Personal

Article — 10 December 2020 — 236 words

Isobel Skye Oliver Stephen

Personal

Two weeks ago our daughter Isobel was born.

Article — 20 October 2020 — 559 words

James Middlemass & Co — Boys’ Outfitters — found under the floorboards

Edinburgh — Personal — Society

During our kitchen renovation, we found this under the floorboards. It is a “Boys’ Outfitters” catalogue for James Middlemass & Co. We think it dates from around the 1880s.

Article — 29 September 2020 — 1,769 words

Getting a kitchen and study renovation done during lockdown

Personal

As lockdown eased slightly during the summer, our flat became busy with our delayed renovation.

Article — 26 June 2020 — 1,124 words

Lockdown projects — Month 3

Music — Personal — Running

As lockdown eased, small craft projects made way for some much larger home improvement projects.

Article — 19 May 2020 — 1,069 words

Lockdown projects — Month 2

Personal — Running

As the lockdown continues, we’re continuing to find ways to keep ourselves busy.

Article — 21 April 2020 — 1,175 words

Lockdown projects — Month 1

Personal

Each weekend during lockdown, we’re trying to make at least one new thing. These are the little projects giving us a reason to get up at the weekends.

Article — 1 April 2020 — 2,180 words

Adapting to the new normal

Current affairs — Personal — Politics — Society — Work

One of the (many) strange features of the coronavirus outbreak is that in many ways I feel busier than I have ever been. It is almost three weeks since I was last in my office, yet I haven’t had the time to commit my thoughts to writing.

Article — 26 February 2020 — 478 words

Hey Presto

Personal

Sometimes, when I think about my earliest days, I remember Presto. Even as a very young child, in the very early 90s, Presto seemed like a supermarket from a bygone age.

Article — 23 February 2020 — 2,748 words

Our honeymoon in Mauritius (part 2)

Personal — Travel

After spending a few days in Réunion, the second part of our honeymoon saw us staying in Mauritius.

Article — 9 February 2020 — 2,737 words

Our honeymoon in Mauritius and Réunion (part 1)

Personal — Photography — Travel

In September, Alex and I had our “big” honeymoon, in Mauritius and Réunion. It was a holiday that perfectly balanced adventure and chill.

Article — 18 January 2020 — 1,656 words

5k 6–X — The next five parkruns

Edinburgh — Running

In my blog post about my first five parkruns, I told the story of how I unexpectedly beat my 5k personal best at Highbury Fields parkrun. This post outlines what happened in my next five parkruns, where I got some unexpected personal bests and lost a whole run.

Article — 4 January 2020 — 1,626 words

2019/2020

Cycling — Edinburgh — Personal — Running

Christmas and new year is a time for reflection for most people. It never seems to work that way for me.