Then 2018 hit, like a ton of bricks. Sometimes you see life coming. Sometimes you create a perfect storm of inspiration and experiences. And sometimes life sneaks up, hikes your shirt over your head, and shoves you into open air, leaving you flailing for purchase. 2018 seemed determined to be all of those things. It’s […]
Oh Canada …
Seems there’s a lot of talk going around again about changing Canada’s national anthem to make it more gender neutral. Simply put, changing the line, “in all thy sons’ command” to “in all of us command.” Now a lot of folks are going to jump up and scream holy murder, wave their arms, and […]
Found something stuffed under the seat in the wayback machine…
14 years ago today I sat down to write a short article about someone who’d inspired me as a writer. If you know about Towel Day, you can guess that I’m referring to Douglas Adams. In 2001, Adams unexpectedly passed away. He may not have been prophetic, but he wrote some fantastic stories. Much like […]
To Live and Date in London
I can’t describe how much I hate the dating scene. Fuck, that’s a lie. I’m absolutely going to describe it. Otherwise, what’s the point of starting a post on such a polarising note? The stage is set. A semi-classy cocktail bar in London’s lush hive of nightlife known as Soho. Hints of nearby jazz drift in through […]
Everything Else You May Have Wanted to Know About Vienna
What more can I say about Vienna? I’ve really only covered it such as it was intertwined with Christmas. That’s fair. The holiday was the entire reason Vienna found itself so high up on my travel list. I’d intended to wallow a little in self pity over the holidays. Sit around, watch Netflix, maybe start […]
Frohe Weihnachten!
It feels somewhat unsettling to be writing about X-mas from the comfort of a sunny day in May … while enjoying a glass of wine … on a balcony in London … But hell, I didn’t start this blog with any adherence to chronology and it would be a shame to start worrying about that now. […]
Brief Interlude
One aspect I always overlook when moving is just how quickly everything novel becomes mundane. I’ve heard of theories like “The Blinking Factor”, which makes assumptions based on our brain’s ability to parse familiar data and streamline the ingestion of new information. In a nutshell, when you change your environment and pass your eyes over a […]
The Further Adventures of Aix in Provence
That’s it, when I’m done with this blog, I’m devoting my time to writing a wry adult-themed graphic novel following the adventures of a Aix: a time travelling tour guide from the 24th century, now trapped in the past. Everything he’s learned is a lie; the past isn’t some candy-coated funland with a dash of […]
Ah, la sud du France et l’eau azur du la méditerranéen
Conversations with friends will invariably drift into several key areas. Things of a sexual nature. Moments of self-deprecation. Instances steeped in awkwardness. I could go on, but it’s the awkwardness I want to focus on. I’ve had my shining moments, don’t get me wrong. I need only reminisce about my dating history to knock myself […]
What to Do When Life Throws You for a Loop
I know that the internet has sat rapt in anticipation for the conclusion of my travels in the lands of Cardiff. Suffice to say, despite my best efforts and intentions, I allowed delays and procrastination to get the better of me. It’s now been over a year since my trip to the Welsh capital and […]