Bryan – onthebrynk

Understanding China

On 27th October 2026

Introduction

A couple of years ago, whilst packing away camping gear in a much-loved field on the Llyn peninsular, I was having a rather disjointed conversation with a friend about decisions his brother was having to make in re-locating from New York to Germany. One of his dilemmas was what to do with the proceeds of the sale of some real estate in the former, whilst he set himself up in the latter.

‘Where do you think he should invest the proceeds?’ my friend asked as he walked past carrying a couple of camping chairs.

Without pausing in my task of cleaning a gas barbecue, and without any thought, I replied, ‘China’!

EMPTY WHITE VAN THREAT ALMOST CERTAINLY A HARBINGER OF ASYMETRIC WARFARE

By Bryan

On 13th October 2026

In Politics

BRITISH PM ALMOST CERTAINLY SUMMONED TO THE IRANIAN EMBASSY IN LONDON

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE ALMOST CERTAINLY SENT PACKING

ONTHEBRYNK EXCLUSIVE! INVESTIGATIVE JOURNALISM YOU KNOW YOU CAN TRUST!

The Resilience of Iran

By Bryan

On 10th October 2026

In Uncategorised

Generally book reading seems to be on the decline, collateral damage in the age of short attention videos, podcasts etc. I am no exception, finding that it is all that I can do to keep up with the slew of geopolitical trends and events that characterise our current times.

However, when Professor Seyed Mohammad Marandi of the University of Tehran repeatedly encourages his western audience to read ‘Going to Tehran – Why the US must come to terms with the Islamic Republic’ (2013 – Leverett and Leverett) I, for one, eventually felt the need to find the time. Professor Marandi, with close links to the Iranian Government, appears to have taken on a Western facing role in providing an Iranian perspective on the current conflict in Western Asia – in combative debate with commentators in western mainstream media and in more considered and nuanced interviews on alternative media. He is my main ‘go to’ when trying to get a sense of what is going on in Iran and how it might be planning its next moves in its war with the US and its Israeli proxy.

Night Walk

By Bryan

On 21st September 2026

In Music, Wales

Night walking can, does and has meant many things

Le Tour – Stage 15

By Bryan

On 18th August 2026

In Stories

It had been calamitous for the team, there was no denying it. All the elite riders had fallen by the wayside – on stage 3 the sprinter had retired with tennis elbow, on stage 8 the climber had ground to a halt with housemaid’s knee and the General Classification contender for overall winner had got lost on stage 11 and ended up in Basingstoke (although to be fair many have lost their way in Basingstoke – all those roundabouts!). Morale amongst us remaining domestiques was sub optimal.

Water Bowser Consequences 7

By Bryan

On 13th June 2026

In Stories

Mr. Cyril Mason sighed, pushing the folio of accounts that he had been struggling to comprehend, across his desk and away, temporarily, from him. How had that investment in the Longley estate gone so wrong? How was he going to explain to Louise that profits were going to be down again this year? Times were tough for the building industry … but even so. He then moved to his default position – himself. Should he withdraw the order he had put in for that MG C sports car? He knew that he could still afford it, but Louise would be scathing.

Water Bowser Consequences 6

By Bryan

On 8th June 2026

In Stories

Cyril Mason looked in irritation across his desk at the man he thought he had removed from his world … how wrong was this proving to be!

‘Bill, how can I give you a good reference when I’ve just sacked you for not doing your job?’

Water Bowser Consequences 5

By Bryan

On 1st June 2026

In Stories

Eventually, as a cold trickle of water found its way underneath her scarf and down the back of her neck, Jan couldn’t contain her frustration anymore, ‘How much longer have we got to stand here freezing to death watching this ………….?’

Water Bowser Consequences 4

By Bryan

On 19th May 2026

In Stories

Mr. Brown tried to lean on the bar in a manner he hoped indicated that this was something he did often and was entirely comfortable with. He had arrived early, far too early, and now in his nervousness had almost drunk the pint of bitter he had ordered. Just as he was wondering whether he could cope with a second, fortune smiled on him (sort of). Cyril Mason sauntered in through the doors and made a beeline.