“Are they still looking?” says the hedge.Read More
TBU ’11: A List Of Top Non-Tens
In the style of ieatmypigeon. With a dash of mobilelawyer-style list-hatred. And a dollop of laziness, because 10 is way too huge and my life is short.
Last Sunday I attended the second day of the Travel Bloggers Unite 2011 Conference in Manchester. I’ve always prided myself on being the kind of person that does things by halves, and this was no exception.
(Actually I was busy on Saturday, but it’s a good joke for no extra cost, so just shut the hell up).
Here are some lists of things I encountered during my time there. And because I hate top ten lists, these aren’t.Read More
Equipment Fail: 10 Traps of Travel Technology
“Does technology make travel less interesting?”, asks Guardian journalist Vicky Baker in this article and on her blog. It’s a question we so rarely asked – maybe because it’s so tricky to answer. (After all, it’s technology that is allowing us to even ask the question, making hypocrites of us before we’ve even started).
So what are the dangers of our travel-gadget habits – and what can we do about them before we truly lose our way?
(Personal disclaimer: I love technology, and I hate technology. I hope that’s clear. Thx).
Read More
Can We Really Be Friends?
Have you actually met any of these people?
– a large proportion of friends and family, to me, at various points in the last decade.
Hi.
There’s a very good chance that we’ve never met. But that’s okay – we can still be friends. And here’s why that is.Read More
Zeebrugge: Where I Couldn’t Leave Belgium Fast Enough
No ferry.
No ferry.Read More
I May Be Some Time
“Excuse me,” says my new neighbour as I lock up, shivering in the night air. “Do you live here?”
I squint through the glare of the front yard light while my mind explores what else I could possibly be, locking a front door behind me at 10pm. A very confused burglar? A very clever burglar?Read More
Why I Love Your Travel Writing
Oh, I love the way you write.
Seriously. Such a thrill. I’ve read a lot of travel writing (and a lot of “How To” travel writing) online and offline — and it’s such a relief to read someone who truly gets it. I love your stuff.
Here are three reasons why.Read More
The Blog Post I Least Want You To Read
One of the many Rules Of Successful Writing (because there’s more than two, so yes, I lied – get over it) is that all your first attempts will be terrible. Your first drafts will fail to convey anything except confusion. Your turns of phrase will horrify more people than the average song by Scouting For Girls. You will be one enormous fountaining mess of ineptitude, and you won’t know it for years. Rediscovered manuscripts will flay you with shame. Ideas that rang like cut crystal will now go *dink*. For the first time the length and breadth of your suckiness will be paraded before you. You will suffer.
So hey, let’s do some of that.Read More