Category Archives: Rambling

Learning to stop always running from the places where bad things happen

When I visited my Dad in Ireland two weeks ago it was the first time I had been there since January 2020. Although only two and a half years ago, it feels like a lifetime ago. I vividly remember wandering around Dublin’s many city centre streets for the first time. I remember being fascinated byContinue reading “Learning to stop always running from the places where bad things happen”

The Alternative Eurovision Review

I could have spent Saturday night washing my hair, but I thought I’d be better providing an irrelevant and ill-informed insight into Eurovision 2021 which literally no one asked for. Broadcast live into my sitting room where I’m spending a Saturday evening in my own company, the following lays out my live reactions to allContinue reading “The Alternative Eurovision Review”

Running Diaries – The River Don Trail

On an afternoon of icy rain in Aberdeen I found temporary shelter under the arching Diamond Bridge. This is the third Don crossing, a structure completed in 2016 which connects the housing estates of Danestone and Middleton Park with the city centre. Five miles into a nine mile run and the bridge was offering littleContinue reading “Running Diaries – The River Don Trail”

Six Festive Strolls

Cora pants with unstoppable enthusiasm as she drags me up the side of Carn na Drochaide with ease. Mum follows on behind as we struggle to navigate the slippery path in search of a good viewpoint. As humans we are unable to depend on the natural four-wheel system which dogs have at their disposal. EventuallyContinue reading “Six Festive Strolls”

Running is Badass. Period.

While flicking through an issue of Runners World recently I came across images of toned athletic specimens in perfect fitting gear. Beside the images of barely sweating bodies are finely tuned weight loss regimes, 10K training plans and endless lists of foods to avoid. Although I often envy the kitted out gentlemen in these publicationsContinue reading “Running is Badass. Period.”

Birthday Adventures

In past years I’ve often awoken on New Year Day around midday, slightly dazed but with a vague feeling that I want to do things differently in the year to come. Unfortunately, the lazy and dare I say slightly dull resolutions that many of us make at Hogmanay have often failed to come to fruitionContinue reading “Birthday Adventures”

A Crash Related Ramble

Never do I feel so confident as when I’m going great guns on a bike or tearing down a technical hill side like an ungraceful mountain goat, just about managing to keep my balance. Those moments are blissfully rare insights into a fantasy life which could resemble total self-belief while anxiety remains absent. Reality doesContinue reading “A Crash Related Ramble”

Like Riding Through Treacle

It’s always difficult to get out of bed when you can actually hear the rain and wind battering your bedroom windows. Friday morning was no exception to this rule. Awaking early for my planned ride I thought, ‘it’s June, it can’t be that cold outside.’ Spoiler alert: it was pretty cold. Not only was itContinue reading “Like Riding Through Treacle”