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Hope for the best, prepare for the worst
For those of us who have indulged in higher education, we have probably spent more time dwelling on the meaning of words than is ordinarily so. Academia is often a game of (relative) triviality and minutiae, with careers made by branding a particular take on identity or subjectivity or whatever else. A word that I…
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Backing myself: I WILL hit my weight loss goal by MID-SEPTEMBER
After 4 weeks of dieting and experimentation I’m calling time on the “test and learn” phase. Here’s a summary of key developments. After this length of time I don’t think about dieting (asides analytically), I just do it. It is now clear that I can live with 1,700 calories on a standard day. Note: My…
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Romcom Winter Weather
At the grand finale of Christmas romcoms set in the UK, you always get picture-postcard snow arriving right on cue. Unfortunately, we British know the reality: it rarely snows south of Edinburgh, and it pretty much never snows at Christmas. If it comes, it’s typically in January or February, although freak storms can happen as…
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One Year On: the Home Front
A year is a long time.Except it isn’t. With a demanding full-time job and a packed calendar (I flew 23 times in 2025 alone), a year can feel more like a month. It’s in my nature to feel frustrated by a lack of progress, even when—objectively—a fair amount has been achieved. What follows is a…
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New for 2026: The Nightingale Express
What does it mean to be “cool”? If your answer is “who cares?” then you might just make the grade…! At 44, I’m finally free of the decision prison that “cool” imposes. And to celebrate this liberation, I became the proud owner of a train set this weekend. It’s a humble beginning don’t get me…
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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…
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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…
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Unforgettable Winter Trip: Belfast and Carrickfergus Highlights
I took a short, wintry escape to Northern Ireland, spending a couple of nights split between Belfast and Carrickfergus, and it turned out to be one of those trips that feels compact in time but rich in atmosphere and history. I based myself first in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter, a fitting place to begin any introduction…
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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…
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Poland’s Christmas Markets
The Christmas market in Poznań felt intimate and welcoming, set against the colorful Renaissance façades of the Old Market Square. Wooden stalls clustered around the illuminated town hall, filling the air with the smell of mulled wine, grilled oscypek cheese, and sweet pastries. Traditional decorations, handcrafted gifts, and festive lights gave the square a cozy…
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Winter Trip to Scarborough
I ventured north for the first weekend of December, dropping off gifts and seeing my brother’s new house. Also catching up with my mum, it was her retirement and birthday weekend. As part of the visit I spent a couple of hours in Scarborough on a beautiful clear day. A great start to the festive…
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Birmingham Christmas warm-up
With so many weekends tied up in the build-up to Christmas, I took an early chance to sample the joys of Birmingham’s winter festivities. This included ice-skating at the temporary rink in Centenary Square, and perhaps unconventionally, a 5-course Japanese meal at a restaurant in the Cube. Happy Christmas to all (well in advance).
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Dr Martin James 