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Istanbul, Turkey
Istanbul turned out to be far more European than I’d expected. In hindsight, that shouldn’t have surprised me—its history and geography have always made it a natural bridge between West and East, Europe and the mysterious world beyond. Swap the magnificent mosques for cathedrals and you could easily imagine yourself in any number of cities…
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Achievements as an amateur hour electrician
I’m no electrician—before moving into my house in Rugby, I hadn’t so much as changed a plug. But there was a lot to do, and over the past year, it’s been staggeringly expensive… without even paying for electricians! As is probably typical, the previous owners left behind all sorts of broken fixtures. Take the security…
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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…
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Pride (In the Name of Garage Doors)
I always assumed the U2 classic “Pride (In the Name of Love)” was just another love song. A damn good one, mind you—but still, an example of history’s most well-worn theme. But is it possible Bono was actually doing a bit of DIY and felt chuffed to bits? Maybe he was feeling both pride and…
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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…
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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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Dr Martin James 