These boots aren't made for walking
My lifestyle is probably tougher on boots than most people's; particularly in winter, but actually all year round. Consequently I've had (and worn out) a lot of pairs of boots. Three years ago I went into Tiso's mountaineering shop on Buchannan Street and asked for their strongest pair; they sold me a pair of Mammut boots, which I've worn ever since. But they're reaching the end of their life and it's time to decide what to wear next.
So I've been thinking a lot about why boots fail, and critically examining those old boots which I've not thrown away. The pair I wore before the Mammuts were by Scarpa, similar to these. They also lasted about three years. Prior to that I had a succession of pairs of Timberland boots much like this, which were light and comfortable (and much cheaper) but which wore out in nine months to a year. I've a much older pair of Loveson boots — bought more than thirty years ago while I was an undergraduate, and worn regularly for fifteen of those years; and still with some life in them.
How to introduce yourself
A quick guide to how to introduce yourself to people from other EU countries. This is the first step towards a t-shirt design, if anyone is interested. Probably white on saltire blue.
BG: Аз съм шотландски, а не британски CZ: Jsem skotský, ne britský DA: Jeg er skotsk, ikke britisk DE: Ich bin schottisch, nicht britisch EE: Ma olen Scottish mitte Briti FI: Olen skotlantilainen, ei brittiläinen FR: Je suis écossais, pas britannique GR: Είμαι Σκωτσέζος, όχι Βρετανός HR: Ja sam Škot/Škotkinja, ne Britanac/Britanka HU: Skót vagyok, nem brit IE: Tá mé hAlban, ní Breataine (or 'Is Albanach mé, ní Briotanach mé'?) IT: Sono scozzese, non britannico LI: Aš škotas, ne britas! (Male) Aš škotė, ne britė (Female) LV: Es esmu Skotijas, nevis Britu MT: Skoċċiżi, mhux Brittaniċi NE: Ik ben Schots, niet Brits PO: Jestem szkocka, a nie brytyjska PT: Eu sou escocês, não britânico RO: Sunt scoțian, nu britanic SCO (G): Chan e breatannach a th’annam; ‘s e albannach a th’annam SE: Jag är skotsk, inte brittisk SI: Sem Škotska, ni britanski SK: Som škótsky, nie britský SP: Soy escocés, no británico
The end of May. And now?
There was no possible good outcome from this general election; the outcome we've got is far from the worst we could have had. But it's time for the left in Scotland in general — and myself in particular — to reassess, and work out how we go forward.
First, let's be clear. For me at least, independence for Scotland is not an end in itself: it's a means towards achieving a more just, more equal and more peaceful world. If other means would achieve the same end more quickly or more certainly, independence would become much less important.
Don't be evil
Three and a half years ago, I went to work for a bank in Glasgow. It wasn't a Scottish bank (not that this necessarily makes much difference), it was an international bank. I knew before I went to work for it that this bank was evil, although how evil it was I didn't know until I'd worked there some time. I went to work for them because I needed a job, and they offered me one. No-one else, at the time, did.
I know it's wrong, I thought to myself, but I don't have any choice.
On the slaughter of our raptors
Dear Roseanna Cunningham
You'll have seen, I know, Raptor Persecution Scotland's letter to you following the slaughter of yet another hen harrier in Leadhills. Raptor Persecution Scotland are a gentle and polite body, and pull their punches rather dramatically.