Back on the magic rug

I'm on the up, in general, after being down on my uppers for a while longer than envisaged, despite being in a country where the economy is moribund, limping along just avoiding recession, while all around

The June solstice - midsummer in the north - is at 11:07 tomorrow morning. Thursday, 21 June 2018, 11:07 BST (UCT +1) Welcome, cold Australians, back to the light. I shall do tomorrow as I always do, which

Aside from cultural expectations and lifetime of advertising, why do we drink alcohol rather than other refreshing drinks? Answer is, we don't always. I love a chilled pétillant mineral water with a sprig

The reasons for drinking are multitudinous and ubiquitous. Now I've had seven months to sober up, get a qualification, then get drunk again, then sober all the way up because drinking wasn't helping, I

I've moved into a community, which means over the coming weeks, I will be meeting new people. That process of getting to know others in this glorious yet benighted country usually means chat sessions including

I found a place to live, the paperwork is done, and I have to move house. It's quite a big move. All my domestic stuff is not in this country. So aside from clothing, a guitar, and this computer, I have

After a brief sojourn in the northern reaches I have returned to Britain. Just a couple of weeks spent in my adopted land, where most things, however imperfect they may be, operate relatively smoothly.

I'm in Norway, my adopted land. My company is based here, I am based here. That's expressed the wrong way round of course. People are worth more than companies, especially if the company is a one man band,

I have been a long time out of what they laughably call the jobs market. I've yet to visit a market where they actually sell jobs. I imagine it will be like a farmers market, where everything is coated

I'm right down in the earth. I didn't set out to be here, but here I am. It's not such a bad place. I'm with roots, in the soil, from which emerges everything. I am with worms, snails, moles and rabbits,