History: The history of the Forth and Clyde Canal

Above is a map of the first part of the canal which stretches from Lochrin Basin to Falkirk Wheel over a distance of 32 miles. The remainder of the canal after that goes to Glasgow and turns into the Clyde River. See more detail.  Originally opened in 1789, the Forth and Clyde Canal crossed theContinue reading “History: The history of the Forth and Clyde Canal”

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”

The medieval artisans of Poland

On a visit to the Muzeum Narodowe we Wrocławiu in the Polish city of Wrocław I discovered fascinating medieval shop signs and merchant guild coats of arms that illustrated the professions of artisans, traders and merchants of medieval times. Here are some images I took without the flash on in the Wrocław museum. The remarkable artistry of theseContinue reading “The medieval artisans of Poland”

Book Review: I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol

Glynnis MacNicol’s I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself is an intimate, decadent and fun memoir about one woman’s quest for unlimited sensory pleasure in mid-life. Rating: 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟 Genre: Memoir, Non-fiction, Travel Publisher: Bonnier Review in one word: Horny MacNicol documents her phoenix-like experience of evading those horrible ghosts that women in middle age often face: loneliness, ageing and boredumContinue reading “Book Review: I’m Mostly Here to Enjoy Myself by Glynnis MacNicol”

Travel: Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens

In the Koishikawa Korakuen Gardens is an Edo era (Tokyo) garden of hushed quiet contemplation amidst the bombastic, rushing and striving modern world

The world is unpredictable right now

What are your future travel plans? I’m not sure when this would happen given the current shitshow state of the world, but would really love to travel around. I have a list of unusual destinations: Alaska and the Canadian Yukon. I want to see some wolves, bears and moose in the wild and photograph them.Continue reading “The world is unpredictable right now”

Cosy Asakusa, Tokyo by night

People were nestled in their own little womb-like worlds of ramen and Izakaya meals, chugging on massive oversized beers in big jugs. Sheltered and obscured by plastic curtains and held up by plastic chairs. #Tokyo #TravelStories #shortstory #writing #travel

Who made the world?

Who made the world? The billowing clouds heading southward. The pillowed reef and a thousand animals beneath my feet. Who made the wind bracing my ankles. The shadows behind and through it all. Who makes the light dance in one part of the world. While other places cut like a frozen blade through flesh. WhoContinue reading “Who made the world?”

Australia: Twenty Seven Summer Views

I enjoy taking photos, even though I mostly never have a good camera with me and so I need to capture moments on my Samsung. I enjoy capturing these moments forever in time. This reminds me of how I felt at the moment of taking the picture and the. So here are some photos I’veContinue reading “Australia: Twenty Seven Summer Views”

Tales of Chefchaoen: Blue-Walled City

#Chefchaoen rises out of the dust of the unforgiving #desert like a radiant, lush oasis of #blue calm. #travel #Morocco #writing #storytelling #shortstory