Category: AWAY FROM THE DESK
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A rare trip home to Nottingham
In truth, I stopped seeing Nottingham as home many years ago. I’ve long since become a citizen of nowhere—or perhaps everywhere, if you prefer a more glass-half-full view. I chose Rugby as my UK base not for sentiment, but for logistics: it’s on the West Coast Main Line, nestled between two motorways, and within an…
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Experience the Magic of My Neighbour Totoro in London
I’m no great fan of Japanese anime, but I am a fan of stepping out of my comfort zone—especially when it leads to something that reconnects you with the magical world you once craved as a child. My Neighbour Totoro, currently playing in London’s West End, offers exactly that: a few precious hours of escapism,…
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Experience London’s West End: ‘Manhunt’ and ‘The Great Gatsby’
I had the pleasure of seeing two West End shows over the Mayday bank holiday, 2025. The first was called “Manhunt” – a gripping new play written and directed by Robert Icke, currently running at the Royal Court Theatre in London until May 3, 2025. The production delves into the harrowing true story of Raoul…
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Exploring Santiago and Lima: My Journey at the ILPC
I was lucky enough to visit Chile and Peru whilst attending the International Labour Process Conference in Santiago. There was a lot of work, it was no holiday but it felt like one nonetheless. The closest I came to a true break was during a day off in Lima, where I got to walk alongside…
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Best of Amsterdam
It’s hard to top if you want an incongruous balance of fast paced relaxation. Sadly, it’s become expensive to stay but it’s quick, cheap and easy to get to, making it work for a re-charging one or two night stay. Here’s a few pics from recent trips.
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Looking back on Belgrade, Serbia
Summer in Serbia does not exactly sound like paradise but it was a great experience. It’s been a political hotbed for decades; they have a penchant for overthrowing governments and it was the command centre for the Yugoslav war. I expected an austere militaristic vibe in Belgrade, but I found a relaxed café culture and…
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Looking back on the Amalfi Coast, Italy
It’s a variety of perfection and its reputation is entirely deserved. I stayed in Maiori but got to know the whole coast, including Positano and mythical, mysterious Capri. My favourite memory was a walk from Maiori to Ravello along the Lemon Trail through the hills. Those hills were steep, the staircases were exhausting and I…
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Looking back on Lisbon, Portugal
When I was in Brazil in ’22 the locals couldn’t believe I hadn’t been to Portugal. They had a point, it’s a cheap 2 hour flight and I was 4 decades old at the time. For many Brazilians it’s the only place they have been outside Brazil so they were baffled. My parents were obsessed…
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Looking Back to Bosnia & Herzegovina
The siege of Sarajevo is carved into my memory, apparently it was the longest siege of a modern city since WWII. For years snipers watched the streets, and for years people in Sarajevo had to run from building to building to avoid snipers’ bullets. Can you imagine? Before the civil war Serbs, Muslims and Croats…
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Merry (Mad) Christmas 2024, a reflection on the Big Day (and Year)
I have not posted for three months, and for good reason: it’s perhaps been the most stressful and busy three months of my adult life. Well, there were at least four more challenging occasions now that I think about it, but it has been pretty extreme nonetheless. I would not normally dream of posting on…
Dr Martin James 