The road to Stroma
A series of posts about a road trip up the A9 to the very north of the Scottish mainland, culminating in a visit to the fascinating depopulated island of Stroma in the Pentland Firth.
A brief stop in Helmsdale
A quick stop in Helmsdale, Sutherland, en route to the island of Stroma. A place well worthy of a return visit.
Preview: A Ride in the Neon Sun, by Josie Dew
A preview of July’s Reading Female Travel Writers title, A Ride in the Neon Sun by Josie Dew.
Review: Fabled Shore, by Rose Macaulay
My review of June’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers series – Rose Macaulay’s beautiful if plodding Fabled Shore.
Preview: Fabled Shore, by Rose Macaulay
My preview of June’s Reading Female Travel Writers title, Fabled Shore by Rose Macaulay.
Review: Among Muslims, by Kathleen Jamie
My review of May’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers series – Kathleen Jamie’s Among Muslims.
Pressing concerns
A reflection, in the light of press behaviour following the Manchester bombing, on “death knocking”, standards in our press and what we can do to make our newspapers better.
Preview: Among Muslims, by Kathleen Jamie
Next in my 2017 “Reading Female Travel Writers” quest is my preview of May’s title, Kathleen Jamie’s Among Muslims: Meetings at the Frontiers of Pakistan.
My views on Inverness
In which I get interviewed by the Inverness Courier for my views on what Inverness city centre needs.
Review: Skating to Antarctica, by Jenny Diski
My review of April’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Jenny Diski’s powerful and beautiful Skating to Antarctica.
Preview: Skating to Antarctica, by Jenny Diski
A preview of April’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Jenny Diski’s Skating to Antarctica.
Review: Travels With My Radio, by Fi Glover
My review of March’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Fi Glover’s fun and informative Travels With My Radio.
Brexit, the EU and Scottish independence
A look at some of the myths around Scotland and the EU, in the light of the forthcoming second independence referendum.
Preview: Travels With My Radio, by Fi Glover
A preview of March’s title in my Reading Female Travel Writers mission – Fi Glover’s Travels With My Radio.
Review: Full Tilt, by Dervla Murphy
My second book review in my 2017 quest to read female-authored travel writing – Dervla Murphy’s Full Tilt: Ireland to India with a Bicycle.
Here we go again
With Scottish independence rearing its head once more, it’s time to wearily address the question that won’t go away – is the movement for independence racist?
A proportional response
In which I argue that the Single Transferable Vote for elections to the House of Commons is both the one thing that could transform the UK and, through its political impossibility, the one thing that renders the UK unreformable.
What can I do?
A reflection on what I, as an ordinary individual, can do when so many politically horrible things are happening. Warning: this is a long read.
Preview: Full Tilt, by Dervla Murphy
My preview of February’s title for my Reading Female Travel Writers project: Dervla Murphy’s Full Tilt.
Review: The Virago Book of Women Travellers
My review of the first book in my 2017 quest to read female-authored travel writing – the Virago Book of Women Travellers.
Preview: The Virago Book Of Women Travellers
My preview of the first title in my “reading female travel writers” project: The Virago Book Of Women Travellers, edited by Mary Morris and Larry O’Connor.