capndarcy

Travel in the Time of Covid

An Unexpected Journey It was not our intention to travel outside Scotland this year, yet here we are, almost ready to fly to Dublin for a weekend that will be our Christmas present to each other. How we have arrived at this decision is, quite frankly, epically stressful. The story all begins with airmiles. WithContinue reading “Travel in the Time of Covid”

Unpopular Opinion: Dogs off-lead.

“You’re on a walk and you see a dog on a lead. Your dog is running free. Q: What should you do next? Is it: A: put your dog on a lead B. Let your dog run over and say hello. C: Shout “Don’t worry, he’s friendly.” Or D: What dog? You were playing candyContinue reading “Unpopular Opinion: Dogs off-lead.”

Age is Only Important for Cheese and Wine

I went for my flu vaccine and covid booster this week. The nurse asked my age and I actually had to think about it then work it out. I don’t mean I do not know how old I am just that I wasn’t sure which year I was in. I knew I was older thanContinue reading “Age is Only Important for Cheese and Wine”

Love Food. Hate Cooking!

‘Put all ingredients in the slow cooker, stir and cover. Cook on high for 3-4 hours or on low for 6-7 hours’ This is my kind of recipe! Bung it in, switch it on, leave it alone. I have never liked cooking all that much. As a teenager, if I was left in charge ofContinue reading “Love Food. Hate Cooking!”

Kitchener’s Memorial or HMS Hampsire Memorial?

In a recent post I wrote about visiting Kitchener’s Memorial for the first time. As a child I lived a few short miles from it and growing up it was a familiar landmark in a prominent position on a headland on the northwest coast of Orkney. It marks the closest landfall from the sinking ofContinue reading “Kitchener’s Memorial or HMS Hampsire Memorial?”

Refugee Stories by Refugees

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”

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”