Obligatory media post-mortems

Of Bryansk.

Of one particularly high-profile tragedy in Bryansk. (I do think this particular case could have happened anywhere. But the domestic violence component is particularly troubling – as I have serious doubts that the mother in question could have gotten help even if she wanted to.)

And of the case of Oksana Makar in Mykolaiv, Ukraine. As I told Jessica Reed over at The Guardian – you write something like that, and then you need a hot shower and an opportunity to burst into tears without anyone looking.

All in a week’s work.

A trusted friend told me the other day that “you do this better than the light stuff.” He’s right – but I don’t know why he is right. Or maybe I do know – but don’t wish to say it to myself, or to anyone else, for that matter.