Careless

Posted on March 12, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

I took a long time to get started in adult life. After university and a false start in London I took off and travelled in South America. I was 23. When I came back, a year later, I was rich … Continue reading →

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The empathy revolution

Posted on March 6, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

I’m most grateful to all the people who have been in touch following the last two posts about my grandfather’s experiences on the Arctic Convoys. Coincidentally, as my cousin pointed out in his comment two weeks ago, my maternal grandfather … Continue reading →

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Convoy (continued)

Posted on February 27, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

On 27 June 1942, convoy PQ17 set sail from Hvalfjord in Iceland for the Russian port of Archangel. The convoy comprised 35 merchant ships and a close escort of destroyers, submarines, smaller craft and two anti-aircraft ships, one of which, … Continue reading →

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Convoy

Posted on February 20, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

Last week the chef at my mother’s care home handed me a hefty tome entitled The Arctic Convoys, 1941-1945 (a man of eclectic tastes he has previously lent me a DVD of Cream at the Albert Hall). As a keen … Continue reading →

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Whose truth?

Posted on February 13, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

‘I thought it was Mum who had the idea for the bus, not Dad,’ said my brother, in response to my post here last week about our teenage hideout. It’s a common enough exchange between siblings, and one that surely … Continue reading →

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Magic bus

Posted on February 6, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

I wrote last week about acting on wild ideas. My father was a judge. As the profession would suggest, he was the most rational of men and not given to frequent flights of the imagination. Occasionally, though, he surprised us … Continue reading →

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Come to the edge

Posted on January 30, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

I spent the day in Edinburgh on Tuesday discussing the future of Dark Angels with Stuart and John at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society. Round one of our AGM, at Heathrow Terminal Five, three weeks ago, had proved insufficient for … Continue reading →

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Winter spell

Posted on January 23, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

The last four days have felt like real winter. The thermometer has hardly risen above zero since I arrived here. The cold bites my cheeks as soon as I step outside and the snow crunches underfoot. Through the picture windows … Continue reading →

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Silver linings

Posted on January 16, 2015 by Jamie Jauncey

It might seem hard to look forward to anything on a day like this – with heavy grey skies, wind and rain, several inches of snow turning to a watery slush and news of snowgates closed on major roads a … Continue reading →

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No turkey

Posted on December 12, 2014 by Jamie Jauncey

Winter has arrived. In Birnam we’re frost-bound and wearing a light coat of snow. These conditions may persist for some time. The one drawback to this otherwise lovely place is that we’re down by the river at the bottom of … Continue reading →

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