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  I’ve just checked, and as of this afternoon, it’s all still there: three keyboards, a crash helmet, two desktop computers (you can just see the towers) and an English flag (or Cross of St George if you prefer), complete with pole. This is how I found the skip last night, just along from the…

It’s not for everyone, but Neal Stephenson’s three-volume (nine in some countries) 3000-odd page epic (Quicksilver, The Confusion, The System of the World) is a truly titanic achievement. I’ve just finished reading it for the second time, on this occasion in one great continuous and hugely indulgent splurge. I’m itching to re-read the prequel/sequel Cryptonomicon,…

James (17 this month), whose infatuation with carbon-fibre-forked racing bicycles has lapsed of late, decided yesterday to take the Revolution Continental out for a spin. Foolishly, I agreed to accompany him on the trusty Orbit for the 15-mile thrash up to the Eshaness lighthouse and back. The weather was fantastic (again; in the words of…

All I’ll say is that the punchline involves a Harley Davidson…cheers to a senior traffic policeman for sending me this.

In 1973 I bought, simply as a result of seeing a poster of the cover, Leo Kottke’s live album My Feet Are Smiling. This led to hours, days, weeks, years of messing around with open tunings, bottlenecks (including a mild injury sustained while trying to cut the neck off a wine bottle). And the purchase,…

Another beautiful, calm night – just perfect for Linda and Christina’s surprise birthday party at the excellent Braewick Cafe. The view from Braewick, over to the Hillswick Drongs and beyond, was exquisite. It was a splendid night all told – great food, music, chat AND weather. Magnus and Christina have made a great success of…

Best buy from eBay so far, the old Volvo 240 Torslanda SAILED through its MOT and is now ready for James to learn to drive in…it’s a primitive old beast but the turning circle is smaller than anything else on the road and good grief, it’s tough. According to Steve Woodward, formerly of Hampshire Police,…

To the Hillswick Hall (just across the road from The Radiocroft) for the local outpouring of Shetland Folk Festival activity. A fine night too, bright and calm. The hall was absolutely packed – most events at the festival sell out quickly – and a good night was had by all. I was particularly impressed by…

An extraordinary piece about the death of an American soldier in Iraq. Be warned, it’s extremely long and harrowing, but this is what Pulitzer Prizes are provided for. It’s from Esquire, so be prepared, in addition, for pictures of Posh Spice and various other women wearing hardly any clothes. It’s the incredibly detailed reporting that…