Visiting the Assynt area in the North West Highlands last week was a wonderfully refreshing experience after months of Covid travel restrictions. This area has become more popular in recent years, since the concept of the NC500 (a circular 500 mile route around the north coast of Scotland) was floated in 2015. However, for muchContinue reading “Loneliness, solitude and wilderness”
Category Archives: coronavirus
Vaccination against Covid-19 – one for all and all for one?
Humans find sharing resources difficult. To protect against Covid-19 a global vaccination approach is required. The roll-out of vaccine has been very uneven with many African, Asian and South American countries having little capacity to cope alone. The COVAX scheme exists to deliver Covid vaccines to poorer countries but will it receive sufficient backing?
Bubbles and reflections
Walking and enjoying gardens offer the opportunity for reflection and for relaxing in a bubble of our own creation. The vaccination programme is well under way, but hospitals remain overstretched.
Public gardens can help provide a feel-good factor. The transformation of Saughton Park in Edinburgh to a vibrant community park/gardens is timely and heaven sent.
Trump card – winner or loser?
Danger for democracy or storm in a teacup Is the topsy -turvy aftermath of the 2020 US election a danger signal for democracy or the last despairing card being cast by Trump in the political saloon of Washington? Interest in the US election has been intense in the UK and even overshadowed developing news onContinue reading “Trump card – winner or loser?”
Seasons of sighs and mournful wistfulness
Autumn often arouses conflicting emotions. It affords pleasure in the wonderful colours of trees and hedgerows and the ripened fruits, nuts and berries of the growing season. Equally the decaying leaves, the shortening days and colder weather can dampen spirits. After months of living through the coronavirus pandemic I reflect on these feelings and touch on how Covid has affected the lives of 16-24 year olds.
Emergence
Visiting the caves at Lascaux is a memorable experience. From a sunny exterior you go into dark passageways dimly lit and then into the darker caves, where the prehistoric paintings are briefly lit up and the images of bison, deer and mammoths takes one back about 20,000 years to the age of prehistoric man inContinue reading “Emergence”
White swans and black birds
The situation in Scotland is changing rapidly as the first phase of lifting restrictions has started. The noise level in neighbour’s gardens and the amount of traffic in the streets around have both increased. There has been the smoke of barbecues in the air, laughter and singing from the nearby park and the occasional burstContinue reading “White swans and black birds”
The two faces of politics
The trouble with politics is that it all depends on your point of view. The current brouhaha over the recent behaviour of Dominic Cummings, the UK Prime Minister’s specialist adviser is a case in point. The facts are fairly simple and have been widely reported in the mainstream media. Mr Cummings drove his wife andContinue reading “The two faces of politics”
Touching distance
Touch is important from the very first moment of our lives. All round the world babies are placed in their mothers’ arms as soon as they are born, and so the process of bonding begins. This initial contact can be a life-changing moment and often women who did not feel particularly maternal in pregnancy suddenlyContinue reading “Touching distance”
Phases of the moon
During the lock down the weather in Scotland has been exceptional. None of those dank, dreich grey days with grey scudding clouds or days when the sky presses down like a heavy blanket and the relentless rain dampens body and soul. There has been a long period of sunny weather and we have been ableContinue reading “Phases of the moon”
Ramblingthreads 