The Girdle of Melian

appy New Year! Today is also... Insecure Writer's Support Group Day ! Insecure Writer's Support Group A database resource site and support group for writers and authors. Featuring weekly guests and tips, a monthly blogfest gathering, a Facebook group, and thousands of links – all to benefit writers! #IWSG Website / Facebook Group / Fast Five Free Gift - Mobi / Epub / Pdf “Purpose: To share and encourage. Writers can express doubts and concerns without fear of appearing foolish or weak. Those who have been through the fire can offer assistance and guidance. It’s a safe haven for insecure writers of all kinds! Posting: The first Wednesday of every month is officially Insecure Writer’s Support Group day. Post your thoughts on your own blog. Talk about your doubts and the fears you have conquered. Discuss your struggles and triumphs. Offer a word of encouragement for others who are struggling. Visit others in the group and connect with your fellow writer - aim for a doz...

ecember, into January! Yes, these photos are from the end of October but I wanted to keep sharing! Wishing everyone happy holidays and a Happy New Year! This post will be up until the first Insecure Writer's Support Group Day post of January 2026. Wow. Time flies. Soon this blog will be two decades old! Lighthouse books! Old Edinburgh buildings... At the National Museum! Lewis chesspieces (last visited at the British Museum in 2022  and right here, in 2019 !) Cooking pot! Candleholders! Playing cards (below) Steam locomotive! Pie at Deacon Brodie's Tavern Cranachan! Hume Adam Smith (below) A Wullie for Old Tom Tote bag from Lighthouse I've sort of been collecting the You Are Here mugs. But I didn't buy this one--they keep going up in price! Interesting clouds over the Jura mountains... The Alps! This is a photo from a newsletter from Astrobotic; an update on the Griffin-1 mission. I really need to write a post detailing what's going on with the Writers on t...

ovember! The current running joke, because I'm still writing about October ... I finally got a photo next to a sign from my alma mater! University of Edinburgh, class of 2020 (Master's degree) The former Hispaniola, where Robert Louis Stevenson used to hang out A soup tureen! Arthur's Seat The Roxy Central, former home of Lady Glenorchy's Parish Church  Early afternoon walk between Braid Hill and Blackford Hill (Edinburgh, one of the seven-hill cities of the world (Istanbul is another)!) A Swiss connection I hadn't known before! Still trying to identify hawthorns ... Leaf and Bean cafe in Morningside! Having some fun with Our Flag Means Death characters (the artist is SamiKelsh !) Where do you like to take walks?