One of the most important pieces of advice given to those in United Nations service approaching retirement is to have a plan. Make sure you are ready to engage in organised, fulfilling activity. Resea...
www.brownhatstories.com
January 23, 2026 at 12:15 PM
"Bravo!" exclaimed Kieran clapping his hands vigorously. "Now at last I can go outside and do justice to a cigarette or two."
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They had gathered at a jazz club in Harlem. They were five altogether: Michel Choucair, Kieran Prendergast, Henriette Sarr, Fokisi Lomu and Lisa Wong. The club was owned by a friend of Kieran's. It was, of course, not yet open for business, would not be for several hours.
January 22, 2026 at 12:11 PM
They had gathered at a jazz club in Harlem. They were five altogether: Michel Choucair, Kieran Prendergast, Henriette Sarr, Fokisi Lomu and Lisa Wong. The club was owned by a friend of Kieran's. It was, of course, not yet open for business, would not be for several hours.
There was no conversation. In the absence of the loquacious Willy Joachim, I was driven by a Tamil man, who looked old enough to be retired. He was known only as Shanmugam, and his sole words were 'Yes Miss', should I ever ask a question or express an opinion.
January 22, 2026 at 12:08 PM
There was no conversation. In the absence of the loquacious Willy Joachim, I was driven by a Tamil man, who looked old enough to be retired. He was known only as Shanmugam, and his sole words were 'Yes Miss', should I ever ask a question or express an opinion.
I had also had to stop there in order to obtain some cash for the trip from my, that is Gillian's, account at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. I was somewhat nervous doing this. The potential for exposure as an imposter was an ever-present concern.
January 21, 2026 at 12:47 PM
I had also had to stop there in order to obtain some cash for the trip from my, that is Gillian's, account at the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation. I was somewhat nervous doing this. The potential for exposure as an imposter was an ever-present concern.
"Are you afraid of him?" Michel pressed.
"Well aren't you?" Fokisi countered.
Michel thought for a moment, and then he said: "No. No, I'm not afraid of him. I'm respectful, because he is good at what he does. I can see that.
"Well aren't you?" Fokisi countered.
Michel thought for a moment, and then he said: "No. No, I'm not afraid of him. I'm respectful, because he is good at what he does. I can see that.
January 21, 2026 at 12:42 PM
"Are you afraid of him?" Michel pressed.
"Well aren't you?" Fokisi countered.
Michel thought for a moment, and then he said: "No. No, I'm not afraid of him. I'm respectful, because he is good at what he does. I can see that.
"Well aren't you?" Fokisi countered.
Michel thought for a moment, and then he said: "No. No, I'm not afraid of him. I'm respectful, because he is good at what he does. I can see that.
Long Island Tea nodded, though privately she hoped not to have to do anything drastic. Sauvignon Blanc sat looking pensive.
www.brownhatstories.com/united-in-de...
www.brownhatstories.com/united-in-de...
United in Death: a Brown Hat Investigations story — Brown Hat Stories
One of the most important pieces of advice given to those in United Nations service approaching retirement is to have a plan. Make sure you are ready to engage in organised, fulfilling activity. Resea...
www.brownhatstories.com
January 20, 2026 at 12:36 PM
Long Island Tea nodded, though privately she hoped not to have to do anything drastic. Sauvignon Blanc sat looking pensive.
www.brownhatstories.com/united-in-de...
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"I'll give you my view, but you must decide for yourself, Gillian. It's time to assert yourself, Child!
"And understand that, like everyone here, I'm going to look at the situation of the country from the standpoint of my own community.
"And understand that, like everyone here, I'm going to look at the situation of the country from the standpoint of my own community.
January 20, 2026 at 12:35 PM
"I'll give you my view, but you must decide for yourself, Gillian. It's time to assert yourself, Child!
"And understand that, like everyone here, I'm going to look at the situation of the country from the standpoint of my own community.
"And understand that, like everyone here, I'm going to look at the situation of the country from the standpoint of my own community.
Reposted
⚠️ "Either we will witness societal collapse, or we will radically change the way we organise our societies. Kemp also detects economic inequality as a crucial factor in predicting societal collapse."
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2026/jan/19/davos-rich-global-threat-economic-inequality-wealth
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2026/jan/19/davos-rich-global-threat-economic-inequality-wealth
In Davos, the rich talk about ‘global threats’. Here’s why they’re silent about the biggest of them all | Ingrid Robeyns
Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system tha
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 7:46 PM
⚠️ "Either we will witness societal collapse, or we will radically change the way we organise our societies. Kemp also detects economic inequality as a crucial factor in predicting societal collapse."
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2026/jan/19/davos-rich-global-threat-economic-inequality-wealth
https://www.theguardian.com/global/2026/jan/19/davos-rich-global-threat-economic-inequality-wealth
Reposted
Every goddamn word of this ⬇️
"Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them."
www.theguardian.com/global/2026/...
"Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them."
www.theguardian.com/global/2026/...
In Davos, the rich talk about ‘global threats’. Here’s why they’re silent about the biggest of them all | Ingrid Robeyns
Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them, says economist and historian Ingrid Robeyns
www.theguardian.com
January 19, 2026 at 2:51 PM
Every goddamn word of this ⬇️
"Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them."
www.theguardian.com/global/2026/...
"Economic inequality is at the heart of all humanity’s major problems, but the wealthiest refuse to confront a system that benefits them."
www.theguardian.com/global/2026/...
"I heard what happened this morning at Prayers. Nalini told me. I thought you would have come straight over. It's what you usually do."
I was not sure how to respond to this. Apparently, Zeinab and Gillian are close.
I was not sure how to respond to this. Apparently, Zeinab and Gillian are close.
January 19, 2026 at 11:51 AM
"I heard what happened this morning at Prayers. Nalini told me. I thought you would have come straight over. It's what you usually do."
I was not sure how to respond to this. Apparently, Zeinab and Gillian are close.
I was not sure how to respond to this. Apparently, Zeinab and Gillian are close.
He handed her his gift, which she tore open immediately.
"Oh, you lovely man!" she exclaimed. "It's absolutely exquisite. I'm quite tempted to take you home with me."
"Oh, you lovely man!" she exclaimed. "It's absolutely exquisite. I'm quite tempted to take you home with me."
January 19, 2026 at 11:47 AM
He handed her his gift, which she tore open immediately.
"Oh, you lovely man!" she exclaimed. "It's absolutely exquisite. I'm quite tempted to take you home with me."
"Oh, you lovely man!" she exclaimed. "It's absolutely exquisite. I'm quite tempted to take you home with me."
"Don't be ridiculous!" was Madam Pak's immediate and forceful response. "My stupid husband was entirely responsible for his own death. There was no murder, unless you can murder yourself."
January 18, 2026 at 1:46 PM
"Don't be ridiculous!" was Madam Pak's immediate and forceful response. "My stupid husband was entirely responsible for his own death. There was no murder, unless you can murder yourself."
As I stood up to stretch, having spent some three hours hunched over my desk, the telephone rang, and I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Gillian, have you forgotten?"
"Hello?"
"Gillian, have you forgotten?"
January 18, 2026 at 1:44 PM
As I stood up to stretch, having spent some three hours hunched over my desk, the telephone rang, and I picked it up.
"Hello?"
"Gillian, have you forgotten?"
"Hello?"
"Gillian, have you forgotten?"
I was back in what apparently was my office. I sat with a writing pad in front of me, looking alternately at the list of British volunteers, placed under the glass of my desktop, and the map of the island on the wall behind my chair.
January 17, 2026 at 12:59 PM
I was back in what apparently was my office. I sat with a writing pad in front of me, looking alternately at the list of British volunteers, placed under the glass of my desktop, and the map of the island on the wall behind my chair.
The main highway from the western to the eastern side of this part of the Korean peninsula traverses some mountainous terrain. It does so through an impressive network of tunnels, the last and longest of which brings one into a different climatic zone.
January 17, 2026 at 12:55 PM
The main highway from the western to the eastern side of this part of the Korean peninsula traverses some mountainous terrain. It does so through an impressive network of tunnels, the last and longest of which brings one into a different climatic zone.
"Now Mr Harrogate," Mr Ri was saying in his impeccable English, "may I call you Rodney? We're both just ordinary citizens these days, isn't it?"
"Yes, Minister, but what should I call you?"
"Yes, Minister, but what should I call you?"
January 16, 2026 at 11:39 AM
"Now Mr Harrogate," Mr Ri was saying in his impeccable English, "may I call you Rodney? We're both just ordinary citizens these days, isn't it?"
"Yes, Minister, but what should I call you?"
"Yes, Minister, but what should I call you?"
"Well then, perhaps that's something you should do as a matter of some urgency. And I don't mean make yet more telephone calls. Get into a car, and go and see them, as I urged you to do when you joined us three months ago, but which you have signally failed to do.
January 16, 2026 at 11:37 AM
"Well then, perhaps that's something you should do as a matter of some urgency. And I don't mean make yet more telephone calls. Get into a car, and go and see them, as I urged you to do when you joined us three months ago, but which you have signally failed to do.
"Now, Gillian, what are the VSOs saying? I'm sure that at least some of them would have some useful intelligence we can pass on to HE."
And now I was well and truly on the spot.
"I have not yet spoken to them. Sorry."
And now I was well and truly on the spot.
"I have not yet spoken to them. Sorry."
January 15, 2026 at 12:27 PM
"Now, Gillian, what are the VSOs saying? I'm sure that at least some of them would have some useful intelligence we can pass on to HE."
And now I was well and truly on the spot.
"I have not yet spoken to them. Sorry."
And now I was well and truly on the spot.
"I have not yet spoken to them. Sorry."
He suddenly found a distinguished Korean gentleman standing right in front of him and looking him straight in the eye. Quite unusual.
"I know you. You're that WHO man, aren't you? Rodney Harrogate. I remember you being really good company."
"I know you. You're that WHO man, aren't you? Rodney Harrogate. I remember you being really good company."
January 15, 2026 at 12:24 PM
He suddenly found a distinguished Korean gentleman standing right in front of him and looking him straight in the eye. Quite unusual.
"I know you. You're that WHO man, aren't you? Rodney Harrogate. I remember you being really good company."
"I know you. You're that WHO man, aren't you? Rodney Harrogate. I remember you being really good company."
Rodney Harrogate looked like he must in former life have been an Officer in the Guards. He was tall, thin (but far from emaciated) and thoroughly distinguished. His hair was clipped short and always immaculately brushed.
January 14, 2026 at 11:31 AM
Rodney Harrogate looked like he must in former life have been an Officer in the Guards. He was tall, thin (but far from emaciated) and thoroughly distinguished. His hair was clipped short and always immaculately brushed.
"Well, Bob, let me begin with the fervent wish that I not be condemned, when you, Bob, and Joe here, see the long-distance telephone bill I've racked up in the last few days. I've been on the blower with all six deans of campus, not for a brief tête-à-tête either, I can tell you, Bob.
January 14, 2026 at 11:28 AM
"Well, Bob, let me begin with the fervent wish that I not be condemned, when you, Bob, and Joe here, see the long-distance telephone bill I've racked up in the last few days. I've been on the blower with all six deans of campus, not for a brief tête-à-tête either, I can tell you, Bob.