On 5th May 1662 my Great x 11 grandfather was consecrated at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh. Almost 400 years later I entered the inner courtyard, following in his footsteps, though without the consecration. It is the strangest feeling. I bet he never gave a thought to me during the day of his highest honour…. yet hereContinue reading “Who will remember us (and does it matter?)”
Author Archives: dunurban
Standing out
Sitting in Edinburgh railway station today, I was struck yet again with how kind and generous the folk of this city are. With just one spectacular exception (which I’m bound to write about at some point), the people of Edinburgh have really stood out. Today the sandwich bar had run out of my kind ofContinue reading “Standing out”
York
York; if you believed the tour guides all that’s ever happened in York involved blood, deceit and family break-ups! And yet they have lovely places like the Judi Dench riverside walk. Then there’s the city walls with the archers slits… how they ever saw anyone attacking beats me, as there were huge blind spots. TheContinue reading “York”
On Exhibition
A tall man, mid-thirties, muzzled hair, barefooted but in check shirt and baggy shorts, entered the Square with purpose. He darted in and out of the crowds, perhaps trying to throw off the stocky dark-haired woman who was haranguing him from behind. When she grabbed his sleeve, almost tearing it off him, he gave up,Continue reading “On Exhibition”
Young men on the loose
York rail to the yha hostel involved one icecream, two glasses of water, and asking a younger much sleeker version of Ricky Gervais for directions. YHA York should have been a great stay. Half hour walk along the river to city centre, and everything on site. They forgot to mention a school party of 100Continue reading “Young men on the loose”
Holy cow!
I met her voice before seeing the flowing pink cottage wallpaper of her dress. She boomed ‘hello’ to the poor lad who was to be her seat mate. He wriggled into the corner, giving her as much space as he could, but train seats are not designed for super-sized rumps. Fortunately she decided to moveContinue reading “Holy cow!”
Welcome to England!
First night in England brought new sounds; fox, storybook owl, moorhen, and so many more. A grey squirrel, much smaller than imagined, with it’s oversized silver tailbrush bouncing along behind. Under the canopy, mounds of tree waste cover the tunnels of a badger set. Early morning mist revealed deer playing on the pond landing. MyContinue reading “Welcome to England!”
Secure?
Of course I needed a lock for my suitcase. A supermarket combination lock came cheap and easy. All done. But then came the advice. More experienced travelers said I needed RFID envelopes for my passport and cards. Apparently there’s monsters out in the big wide world who have the ability to skim your cards andContinue reading “Secure?”
Spots, Wills and Deadlines.
Have you ever noticed how deadlines breed seemingly non-related deadlines? A friend cleans out her garage before going on holiday; another sorts her already-tidy desk before entertaining a visitor. In my case, the Great OE has inspired a vast array of tasks which, to be fair, needed doing sometime, but certainly hadn’t been top ofContinue reading “Spots, Wills and Deadlines.”
Indulgence or deserved?
Within a 40km radius of my home, desperate folk live in subsistence housing (or are homeless), and rely on Foodbank for their daily crust. The housing shortage is just one of a sweep of crises which includes climate change, child-poverty and more. These issues are not just in 3rd-world countries, but in supposedly-rich western nations,Continue reading “Indulgence or deserved?”
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