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”
Author Archives: capndarcy
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”
Hidden in Plain Sight
Sometimes we are so busy in our daily routines that we fail to notice what is right in front of us. First, let me introduce Rousay, my collie, (rhymes with Wowsee). We often walk around a local park where she is more interested in making friends with other dogs or chasing a ball and IContinue reading “Hidden in Plain Sight”
The 4th Estate is Letting Us Down
If asked what was wrong with the modern newspaper industry many of us would blame the political bias of a tiny number of right wing media moguls monopolising and directing editorial output. However, as with most things, it is less an international conspiracy of the mega wealthy and more to do with mundane incompetence, corruptionContinue reading “The 4th Estate is Letting Us Down”
Significantly Different 