Do You Ken John Peel?
Do You Ken John Peel? by James CollinsDo You Ken John Peel? My daughter Abi turned thirteen recently and as head of the family she thinks it's about time her parents became vegetarians. She has been a convert, with occasional lapses, for around two years. I'm certainly not against the idea. We hardly eat meat anyway; just the odd bacon sandwich and an extremely rare steak (rare in the numerical rather than the French culinary sense), but it would be good to lose that feeling of guilt...
Influences
Influences by James CollinsInfluences I think it was the Russian writer Tolstoy who said that the most significant revolutions were internal; in other words they happen individually and in your head. I can see what he meant, although if the old boy had been around in 1917 he might have bitten his lip.We tend to think of revolutions as being violent and bloody conflicts, which of course they are, the French, Russian and American Revolutions being prime examples. On the other hand, the...
Out of Africa
Out of Africa by James CollinsOut of Africa An Improbable Tail A few weeks ago there was a small stir of excitement in our area, which briefly lit up the gloom of our northern Scottish winter like the Northern Lights, which are quite visible to us at this latitude. Apparently a man - a Marine, no less - had walked, wearing nothing but a grin and a beard straight out of Lord of the Rings, from the south of England into Scotland, up past Loch Ness and the Highlands where I live, and on to the...
Patch - a Scottish Collie
Patch - a Scottish Collie by James CollinsScottish Pet Portraits Patch A Scottish Collie It seems as if I've always had dogs around; in my work as a pet portrait artist, under my feet or occupying my favourite chair at home. And also in memories stretching way back into the mists of time, by which, for the curious and the literal, I mean the sixties. The first dog I can remember as a toddler was called Bonzo (yes, well, I told you it was a long time ago and I think it was probably quite a...
The Texas Trail
The Texas Trail by James CollinsThe Texas Trail A few weeks ago I received an email from my ISP company. For those who don't know what that is, it's a company which hosts websites. This particular organisation is very large and very well known. I'll call it 'Wahoo!' The email was to the effect that due to an error on their part, Wahoo! had not been billing me for the last six months. Since the fault was theirs they were going to cut their losses and not charge me.Very civilized of them to...
With Great Reverence
With Great Reverence by James CollinsWith Great Reverence One of the things I meant to do when I returned to Scotland four years ago was to look up an old Scottish friend that I'd last seen some twenty years ago in London. In truth I had a whole hatful of ambitions and intentions on my list, and rather to my own surprise and to the utter amazement of my wife and daughter, I've gradually managed to tick them off over the last few years. Alright, I know you can't wait to find out what was on...
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