What cookies this site uses, what each one does, and how to change your mind at any time — in plain language.
The short version. By default this site sets exactly one cookie: the one that remembers your cookie choice. Analytics cookies run only if you say yes in the banner. Saying no is one click, changes nothing about how the site works for you, and is remembered just as long as saying yes.
Cookies are small text files a website stores in your browser to remember something between pages or visits — a login, a preference, or in our case, your consent choice. They cannot run programs or read your files. Similar technologies (local storage, pixels) are covered by this policy under the same rules.
When you first visit, a consent banner offers three equal choices: accept all, reject non-essential, or set preferences by category. Nothing optional runs until you choose, and no box is pre-ticked. Your choice is stored for 12 months in a first-party cookie, after which we ask again. We use Google Consent Mode v2: until and unless you consent, all Google storage is set to “denied” and the Google Analytics script does not load at all. You can change or withdraw your choice at any time via Cookie Settings — also linked in the footer of every page.
| Cookie | Category | Purpose | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| lj-consent (first-party) | Strictly necessary | Records the cookie choice you made — which categories you allowed, when, and which version of the banner you saw. This is also our proof of your consent. | 12 months |
| _ga, _ga_* (Google) | Analytics — only after consent | Google Analytics 4 distinguishes visitors and measures how the site is used: pages visited, time on page, approximate region. IP addresses are anonymised. We use this solely to improve the site. | Up to 24 months |
| Preference cookies | Preferences — only after consent | Would remember display or region choices to personalise your visit. Currently unused — the category exists so we can be honest with you before anything changes. | — |
| Marketing cookies | Marketing — only after consent | Would measure advertising campaigns if we ever run them. Currently unused. | — |
Our contact form and its security features may set short-lived technical tokens strictly required to submit the form safely; these fall under “strictly necessary” and expire with your session.
Nothing you would notice. Every page, essay and form works identically. The Google Analytics script never loads, no analytics cookie is set, and the only cookie on your machine is the one remembering that you said no — so we do not ask you again on every page.
Beyond our banner, every browser lets you view, block and delete cookies for any site — look for “cookies” in the settings of Safari, Chrome, Firefox or Edge. Deleting our lj-consent cookie simply means the banner will greet you again on your next visit.
The only third party that can set cookies on this site — and only after your consent — is Google (Analytics). Google’s own privacy documentation is at policies.google.com/privacy. How we handle everything else you share with us is set out in our Privacy Policy.
If our use of cookies changes — for instance, if a currently unused category comes into use — this page will be updated, the banner’s version number raised, and every visitor asked to choose again. Questions to [email protected].
We use strictly necessary cookies to make this site work. With your consent, we also use analytics cookies to understand how the site is used, plus preference and marketing cookies where relevant — nothing is ever sold or shared. Change or withdraw your choice at any time via ‘Cookie Settings’ in the footer. Details: Cookie Policy · Privacy Policy.
Required for the site to function — remembering this consent choice and securing form submissions. These cannot be switched off and store no personal data beyond your consent record.
Would remember choices you make (such as region or display settings) to personalise your visit. Currently unused — leaving it off changes nothing today.
Google Analytics 4 helps us understand how visitors use the site — pages visited, time on page — so we can improve it. IP addresses are anonymised. No advertising use.
Would allow measurement of advertising campaigns if we ever run them. Currently unused — leaving it off changes nothing today.