Category: THINGS I LOVE
-
Modest 2026 Dreams: my Rangemaster
It has grown bitterly cold in recent days, hovering around freezing both day and night. This short-term shock of extreme cold (by UK standards) and the longer-term chill of economic precariousness have brought the true meaning of “wealth” into sharp focus. It isn’t yachts, private jets, or fleets of luxury cars. Those baubles accumulate in…
-
Being Brompton-less as a London Commuter
They say you don’t know the value of something until it’s gone, and there may be some truth in that. Halfway through the autumn semester, something freaky happened to my Brompton at work. I strongly suspect it was damaged by someone—accidentally, I assume—as it had been left somewhere safe, yet the chain inexplicably became jammed…
-
From London with love
It was a festive day of leisurely exploration in London, beginning in the old City with sweeping winter views from the Sky Garden and Horizon 22. From there, the atmosphere turned warmly Christmassy at Leadenhall Market, its historic arcade glowing with seasonal lights. A relaxed walk along the river offered moments of calm amid the…
-
What Foucault and Kafka don’t know can’t harm them
I’m generally uncomfortable with the idea of a surveillance state—unless, that is, I’m the surveyor. I now have seven cameras in my fun little home-police state, where I’m mayor, judge, jury, detective, and police constable. Nothing happens in or around my property without me knowing about it. In practical terms, this means knowing the comings…
-
Fear Street Part Two
A few additions to yesterday’s picture collection. It’s cheap fun, even in a cost-of-living crisis. I hear that it can cost £100 for a bog-standard meal for a family of four these days (dinners, desserts, a few drinks each). Thus, in the UK we’re being priced out of existence. My only saving grace is my…
-
First Spooky Season @ the new house
Summer feels like a lifetime ago, even though it’s been less than two weeks since I was in Montenegro, wearing shorts and a T-shirt. A cold, the return to lecturing, and the arrival of October have all conspired to accelerate time. And while autumn has its downsides, it’s hard not to admire the season’s brilliance—the…
-
Highlights from Sigur Rós’ Enchanting Performance, Royal Albert Hall
I was lucky enough to have two life firsts very recently: seeing Sigur Ros play live and seeing a show at the Royal Albert Hall. The combination was transcendent and hypnotic, a two-hour journey that blended sonic beauty with emotional depth, leaving the audience spellbound. Opening with the swelling strings of Blóðberg and anchored by…
-
A Great Addition: Crockett & Jones
By great fortune, Northampton happens to be a global centre for handmade shoes of the very finest quality. John Lobb, Loake, Church’s, Edward Green, and Crockett & Jones are among the legendary names still manufacturing in the town. With over 250 pairs of footwear, I have little need to add quantity to my collection—but there’s…
-
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,…
-
Not everything in Britain is crap: our postboxes are AWESOME!
For years now a secret army – armed only with needles and yarn – have been designing and gifting letter box toppers to the general public throughout the UK. It’s the only example of David Cameron’s “big society” I know of, although this wonderful trend has nothing to do with political losers like him. Here’s…
Dr Martin James 