It was the day after my 80th birthday 24th February 2022 that the first Russian soldiers crossed the border into Ukraine. So predictable so preventable, Like every war before this one the euphoria of war was palpable, young and old, men and women, appeared before the cameras to tell the world how they would fightContinue reading “Ukraine another Groundhog Day”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
“WE BROKE ARMAGH, IT NEVER BROKE US” – IRISH REPUBLICAN WOMEN
This was the heading of a blog that popped into my inbox today. Manna, from heaven, since I had just written an antiwar piece about the struggles of Latin American countries to free themselves from a bullying neighbour, The United States of America. I was privileged to attend a Christy Moor concert in Edinburgh, yearsContinue reading ““WE BROKE ARMAGH, IT NEVER BROKE US” – IRISH REPUBLICAN WOMEN”
The War in Ukraine
I normally follow Iain Lawson’s blog “Yes for Scotland” but from time to time he has been beating his Russia Bad drum, about the war, and I felt I had to take issue with him over the war in Ukraine. I have just returned from a four week trip across Europe and I can assureContinue reading “The War in Ukraine”
I think I may be Pregnant!
Wednesday and my first day out on the bike since my return, and oh, was it a joy. I have no idea where the other days have gone, just so much to catch up with. First the garden, I had planted three drills of potatoes, could not have been mistaken for anything other, yet when IContinue reading “I think I may be Pregnant!”
We Get Requests
It’s been very interesting following your journey, Walter, and your thoughts. Perhaps you can send a condensed piece for the Gazette, with the highlights of the journey and a couple of photographs. 500 or 600 words would be about right. This was the contents of an e-mail sent to me by Roger Alma, editor of theContinue reading “We Get Requests”
Home is the Sailor from the sea and the Hunter from the Hills.
I arrived home just before noon on Sunday 24th of April. I decided in Vienna that it was time to head home, and then disaster struck. I put my card in a hole in the wall and the sun was so bright that I could not make out what I was supposed to do, maybe I waitedContinue reading “Home is the Sailor from the sea and the Hunter from the Hills.”
All dreams must end.
Another beautiful day here in Vienna, and the city certainly has been a healing balm for me after all the frantic travelling Jo&Joe have given me the time for unwinding and reflecting. Yesterday I phoned the helpline of the Bank of Scotland to find out how my bank balance was doing, I knew instinctively theContinue reading “All dreams must end.”
What a difference a day makes
What a difference a day makes, sunshine all the way, but only 5C. I needed to do some washing, so after popping my clothes in the machine I went up onto the roof terrace and snapped away. One of the boxes I wanted to tick when in Vienna was to attend a live opera inContinue reading “What a difference a day makes”
A little about Jo&Joe
for a start it could not be more central if it tried, a 100 yards or so from the underground, and tram stop, I have never been in a hostel quite like this one before, it is ultra modern, all service ducts and cable trays have been left exposed, and this standard of minimalist designContinue reading “A little about Jo&Joe”
Wet, Wet, Wet.
Not a lot to say today, simply because it has rained since early doors, and by 2pm I packed in and came back to the warm luxury of my billet, and what a billet Jo&Joe is. My cycling cap is pretty good at keeping everything dry, the handlebars and seat, but the panniers have toContinue reading “Wet, Wet, Wet.”
The Grand Tour: Fife and Beyond 