Category: AWAY FROM THE DESK
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Straight Outta Oxford
I got a last minute invite for tea and civility in Oxford so why not? At 43 spontaneity is hardly a priority, so I enjoyed doing something out of nowhere. As ever the tourist crowds were annoying but there was plenty to enjoy. Every time I go to Oxford and Cambridge they seem smaller than…
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Bournemouth & the New Forest
The New Forest has been on the agenda for well over a decade. It didn’t disappoint, it’s the kind of place you could spend all day getting lost – enjoying every second. On this occasion I only walked for a few hours, which was nonetheless rewarding. Bournemouth too was a treat, so much so that…
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Digital Nomading in Glasgow and the Highlands
I’m no stranger to life on the road, having had a part-time driving job (amongst others) during my PhD. At this point in my life and career I am growing accustomed to an alternate digital version of work whilst wondering. Why not get about? For much of my time a laptop, smart phone and WIFI…
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Eygpt: Giza & Cairo
I managed to snatch a few days in this astonishing place – a good while before things flared up again in Israel and Gaza. The pyramids hardly lack for hype but they live up to it, exceed it even. Gaza and Cairo are hot and fast moving places. They are well equipped to exhaust haggle…
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A crazy-busy 3 days rounded off with a show
It’s not a show that anyone under 40 would remember and it’s their loss. Drop the Dead Donkey was a forerunner to the now omnipresent “mock the news” format. Everything that’s come after follows in its footsteps… So this show is a new stage production, 30 years on from the original TV run. It was…
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Birmingham City Vs Sunderland (2-1)
Cheap tickets were available through work as part of “Birmingham Workers’ Day.” This in turn was part of a mission by Birmingham City’s Chairman to “fill St Andrews” (Birmingham City’s ground). The mission was successful, with a capacity crowd of 27,449 for the match (well above the usual 14,000 or so). The energy was incredible,…
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Christmas in Sofia
I took this trip a while ago but have been too busy and distracted to get the pics uploaded. Nice to finally have a spare hour, 3 days from Christmas day ’23 no less. It’s been a full on year! Saturday Sunday Monday
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Winter Wonderland 2023
I try not to let being busy act as an excuse for not getting out, getting away and doing things. There’s never a good time, there’s never not some “emergency” in need of attention but the world does keep turning if you take a few extra hours to respond to those emails. I am committed…
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Rat Kings & Soldiers, 29th Nov 2023
We’ve all heard the music from the Nutcracker countless times, myself included. I’ve never got around to seeing the ballet though, at least until now. I cannot pretend I am cultured enough to know what was going on but it was a sight worth seeing. It’s only my second ballet, the other was Swan Lake…
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Shropshire Hills & Shrewsbury, 25th & 26th Nov 2023
I got lucky with the weather (at least one day out of two), so the walk portion of the weekend was perfect – cold and crisp but at the same time spectacular. The best thing about Shrewsbury is its natural geography, I’d love to get my kayak over there for a few circuits of the…
Dr Martin James 