So I’ve finally finished painting my flat after starting 6 months ago and I’m feeling pleased at seeing the colours on the wall, especially when it’s been so grey and damp outside lately. I might be in the minority but I find painting very mediative, it’s nice to concentrate on simple tasks although think my […]
Read more "Adventures in mutiny"They were bearded like the sea they came from; rang stone bells for their stone hearers. R.S Thomas excerpt from ‘Perspectives’ So, in what feels like a blur, we are nearly at the end of 2023. The year always seems to run away from me after October is done. As is my (newish) tradition, at […]
Read more "Adventures in pilgrimages, westward"It’s been an interesting month for final words and attributions albeit in slightly different contexts. November 7th was the 400th anniversary of the publication of Shakespeare’s First Folio. On the same week the Beatles also released a final track, using the original members contributions, tweaked and enhanced via AI. Although the worlds and words are […]
Read more "Adventures in famous last words"It was a beautiful crisp autumn morning in Edinburgh a couple of weeks ago, when we made our way down to Portobello Sands. We joined the various brunchers, kite flyers, and beachcombing metal detectorists who were all up early to get their slice of sunshine on the promenade. However we were there for something else. […]
Read more "Adventures in hot and cold therapy"The way I see it, if you want the rainbow, you gotta put up with the rain (Dolly Parton) A couple of months back, I was lucky enough to head to the Manchester International Festival for a very special gig. John Grant, one of my favourite singers, alongside the Richard Hawley band played the songs […]
Read more "Adventures in singing the blues"This is a part two detailing my Andalusian trip, you can find part one here. Granada might have captured my heart but that doesn’t mean I wasn’t enchanted with the other places I saw as I travelled around Andalusia. My travel itinerary was quite detailed, as planning is always half the fun for me. I […]
Read more "Adventures in Andalusia – falling in love with the ancient ways (part two)"Granada is the perfect dream and fantasy, forever ineffable… Granada will always be more malleable than philosophical, more lyric than dramatic – Federico García Lorca It was with great delight that I arrived into Malaga airport on a hot and humid late night in early June. I had scurried out of the office a bit earlier […]
Read more "Adventures in Andalusia- falling in love with the ancient ways (part one)"In 2010, the antique dealer Forrest Fenn buried some of his many treasures. Not in a metaphorical way. He actually hauled a chest containing gold and jewels valued at between $1-$3 million dollars out to somewhere in the American wilderness, dug a hole and laid it in the dirt. Once back at his ranch, he […]
Read more "Adventures in treasure hunting and treasure stealing"‘There is a time for many words, and there is also a time for sleep.’ (Homer) I don’t think I have ever seen the sea that colour before. We woke up to sunshine after a day of travel to Halkidiki and our arrival the previous evening was in the inky dark of night. After some […]
Read more "Adventures on a relaxed Greek Odessey"To study music, we must learn the rules. To create music, we must break them. Nadia Boulanger This month, my musical world has been filled with the stories and output of women composers. You all know by now, my favourite thing to do most days is to deep dive into classical music, mostly because there […]
Read more "Adventures in composing queens"
the adventurous ethnographer 