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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…
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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…
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Albania, Macedonia, Montenegro & Croatia
It was an absolute delight to extend my tour of the Balkans to include these incredible countries this year. Dubrovnik was truly mind-blowing—its Old Town easily holds its own against any of the world’s most celebrated attractions. Budva in Montenegro and Ohrid in North Macedonia both met—and in some ways exceeded—my expectations. Tirana, meanwhile, was…
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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…
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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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Daring to be different: space costs money!
I’ve lived a long life and accumulated a wardrobe that’s as extensive as my shoe collection. I’m determined to avoid having a large portion of it tucked away and inaccessible in storage—as has so often been the case in years gone by. Dead space costs just as much as used space, so I decided it…
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Mastering Shoe Storage: My Personal Journey
I love my shoe room, although it’s been in a fairly dysfunctional state for a while. Some shoes are on display, some boxes have pictures, but around 80 pairs are boxed without any indication of what’s inside. Many of the shoes aren’t in their original boxes, which makes it practically impossible to find a large…
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From Grime to Shine: Revamping My Bathroom
No disrespect to the previous owners, but the top-floor bathroom was left in a bit of a state. It wasn’t exactly a horror show, but it ticked all the usual boxes: mold in the grouting, a tired-looking shower hose that clearly needed replacing, limescale caked over every bit of chrome—you get the picture. I assumed…
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Home Makeover Journey: From Chaos to Comfort
Boy, have I been busy lately! The past few weeks have been hot, hot, hot — ever since I returned from Chile in May, it’s felt like an early summer: warm, dry, and relentless. And, true to form, I’ve had far too much going on to properly relax under the seasonal sun. After buying my…
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Dr Martin James 