simonvarwell

simonvarwell, 3 days ago to random Esperanto

I’ve finished Daniel Kalder’s Dictator Literature, or as it was titled in the USA (with in my view a better title) The Infernal Library - a darkly humorous dive into the writings of dictators. It’s an often enlightening insight into some horrible minds, and a call for scepticism and critique of our leaders. A big book and a long read, and the first change in my reading list for a while. Not sure I’ll add anything at the moment.

simonvarwell, 5 days ago to random Esperanto

I have a soft spot for Stroma (not stoma - that’s something else). We have friends round and… nobody else wanted any. Is it wrong that I made this imprint by myself?

A bottle of Stroma liqueur next to a glass. The bottle is half-full.

simonvarwell, 7 days ago to random Esperanto

It’s been a busy week, ending thankfully with an afternoon off enabling a wee wander round the city centre to get a few things. We moved house a month ago to the edge of town so it was nice to be in the centre for the first time since then. In a way I suspect I’ll enjoy the city centre more because I’ll plan ahead and make the most of it: visiting the spice shop, off-licence etc.

Now sitting in the garden listening to music, enjoying a beer (Aldi, sadly) and mulling over the General Election.

simonvarwell, 7 days ago to random Esperanto

I hate playwrights.

Always making a drama out of things.

simonvarwell, 10 days ago to random Esperanto

Dinner tonight: a stir fry, featuring cauliflower, green beans, red chilli, carrot, onion and garlic, fried in a base of toasted sesame oil, soy sauce, ground coriander, tahini paste and a spot of honey; and garnished with spring onion and sesame seeds.

Could’ve taken more chilli, but other than that, yum.

simonvarwell, 15 days ago to random Esperanto

Not the best photo, but I went to Skye today for work. This is Kyle of Lochalsh, the last stop on the mainland before the bridge. A warm and sunny day. Here’s hoping the summer has more of this to come (the nice weather and interesting trips around the region, I mean, not the mediocre photos. Though there’ll be plenty of them I’m sure).

simonvarwell, 16 days ago to random Esperanto

Good news that ScotGov is to declare a housing crisis. Communities are being squeezed by second homes, short term lets and unequal land ownership.

However it is bizarre that reserve powers will be blamed. So many competences in this area are devolved, eg equipping councils to ensure planning oversight of property usage, introducing a land value tax and so forth.

Such a paucity of imagination and ambition.

https://news.stv.tv/politics/scottish-government-to-declare-national-housing-emergency

simonvarwell, 17 days ago to random Esperanto

Hrmph. Same to you.

simonvarwell, 18 days ago to random Esperanto

I often dwell on how generations heading into middle age are in weird in-between times: while older generations’ experiences were mostly not digitised and today’s young folk are over-digitised, only some of my generation’s past is digitised. That leaves us in an existence where life is patchily recalled.

I’d never imagined there being equality dimensions to this, however. A fascinating article.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/article/2024/may/13/tv-episode-black-britain-gay-history

simonvarwell, 18 days ago to random Esperanto

Knowing that Steve Albini, who died recently, had produced Nirvana’s In Utero, I presumed he was quite a legend. However I’ve since read that he was beyond unpleasant.

Interesting then to get stories from musicians in this article of what he was like to work with.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/article/2024/may/13/pj-harvey-mogwai-sunn-wedding-present-jon-spencer-on-steve-albini

simonvarwell, 19 days ago to random Esperanto

Imagine if the Three Wise Men had brought gold, frankincense and mirth.

Things would have been so different.

simonvarwell, 19 days ago to random Esperanto

Was out all last night in my safari suit and unfortunately didn’t see a roarer.

simonvarwell, 22 days ago to random Esperanto

A lovely insight into the people behind the fabulous Walk Highlands website.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c72py4xg2w4o

simonvarwell, 29 days ago to random Esperanto

Overheard from a passer-by just now:

“There’s one in Dornoch. There was one in Tain, but it got vandalised.”

You can now join me in wondering what they were talking about.

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

An inspiring if sobering read. https://www.theguardian.com/society/2024/apr/30/stuart-potts-man-who-turned-his-home-into-a-homeless-shelter

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Tre interesa afiŝo pri la unta afikso “esk". Mi ŝatas ĝin sed ne tiel ke mi ne plejparte uzus la enjenajn alternativojn. Sed ĝi povus esti ludema fojfojaĵo.
https://www.adventures-in-esperanto.com/badgeresque-squirrelseeming/

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Just stopped for a week off. Lots to do in the coming week (might even toot about it), but the holiday starts with a 12% imperial stout. https://untp.beer/edpGV

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

This is extraordinary, and a damning indictment of land ownership in Scotland. How on earth can a private company be in a position to give a capital city’s main bus station notice of closure? https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cg302gkw779o

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

If you see a cuddly toy bear that’s been hurt, please tell a member of station staff or text the British Transport Police.

See it. Say it. Sore ted.

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

The joys of a rail replacement bus, and thus the loss of three and a bit hours of work time, for the final leg of my journey. Ah well, I may as well kick back and share some photos of the last few days…

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Ah the joys of Sunday train travel. I’m in West Yorkshire (photos later) heading home today, and there are two obstacles. One was solvable - a lift to an adjacent station to start my journey there - and the other is my York to Inverness LNER train terminating in Edinburgh due to repair schedules. There are replacement buses, but it loses me three hours’ work time (and also surely means the Monday morning LNER service to London will also be a bus as far as Edinburgh).

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Guess where I’ve been the last couple of days for work.

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Why’s it called Deutsches Ridesharing-Unternehmen and not Über Alles?

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

Ode to a rucksack.

As part of a big clearout, I got rid of my trusty old rucksack. It’s battered, stained and has lost a few straps, so I don’t mourn its passing - but I do celebrate its life.

I can’t remember precisely how old it is but I recall taking it on a camp aged 15. Since then it’s been to uni with me, been on countless ferries and trains, crossed Europe to Kosovo and back in 1999, been my trusty steed on my big travels of 2001, and been there in the journeys of my first two books.

simonvarwell, 1 month ago to random Esperanto

The Enhanced Games - Olympics, but with actual permitted drugs - sounds like it should be an April Fool’s story but isn’t. Marina Hyde brings her usually excoriating wit to the proceedings.
https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2024/apr/12/dope-enhanced-games-sporting-event-drugs-tv-sport
However it reminds me of a story from the Red Dwarf novels, where a similar sport was introduced for genetically engineered lifeforms, with extreme deviancy designed specifically for sporting purposes. 1/2