Most people have an opinion of Charles Darwin. And those that don’t will have by this time next year.

As the Natural History Museum opens its doors to a new Darwin exhibition, a year of lectures, events, publications, debates, and exhibitions gets underway. Even the most devoted Darwinist might be a little tired by December 2009.

These days, as long as you had the time and the money, access to an indestructible tent and an unending supply of puncture repair kits for your airbed, you could spend the entire summer at some festival or other if you wanted. From the curious mix of commercial rock, diehard folk and eclectic spirituality that is Glastonbury to the more ‘blissed-up’ ambient charms of the Big Chill, festivals have become big business.

When do you think I should draw the line?
When someone fails to appreciate my fine words?
When those I’m leading start to grumble?
When people start taking me for granted?
When I feel like they’re talking behind my back?
When my friends have lost their nerve?
When a trusted companion betrays me?
When things look like they might get out of hand?
When it’s actually getting dangerous?
When there’s still time to pull out?
When everything I’ve ever stood for is thrown back in my face?
When it gets physical?
When my life is on the line?

The year is 1780. A sailing ship is ploughing through heavy seas across the Atlantic, loaded almost to the gunwales with a cargo of human beings. They are chained together on narrow shelves, soaked in sweat, blood, vomit and excrement.

What are you giving up for Lent? For most of us, the tortuous journey of self-denial means avoiding chocolates, sweets, and other nice things that aren’t always good for us.

And so, we do battle with a devil in red tights who prods us gently with a pitchfork. “Go on, have another doughnut,” he says. “Get behind me, Satan!” we reply. “I’m on a detox.”

the world cup

Is football ‘the new religion’? It’s been mine all along. At least, I’ve followed club and country religiously for longer than I care to remember, through bad times and (occasionally) good. But there’s something extra special about the World Cup that brings many of us to our knees.

Sometimes, thank God, the foolish things of this life befuddle our conventional wisdom. The simplest things pull the rug from under the feet of those of us who like to stand proud.

Sometimes the poor show us what it means to be rich. Sometimes the voiceless shout their piece through deafening silence. Sometimes David beats Goliath. Sometimes we find ourselves touched by the untouchable.