Rice Pudding for dinner

My dad died this week. I can’t be at his funeral in the UK, which is tough. I’ve written a few lines about him. Some memories to create a kind of sketch of who he was, to me.

A tragic 4-line, food-based, break-up poem

Enjoy my tragic 4 -line, food-based, break-up poem.

I predicted David Bowie’s death

David Bowie sat on the edge of a long white sofa in the roof garden of a Casablanca hotel. A low behind separated him from the city skyline. Glowing paper lanterns swung in the warm evening breeze.

Be my guest: the awkwardness of local hospitality

Ever been served up a cow’s vertebrae? Or a pile of deep-fried crispy Tarantulas? 

That time I accidentally exchanged money on the black market

‘All fur coat and no knickers’ is how I’d describe my hotel in Uzbekistan. A northern England expression describing something, or more often someone, that is all style over substance.

How did this nervous traveller land himself in Uzbekistan?

Arriving at a foreign airport unable to speak the language or read any of the airport signs is daunting. Shit-scary but thrilling too for this nervous traveller.

A Yorkshire Horror Story

A true story of how a short break in a charming Yorkshire village turned to bloody horror.

I’m covered in blood. I don’t know why.

Not-so shaggy dog story: a brush with death

An ordinary visit to the park turns into a near-death experience. As I dutifully pick up his shit, my dogs runs toward a busy main road.

Watch wild Elephants while you drink a beer

There is a place in Kenya where you can watch Elephants and other wildlife from the safety of a treehouse. This iconic location also has a historic past.

Is a Bucket List a good idea?

Bucket Lists are incredibly popular. But by creating one you may be setting yourself up for disappointment. This post explains why.

Exploring Sydney Beyond the Opera House

See wild Kangaroos up close. Drink a beer with the locals in one of the fantastic ‘secret bars’. These are activities don’t appear in the Sydney guide books.

The problem with meditation

I’m a fan of meditation but I get distracted. Asked to visualise a mountain scene, my imagination runs amok. I’m soon ‘off script’ chatting to my favourite aunty.

Save the Hull Banksy. But save the BHS Mural Too.

For a moment, Hull received global attention again. A painting of a boy brandishing a wooden sword appeared overnight. A graffiti-art gift from Banksy.

Hull UK City of Culture viewed from Down Under

Hull UK City of Culture received extensive press coverage in the UK. What about other parts of the world? Australia for example?

Unusual things to do in Canada: prison accommodation

Looking for unusual things to do in Canada? Visiting Ottawa? You should try incarcerating yourself in a real prison. I did.

My biggest travel disappointment

Aged 22 I travelled around the world. A 4 week bus trip across Canada was the final leg. Here I was to experience my biggest travel disappointment.

The 5 top murals in Newtown (Australia)

Visiting Sydney? When you’re done with the harbour, beaches and Opera House, drag your tired, tourist ass over to Newtown to see the murals.

5 ways to get lucky in 2019

2018 didn’t go your way? Lady Luck pissed on your chips? If the answer is yes, you’re probably desperate enough to try some superstitious claptrap. You’re in the right place.

Why Christmas in Australia is shit (and 5 tips to survive it)

Christmas in Australia is shit. Perfect, cloudless blue sky, stunning beaches and relaxed bonhomie. It’s intolerable.

South King Street: the rough end of Newtown, Sydney

South King Street, previously the rough end of Newtown, has taken the well-trodden path to gentrification. But isn’t playing by the usual rules.