Monthly Archives: September 2012

The Pirate Diet

I abhor alcohol, as a teetotaller. Of course, I used to abhor teetotallers, with their sermonising, so I won’t. I don’t drink, because I don’t like the taste or the effect. I also don’t like the way people drink, or

The Pirate Diet

I abhor alcohol, as a teetotaller. Of course, I used to abhor teetotallers, with their sermonising, so I won’t. I don’t drink, because I don’t like the taste or the effect. I also don’t like the way people drink, or

Two Train Rides

She got on the train somewhere along Lac Leman, between Geneva, and Montreux, at the other end. I think it was near Vevey, because half asleep, I glanced up to see the vineyards pouring down the hill towards the train tracks.

Two Train Rides

She got on the train somewhere along Lac Leman, between Geneva, and Montreux, at the other end. I think it was near Vevey, because half asleep, I glanced up to see the vineyards pouring down the hill towards the train tracks.

Och well, Clan Gunn it is then…

I would have to come from a Clan that came to the Orkney Isles on dinkey little Viking boats to rape and pillage, wouldn’t I? I mean there’s a fair choice of Highland clans, but oh no, my ancestors had

Och well, Clan Gunn it is then…

I would have to come from a Clan that came to the Orkney Isles on dinkey little Viking boats to rape and pillage, wouldn’t I? I mean there’s a fair choice of Highland clans, but oh no, my ancestors had

A Writer’s Lair: Africa!

Nowhere better actually. Just nowhere. The people are wonderful in every country, the tragedy is galling, but the smiles are pure music. The headscarves, wraps, dresses are all magical, and my two favourite ‘perfumes’, the diesel and the dust, are

A Writer’s Lair: Africa!

Nowhere better actually. Just nowhere. The people are wonderful in every country, the tragedy is galling, but the smiles are pure music. The headscarves, wraps, dresses are all magical, and my two favourite ‘perfumes’, the diesel and the dust, are

Karimov and I

Yes Karimov you and me have some certain similarities We’ve shared the same road to Samarkand, you and I But at different times its true in that I was one step behind you Imagining assassination But only for a book

Karimov and I

Yes Karimov you and me have some certain similarities We’ve shared the same road to Samarkand, you and I But at different times its true in that I was one step behind you Imagining assassination But only for a book

Gone but not Forgotten: Türkmenbaşy, Dictator Exemplaire!

They don’t make ‘em like that anymore, and I for one sorely miss him, the Great leader of Turkmenistan! What? You think it is the same as Turkey? Blasphemiser you!! Türkmenbaşy – father of Turkmens…(”bacy” pronounced the same, with a ”tch”

Gone but not Forgotten: Türkmenbaşy, Dictator Exemplaire!

They don’t make ‘em like that anymore, and I for one sorely miss him, the Great leader of Turkmenistan! What? You think it is the same as Turkey? Blasphemiser you!! Türkmenbaşy – father of Turkmens…(”bacy” pronounced the same, with a ”tch”

A Writer’s Lair: Starý Smokovec

Despite an ex-boxer prime minister who arranged to have the country’s president’s son kidnapped, beaten up, and dumped at the border, Slovakia was one of  my favourite destinations some 15-20 years ago. More particularly, Starý Smokovec, in the Tatra mountains. Slovakia was a

A Writer’s Lair: Starý Smokovec

Despite an ex-boxer prime minister who arranged to have the country’s president’s son kidnapped, beaten up, and dumped at the border, Slovakia was one of  my favourite destinations some 15-20 years ago. More particularly, Starý Smokovec, in the Tatra mountains. Slovakia was a

Kebab Nude

As one does at dawn, I opened my WordPress blog, and glanced down on the Search Engine Terms. There were a few. And there, right at the top of the results, was Kebab nude. Not once, no, not even: but twice! Twice

Kebab Nude

As one does at dawn, I opened my WordPress blog, and glanced down on the Search Engine Terms. There were a few. And there, right at the top of the results, was Kebab nude. Not once, no, not even: but twice! Twice

Beauty

Beauty is an airplane in the rain eyes that bewitch A flower that makes you smile A memory The curves in the sand dunes That remind me of you when you bathe And your coffee on my lips, when you

Beauty

Beauty is an airplane in the rain eyes that bewitch A flower that makes you smile A memory The curves in the sand dunes That remind me of you when you bathe And your coffee on my lips, when you

It’s Raining Today

r                     a                     i                     n              

It’s Raining Today

r                     a                     i                     n              

And We Walked Until the Sun…

Long ago We belonged to the desert sands Whispered at night Or waited in silence While poor men prayed They say we never  Left a man behind But we did Many times In the arms of another My lover Used

And We Walked Until the Sun…

Long ago We belonged to the desert sands Whispered at night Or waited in silence While poor men prayed They say we never  Left a man behind But we did Many times In the arms of another My lover Used

The Last of the Greats ~ Wilfred Thesiger, Freya Stark and Peter Fleming

How can I lament a future unseen? Perhaps it is because today we are berefit of great explorers like Wilfred Thesiger, Freya Stark and Peter Fleming, and in our quest for the most comfortable armchair, we may have forever consigned

The Last of the Greats ~ Wilfred Thesiger, Freya Stark and Peter Fleming

How can I lament a future unseen? Perhaps it is because today we are berefit of great explorers like Wilfred Thesiger, Freya Stark and Peter Fleming, and in our quest for the most comfortable armchair, we may have forever consigned

Sex in the Shower

THAT got your attention. Or more likely, caused you to give this post a pass. Let me explain. I was reading one of my favourite blogs, From Russia with Love, and in a delicious post here the blogger related some of

Sex in the Shower

THAT got your attention. Or more likely, caused you to give this post a pass. Let me explain. I was reading one of my favourite blogs, From Russia with Love, and in a delicious post here the blogger related some of

Scotland Then And Now

Scotland’s history is closely tied to its neighbours in the United Kingdom, but it does share separate historical ties with other countries and regions of the world. The most known and notable ties come through the infamous Highland Clearances in

Scotland Then And Now

Scotland’s history is closely tied to its neighbours in the United Kingdom, but it does share separate historical ties with other countries and regions of the world. The most known and notable ties come through the infamous Highland Clearances in

A Writer’s Lair ~ Oymyakon -71.2ºC

In order to write my first book I decided to live in Chamonix, France, next to the Mont Blanc, highest mountain in Western Europe. I worked as a mountain refuge warden there for a while, at some 2,000 metres altitude,

A Writer’s Lair ~ Oymyakon -71.2ºC

In order to write my first book I decided to live in Chamonix, France, next to the Mont Blanc, highest mountain in Western Europe. I worked as a mountain refuge warden there for a while, at some 2,000 metres altitude,