Book Review: The Colony by Annika Norlin

A huge bestseller in Sweden, The Colony is a deeply an intimate and heartbreaking character study of what happens when strangers with a lot of emotional baggage find themselves together in an isolated self-sufficient community in rural Sweden. A strange book unlike any I’ve ever read before and I loved it.

Travel: The Beautiful Terrace Windows of Triana, Sevilla

Back in 2010 during a particularly sweltering summer, I visited Andalucia and soaked in the beautiful architecture in Sevilla. The best way to see all of the charming neighbourhoods and historic monuments was going the tourist routes with an open-top bus. This also afforded me excellent views onto all of the terrace houses with theirContinue reading “Travel: The Beautiful Terrace Windows of Triana, Sevilla”

Wild woman quote: A Door

“The doors to the world of the wild Self are few but precious. If you have a deep scar, that is a door, if you have an old, old story, that is a door. If you love the sky and the water so much you almost cannot bear it, that is a door. If you yearn for a deeper life, a full life, a sane life, that is a door.” – Clarissa Pinkola Estes, Women Who Run with the Wolves.

Where did Māori and Polynesians come from?

Tā Moko (Māori facial tattoos) is covered by a Polish YouTuber who makes claims about the origin of Māori that are incorrect – so I set the record straight here!

History: The dizzying world of alchemy and the philosopher’s stone in medieval times

The word alchemy is derived from the Arabic root “kimia”, from the Coptic “khem” (referring to the fertile black soil of the Nile delta). The word “alchemy” alludes to the dark mystery of the primordial or First Matter (the Khem).

Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today

The beautiful burgh of Linlithgow charmed the pants off me when I went there in 2012. The town sits astride the Forth and Clyde Canal (which I’ve written on extensively) which is around half way between Edinburgh and Glasgow. There’s a train link on Scotrail which goes between cities that takes you there, and there’s aContinue reading “Travel: A weekend trip to the medieval town of Linlithgow: History through the mists of time to today”

Verner Panton: The Daring Spirit of 60’s Design

Verner Panton (1926-1998) is remembered for his bold, daring furniture design and aesthetic which embodied the fun and turbulent times of the 1960’s and 1970’s. His most famous pieces are the S chair, which became the world´s first one-piece moulded plastic chair, the cone chair and the flowerpot lamps. Born in 1926 Panton initially began hisContinue reading “Verner Panton: The Daring Spirit of 60’s Design”

Book Review: Bad Feminist by Roxane Gay

In this fierce, funny, and fearless essay collection, Roxane Gay cuts through labels to redefine feminism in a much gentler and funny way. #feminism, pop #culture #power #feminism #book #review #culture #essays

Book Review Rental Person Who Does Nothing by Shoji Morimoto

One man’s quiet resistance and fascinating real-world study of human beings and the connections they forge with each other. This highly amusing and entertaining book tells the story of Late-Stage Capitalism from within a series of vignettes. #Capitalism #Biography #Social #Psychology #Experiment #Politics #Relationships #Emotions #Tokyo #Culture #Japan

10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #152

Iconic #photos, ancient Egyptian bread recipe, popular #culture and #childhood for different generations, stained glass #owls, surfing the great wave off #Kanagawa, #cats by #LeonorFini and loads more #ContentCatnip #InterestingThings Ten Rules for Loving and Being Loved Well by Roxane Gay and Debbie Millman In a heartfelt collaboration, writer Roxane Gay and artist Debbie MillmanContinue reading “10 Interesting Things I Found on the Internet #152”