So much of the chatter around refugee stories are from people who are neither refugees nor involved with the support of refugees. Refugee Radio Times: Voices of Asylum, Identity and Resistance, edited by Lorna Stephenson and Stephen Silverwood, is a welcome focus on the lived experiences of refugees from very different backgrounds and with differentContinue reading “Refugee Stories by Refugees”
Author Archives: capndarcy
Finding Peace
My daily walk with Rousay has become tedious. For the past 18 months we have been confined to short walks around the town, on the local wood- and wet-lands or nearby beaches, woods and parks. It has all become very same-y and boring. We used to enjoy long rambles on designated long distance pathways orContinue reading “Finding Peace”
Extreme Crochet
Crochet is what your granny used to do, right? A gentle hobby that produced cushion covers, baby blankets and the occasional odd jumper/cardigan that you had to wear to school. Wrong! It is a hobby for everyone and crochet, like knitting, has really taken off in popularity in recent years. How cool is Tom DalyContinue reading “Extreme Crochet”
A Holiday of Firsts
I grew up in Orkney and return regularly to visit family and friends yet there remain many places on the islands I have not visited. I guess while I lived there all the attractions seemed so close and available so there was no rush to visit. Once I moved away it was more important toContinue reading “A Holiday of Firsts”
Irrationally Angry
The Wing Commander’s vehicle has gone to the garage for its annual service. One of the consequences of this is that he has to borrow mine. I’m not a jealous or selfish Supreme Commander so a little car sharing is absolutely fine. Especially as he went to do the weekly grocery shop. Except, *closes eyesContinue reading “Irrationally Angry”
Hating Peter Tatchell
What began as a small project funded by a Kickstarter campaign, to document the threats and violent hostility against a human rights activist, was eventually picked up by David Furnish and Elton John who have produced an interesting documentary on the life of socialist gay activist Peter Tatchell, a man who is possibly not allContinue reading “Hating Peter Tatchell”
Refugees: Myths and Realities
For seventy years the United Nations Convention Relating to the Status of Refugees has been very clear about who a refugee is; “A person who owing to a well-founded fear of being persecuted for reasons of race, religion, nationality, membership of a particular social group or political opinion, is outside the country of his nationalityContinue reading “Refugees: Myths and Realities”
Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day
(and other pirate celebrations) May your wind always blow fair and may your bottom never have barnacles. Today is International Talk Like a Pirate Day and as such it is a good day to explain why I am a pirate and how Piratesmas came to be an annual celebration of pirate shenanigans and grogventures. InternationalContinue reading “Happy International Talk Like a Pirate Day”
The mythology of the English Village
English villages are where Miss Marple solves crimes, where Bertie Wooster goes to escape Great Aunts or where children have adventures with dogs and boats. It is an idyllic world full of village ponds, pretty houses, wooded landscapes, and hedge-lined country lanes. The inhabitants of such villages are genteel ladies, retired colonels, hard working men,Continue reading “The mythology of the English Village”
Heels are Hell
Today I went shopping, actual going-to-the-mall-to-buy-things shopping, for the first time in a year and a half. Oh, I’ve been to the supermarket and out-of-town stores but this was the first time I had ventured into the city and walked through a shopping centre with the intention of buying stuff. Well, there were only twoContinue reading “Heels are Hell”
Significantly Different 