For years I’ve perceived the town of Nairn to be a bottleneck on the A96 on the way to and from Inverness. Going through it was as pleasant as a visit to dentist’s. Although a couple of years or so ago I found in the local Sainsbury’s two kinds of flour that mixed together produce excellent bread. So, every now…
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It will be the second anniversary of my grandmother’s death in a couple of weeks’ time. I remember vividly that shortly before her Requiem Mass was due to commence, I was instructed to preach at it. I hate being put under pressure to have to craft a homily at the very last-minute, because it indicates either laziness on the part…
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I don’t have particularly fond memories of my previous walk along this stretch of the Speyside Way. Strong wind rendered any stops nearly impossible – unpleasant in the open and dangerous in the forest. Since that day I’ve been planning to walk it again in better weather. Such an opportunity came today. For my fellow walker this presented a chance…
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A lot has already been said and written about the past year as a year of highly surprising events; two of the most prominent were the Brexit Referendum and the US Presidential elections. Professional pollsters, commentators, clairvoyants and the like had made their predictions, only to be proven wrong when the actual events occurred. Last Friday’s official transition of power…
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A fellow walker gave me details of her walk she’d planned for the next day; it’s a relatively common and laudable custom among walkers – many lives have been saved thanks to it. At one point I realised that as my diary for that day was unusually empty – unlike the following day – I could actually join her for…