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In the last few days, for perhaps obvious reasons, I’ve found myself thinking a lot about Pandora and her box, but I realised that I don’t know her full story, so here it is. It all begins with Prometheus, who … Continue reading
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Picture this. It is early morning. He is sitting in a lime green moulded plastic armchair on a little terrace, looking across a river. The light has not yet hardened and the water is still as glass. He is in … Continue reading
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For the next five-plus weeks, this is my office. We got here at the end of last week after an exhausting ten days packing up the house for AirBnB guests, followed immediately by a two-week, 2,000-mile road trip, visiting family … Continue reading
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In the centre of our village of Birnam stands the Birnam Hotel, a large Victorian hotel. It was built in 1850 at a time when, following the queen’s example, tourists were starting to discover the majesty of the Highlands. When … Continue reading
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Orkney is a gentle, green time machine. While the waters around it carry stories of sea-faring and exploration and the drama of two world wars, the land – low-lying pasture pocked with shallow scoops of water – tells a much … Continue reading
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Stromness on Sunday is quiet. Very quiet. In another era one might imagine the whole town to be at prayer. The cobbled main steet is deserted. We glimpse the harbour in splashes of vivid blue at the bottom of wynds … Continue reading
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In a city centre park in Asheville, North Carolina, there is a signpost with markers indicating six Sister Cities around the world. One of these points to Dunkeld and Birnam (3808 miles). I live there. Dunkeld and Birnam is not … Continue reading
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This weekend I’m chairing two events at the Winter Words book festival in Pitlochry. The authors have a couple of things in common. They both come from the Northern Isles, one from Orkney, one from Shetland. And they are both, … Continue reading
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I’m feeling strangely enlivened after a Christmas that should, by most measures, have been exhausting: thirteen nights away, seven different beds, 1700 miles in the car. I think this cold weather has something to do with it. When we first … Continue reading
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Yesterday evening I met with my friend and colleague Richard Pelletier. We came together with the small group of four writers we’re currently supporting as they progress with personal writing projects. The meeting was online, not least because Richard lives … Continue reading
The extraordinary story of Jamie's great-great-uncle: politician, horseman, writer, adventurer, visionary and humanitarian
Making a deeper connection with words - the acclaimed creative writing programme
12 chapters, 12 authors, the collective wisdom from 15 years of running courses around the world
A masterclass in business writing and communication from John Simmons and Jamie Jauncey.
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