Ben Etchells-Rimmer
Bio
Counsellor, tea-drinker, teacher, and curious mind with a love for music, meaning, and quiet moments that matter. Believes in deep questions, fun, and the power of a well-timed song. Probably overthinks everything, and proud of it.
Stories (12)
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It’s Been a Week (And Apparently Breakups Come With Paperwork)
It’s been a week. Not a good week. Not a disastrous week. Just… a week. The first week of not being us anymore. Before I get into it, let me just say this: I don’t want to be the guy who churns out endless breakup sob stories. I worry that people might think I'm trying to exploit the breakdown of my relationship. That’s not the plan, not at all. But when my last piece resonated with so many people, it made me realise how important it is to talk about this stuff, especially men’s mental health. Too often we’re told to “man up” or push things down until they explode. If sharing a bit of my own mess helps someone else feel less alone in theirs, then maybe it’s worth the slight embarrassment of oversharing on the internet.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer4 months ago in Humans
The Day After (And Why It's OK To Hurt Like Hell). Top Story - September 2025.
I never thought I’d write something like this. Not because I thought we’d last forever (though I hoped we would) but because I honestly thought I’d be alright. I cry at Pixar films, so I know I'd be sad. But, you know, I'd be upset, but fine. That if it ever ended, I’d handle it with grace. I'd be “a man about it.” Be upset, fold up the memories, put them in a box, and move on slowly.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer4 months ago in Humans
I Wrote a Book and Forgot Half of It
I Keep Forgetting The Way I’ve forgotten what colour the door is. Again. This is the third time I’ve scrolled back through eighty‑odd thousand words looking for a single description, like a literary version of Where’s Wally, except Wally is a sentence I swear I wrote about six months ago at 1 a.m. while eating Mini Cheddars. Spoiler: I can’t find it.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer6 months ago in BookClub
How Not to Get Changed for a Gig
It was a Thursday, I think. I'd finished work at 3:30, thrown my guitar into the back of my Citroën C1, and grabbed Sam and his guitar from the office. We both worked at the same school, which made the whole thing feel even less rock and roll. There’s something uniquely jarring about trying to channel indie frontman energy when you were, less than an hour ago, reminding a six-year-old that glue sticks are not snacks.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer6 months ago in Humor
The Day My Toothbrush Betrayed Me.
Coming back from a week at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, we were exhausted. Emotionally, physically, financially... you name it. We'd crammed in a dozen shows a day, lived on coffee and chips, and felt approximately one emotional breakdown away from tears at any given moment.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer6 months ago in Humor
Rauris: The Ski Resort I Love (But Kind of Wish You Didn’t Know About)
There are some places in life that just feel right. Like slipping into your favourite hoodie. Like finding a tenner in an old pair of jeans. Like ordering chips and getting bonus onion rings by accident. For me, that place is Rauris.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer9 months ago in Wander
How I Became That Person At The Pub
There are certain moments in life when you know, deep in your bones, that you have made a lasting impression — the kind that will be retold at family gatherings you are not invited to. Last weekend, I became one of those moments.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer9 months ago in Humor
The Not-So-Simple Task
I once tried to order a McFlurry. A Galaxy Caramel one. Simple. Straightforward. One of the easier tasks a human can face, really. It’s not rocket science — it’s speaking into a screen while trying not to sound like an idiot. Admittedly, the sudden addition of “Have you ordered through the app?” does throw me every time. It’s like an unexpected exam question I’m never remotely prepared for. I panic, mumble something about “no, just normal,” and hope for the best. But apart from that, ordering ice cream should be simple. Especially when the item you want is proudly plastered across every available sign.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer9 months ago in Humor
How I Almost Became a Nudist Presenter
A few years ago, I impulsively said yes to an advert asking if I’d like to host a radio show on a local station. I had no experience, a highly questionable taste in music, and a heroic amount of misplaced enthusiasm. Somehow, that was enough. I jumped in feet first, and to my surprise, I absolutely loved it.
By Ben Etchells-Rimmer9 months ago in Humor
