[WrenX]'s diary

1171534  Link to this entry 
Written about Sunday 2024-08-18
Written: (14 days ago)

18 August 2024: The Aftermath of the Night Before


I take immense pride in embodying the very quintessence of decorum, a woman whose poise and grace are the crowning achievements of a life meticulously curated. To maintain such a façade is an art in itself, a delicate balance I have refined with the precision of a master painter. Each gesture, each word, is carefully chosen to uphold the image I have so diligently crafted. And yet, there exists an amber-hued elixir, beguiling and potent, with the peculiar power to unravel this finely woven tapestry. Whisky, that most seductive of spirits, slips into my glass with the stealth of a sorcerer, awakening within me a persona long suppressed—a creature less bound by the strictures of propriety and far more inclined to indulge in the intoxicating allure of abandon.

And so it is that today, I find myself paying dearly for this nocturnal metamorphosis. My head, as heavy as the morning fog upon the moors, pulses with the remnants of last night’s revelry, while my stomach churns with the bitter remnants of overindulgence. Yet, even in the throes of this self-inflicted torment, I must declare, with the fervour of a seasoned hedonist, that the Scottish fry-up is a remedy beyond compare. Let others debate the merits of various cures; I, with the conviction of one who has danced too close to the edge, know that no balm soothes the aftermath of such excess as splendidly as this gloriously greasy feast.

But I must not allow myself to be entirely swept away by the present malaise. Instead, let me transport you back to the events that precipitated this morning’s discomfort. Last night was, in a word, exquisite. As the appointed photographer for the occasion and a proud daughter of the Highlands, it was my unrivalled pleasure to capture the essence of a true Scottish wedding. While my usual sphere is one of refined elegance, there are moments when I yearn for the unbridled chaos of a ceilidh, where formality gives way to fervour, and the night unravels in a riot of music, laughter, and spirited dance.

The evening was a veritable kaleidoscope of colour and emotion, each moment more vivid than the last. The bride, resplendent in her gown, and the groom, rugged and radiant in his tartan, embodied the very spirit of Highland romance. And I, through the lens of my camera, preserved it all—the joy, the tears, the fleeting glances of love that spoke volumes. But as the night deepened and the whisky began to flow with reckless abandon, I felt myself irresistibly drawn into the heart of the celebration, casting aside the role of observer for that of participant.

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There is a certain enchantment in a ceilidh, a wild, untamed energy that sweeps all who partake into its joyous embrace. So, when my duties as a vendor concluded, I was graciously invited to join in the revelry, and I danced. Oh, how I danced! With each turn, each spirited leap, I felt the constraints of decorum melt away, replaced by a thrilling sense of freedom. And as is custom at a ceilidh, the whisky was flowing, each glass more liberating than the last.

At one particularly memorable moment, I found myself being flung about the room by a Highlander dressed in the very tartan of my own family—Gow, to be precise. It was only later, when the dance had ended and the night began to wane, that I discovered this dashing partner was, in fact, a distant cousin. Such are the perils of dancing in the small, remote villages of the Highlands—one never knows when the exuberance of the ceilidh might lead to a reunion of blood as well as of spirit!

It was a night that may very well have wreaked havoc upon my liver, but oh, how it filled my soul with a warmth that no elixir could ever rival. The memories of that evening, like the most delicate of perfumes, linger in the air, a heady mix of laughter, whisky, and the wild abandon of the ceilidh. Even now, as I sit here nursing the aftereffects of my indulgence, I cannot help but smile at the thought of it all—the music, the dance, the unexpected familial ties discovered in the midst of joyous chaos.

But as with all such nights of excess, the time comes to face the sobering light of day. My body, craving reprieve, demands a moment of clarity before I embark on the journey back up north. The train awaits, ready to carry me away from the revelry and return me to the solace of the Highlands, where my little bothy stands nestled among the hills that have been my refuge these past months.

As the train rumbles northward, I know that the journey ahead will be one of quiet reflection. The past evening, with it's whirlwind of activity and emotion, have left me longing for the peace and solitude of my bothy. There, amidst the heather and the bracken, I shall find the space to breathe, to think, and perhaps to recover from the delightful excesses of last night.

The Highlands have a way of restoring the soul, of reminding one of the simple joys of existence. The brisk wind on my face, the scent of pine in the air, the distant call of a lone bird—these are the things that ground me, that bring me back to myself after the whirlwind of life’s more decadent moments.

So, as I settle into my seat, the train’s gentle sway lulling me into a state of quiet contemplation, I look forward to the days ahead. To long walks in the hills, to evenings by the fire in my little bothy, and to the serenity that comes from being alone with one’s thoughts. The night may have been one of indulgence, but now, it is time for restoration, for the soothing balm of the Highlands to work its magic.
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Back to the highlands


As I stepped off the train and into the cool air of Fort William, the familiar sight of Fionn waiting near the platform brought a wave of relief. His tall, sturdy frame stood out among the few others milling about, and his presence, solid and dependable as ever, was exactly what I needed after the whirlwind of last night. Fionn, though a stranger to these Highlands, had become a trusted friend in this remote part of the world, and his easy smile as he caught sight of me was like a balm for my weary soul.

“Welcome back,” he said, his voice laced with that unmistakable Irish lilt as he moved forward to take the heavier of my bags. “I trust the festivities were worth the pain you’re in now?”

“Oh, the festivities were grand,” I replied with a rueful smile, “but the aftermath? Less so.” I handed over my luggage, grateful for his help as we made our way to the car.

Once we reached his vehicle, Fionn opened the passenger door for me with a gentlemanly flourish. As I settled into the seat, he reached into the back and produced a canned bottle, handing it to me with a grin that was both knowing and sympathetic. “I figured your true Scottish self would come out last night. Thought you’d need something for the hangover. Those always help me when I’ve gone a bit too hard the night before.”

I looked at the bottle in my hand—a Huel Daily A-Z vitamin drink, caffeinated for that extra boost—and couldn’t help but laugh. “You know me too well already, Fionn,” I said, cracking the cap of the can and taking a tentative sip. The cool, slightly sweet liquid was a welcome change from the whisky that had dominated my palate the night before. “This is just what I needed.”

Fionn chuckled as he started the car and pulled out onto the road. “There’s nothing like a good hangover remedy, even if it comes in the form of a fancy modern drink. You’ll be right as rain in no time.”

The drive northward was quiet, save for the low hum of the engine and the occasional chirp of birds in the distance. The landscape outside the window was as breathtaking as ever, the rugged peaks and deep valleys bathed in the soft light of the early evening. As the gentle curves of the road carried us deeper into the Highlands, I felt the tension begin to melt away, replaced by the familiar comfort of the hills I had come to love.

Fionn, sensing my need for quiet, let the silence linger, though his presence was a constant reassurance. There was something uniquely soothing about his company, the way he understood without needing to be told, the way he offered support without making a fuss. We shared a bond, both of us outsiders in this ancient land, I, a native born to Edinburgh but living abroad most my life, and he, a native to county Clare Ireland, yet somehow more at home here than anywhere else.

As we drove, I sipped on the drink, feeling the caffeine and vitamins begin to work their magic, slowly bringing me back to life. By the time we reached the outskirts of the village, I was feeling more like myself, the fog in my head lifting as we neared the place I had come to call home.

“Thanks for this,” I said, holding up the now half-empty bottle. “And for the lift. It’s good to know I’ve got someone looking out for me up here.”

Fionn glanced over with a smile. “We look out for our own, don’t we? Besides, what’s a neighbour for if not to help you recover from a proper Scottish wedding?”

I grinned, feeling a warmth that had nothing to do with the drink in my hand. “Aye, that we do.”

As we pulled into the village, the familiar sights of the little community greeted me—small stone cottages, the tiny local pub, and the rolling hills that stretched out beyond, untouched and wild. Fionn parked the car outside my bothy, and I gathered my things, feeling an immense sense of gratitude for this place and the people in it.

Before I got out, I turned to Fionn, a thought occurring to me. “You know, you should come by later this week. I’ll cook us something, and we can trade stories—Highlands versus Ireland. It’ll be good to catch up properly.”

His eyes lit up at the suggestion. “Sounds like a plan. I’ll bring the whisky this time—just a wee dram, of course.”

“Of course,” I agreed with a laugh, knowing full well that with Fionn, a ‘wee dram’ could mean anything. But that was part of the charm, part of the reason I was glad to have found a friend in this remote corner of the world.

With a final wave, I stepped out of the car, my feet crunching on the path that led to my bothy. As I watched Fionn drive off, I took a deep breath, the crisp Highland air filling my lungs and clearing the last remnants of the night before. It was good to be back, good to return to the quiet, steady rhythm of life in the Highlands. And with friends like Fionn, I knew that even in this isolated place, I was never truly alone.



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1171533  Link to this entry 
Written about Saturday 2024-08-17
Written: (14 days ago)

17 August 2024



I have nestled myself within the embrace of this secluded bothy for several months now, and the passage of time has wrought its inevitable transformation upon the land. The once radiant summer, with its golden warmth and languid days, has begun to retreat, yielding to the delicate yet inexorable advance of autumn’s russet hues. Soon, the Scottish winter shall descend upon these rugged highlands—a season of bleak desolation and a chill that creeps into the very marrow of one’s bones.

Last night, as I reclined in my bed, enveloped in the comforting solace of a well-worn book, my thoughts drifted to the ancient whispers of a legend that haunts these lands—the Baobhan Sith. This spectral creature of the fae, so they say, prowls the wild and desolate moors, seeking out the unwary. Drawn to those who, under the cloak of night, take refuge in these lonely bothies or pitch their camps amidst the brooding hills—often hunters by intent, but all too easily becoming the hunted.

The very thought of such a being, with its ethereal beauty masking a ravenous hunger, sent a chill through me, one that had little to do with the encroaching cold. The boundaries between myth and reality seem to blur in these desolate places, where the land itself breathes with secrets, and the night is as treacherous as it is dark.

"You must never disrespect the wee folk. Always regard them with the utmost respect and reverence," my seanmhair, my dear grandmother, would often remind me in the soft, lilting tones of her native tongue. Her words, like so many of her teachings, were steeped in the ancient wisdom of our people—a wisdom that transcended the boundaries of time and place. No matter where life’s capricious winds had carried us, whether to the bustling streets of distant cities or the quiet corners of some far-flung countryside, our home was ever steeped in the old ways, the air thick with the scent of tradition and superstition.

Even now, as a woman wandering the world with a camera perpetually slung over my shoulder, I find myself unable to shake those early lessons, the rituals of respect ingrained so deeply in my soul. There is something profoundly comforting in their simplicity, a connection to a past that feels ever-present, even amidst the modernity of the world.

One such ritual, simple yet laden with meaning, remains with me to this day: the offering of cream or honey on the west side of the home, a humble gift for the wee folk, those mysterious, unseen denizens of the natural world. To some, it might seem a quaint or even foolish practice, a relic of a bygone era. But to me, it is an act of reverence, a way of acknowledging the ancient forces that shape our lives in ways we cannot always comprehend.

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I awoke at the first light of dawn, the lingering shadows of night swiftly dissolving into the soft grey of the morning mist. The thought of the Baobhan Sith, that haunting spectre of the highlands, had dissipated with the coming day, as if it were nothing more than a fleeting dream, a shadow passing over the soul. I busied myself with the mundane tasks of the morning, preparing a cup of coffee that steamed in the cool air, its warmth a small comfort as I readied myself for the journey ahead.

Today, the solitude of the bothy would give way to the company of others, as I made my way to the nearby village, where a dear friend had graciously offered me a lift to the train station. The artist’s life, for all its romanticism, is one of perpetual movement—a dance between the solitary creation and the communal celebration. This day’s travel was for the latter, a journey to the small seaside town of Oban, where the echoes of a wedding I had captured in May would find their final refrain in a late summer reception.

As I prepared for the evening’s work, the familiar rhythm of my craft brought a sense of calm. The camera, that faithful companion, felt like an extension of my own eye, poised to immortalise yet another moment in time, as fleeting and ephemeral as the seasons themselves. The bride, whose joy I had once captured beneath the burgeoning blossoms of spring, had chosen to gather her loved ones by the sea, where the winds would carry the echoes of their laughter across the waves.

The task ahead was a familiar one, yet each assignment carries its own peculiar charm, a uniqueness that only reveals itself in the unfolding of the day. As I made my way down from the highlands, leaving behind the rugged beauty of the moors, I found myself caught between two worlds—the wild, untamed spirit of the land I had called home these past months, and the gentler, more cultivated landscape that awaited me.

Oban, with its quaint charm and the vast expanse of sea that cradles it, was a world apart from the desolate grandeur of the highlands. Yet, in both, there was beauty to be found—beauty that, once captured, could be savoured long after the moment had passed, like the memory of a lover’s kiss, or the whisper of an ancient legend on the wind.

The bride, in her graciousness, has extended an invitation for me to stay the night and partake in the ceilidh—a tradition as vibrant and full of life as the very land itself. There is a certain magic in such gatherings, where music and merriment weave a tapestry of human connection, and where the cares of the world are momentarily forgotten in the whirl of the dance.

I confess, there is a certain allure in the prospect of the evening ahead. A night spent not merely as the observer, capturing moments from behind the lens, but as a participant—dancing, laughing, and perhaps indulging in a wee bit of drinking, as is the custom in such joyous occasions. The thought brings a smile to my lips as I imagine the night unfolding in a riot of music and laughter, the shadows of the highlands left far behind.

Tomorrow, when the first light of dawn once again peeks through the curtains, I shall return to this journal—my faithful companion in solitude—and regale the zero souls who read it with tales of my night’s adventures. There will be stories of work, of dancing, and of the small pleasures that make life all the more rich.

And though no one may ever read these words, the act of writing them will be enough—a quiet celebration of the life I lead, caught between the wild beauty of nature and the fleeting joys of human connection.


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1171532  Link to this entry 
Written about Friday 2024-08-16
Written: (15 days ago)

16 August 2024


Once more, Elvis presides as my companion, his voice a rich, velvety thread weaving through the fabric of my day. The vinyl records, their grooves etched with the soulful cadence of his songs, spin beneath the needle with a satisfying crackle, a symphony of nostalgia that would surely cause any true Elvis aficionado to blush with envy. His music fills the air, a warm, resonant balm against the relentless downpour outside. The rain, far heavier than yesterday's gentle drizzle, drums incessantly against the windows, its rhythm steady and unyielding. The birds, those usual choristers of the Highlands, have fallen silent, their songs swallowed by the sombre grey of the storm.

Today has been one of quiet industry, my time divided between the ceaseless flow of emails and the meticulous task of editing, each image a piece of art waiting to emerge from the digital canvas. There is a certain satisfaction in this work, a meditative quality to the process that allows my mind to wander, even as my hands remain engaged. Yet, as the hours slip by, I am acutely aware of the preparations that must be made for tomorrow’s journey. The evening train will carry me to Oban, a town cradled by the sea and steeped in history, where I have been commissioned to photograph a wedding reception. The thought of it stirs a quiet excitement within me—a chance to capture the fleeting beauty of love, framed against the rugged charm of the Scottish coast.

The bride and groom, in a gesture of warm hospitality, have extended an invitation for me to stay the night and partake in the ceilidh that will follow. It has been many years since I last attended a proper ceilidh, that joyous celebration of music and dance that is so intrinsic to our culture. The prospect fills me with anticipation, a rekindling of fond memories long buried beneath the sands of time. I even found myself rummaging through the recesses of my wardrobe to unearth a pair of proper dance shoes, their leather softened by years of use but still as sturdy as ever.

I must have been in my early twenties, full of the carefree vigour that youth affords. It was another traditional wedding, much like the one I am to attend tomorrow, where the evening air was thick with the mingling scents of whisky and heather, and the laughter of old friends echoed through the hall. I remember finding myself swept into the arms of a young man clad in a rugged kilt, his presence as commanding as the Highlands themselves. His hands were firm and sure as he led me into the Gay Gordons, the familiar steps falling into place as if we had rehearsed them a hundred times before.

He spun me with such enthusiasm that the world became a blur of tartan and smiles, the room spinning faster than my feet could keep up. There was a wildness to his movements, a reckless abandon that sent us both careening around the dance floor, our laughter mingling with the music in a dizzying crescendo. He twirled me a little too vigorously, and I felt my balance falter, my feet barely grazing the ground as I was pulled into his orbit. But that, of course, is the essence of a true ceilidh—a dance that leaves you breathless, your heart pounding not just from the exertion but from the sheer joy of it all.

By the time the music faded and we stumbled to a halt, I was breathless, my cheeks flushed with exertion and exhilaration. I could already feel the telltale twinge of what would soon become a spectacular bruise on my shin, a mark of honour from the night’s revelries. It isn’t a true ceilidh if you don’t leave with a few bruises, a small price to pay for the unbridled joy of the dance. As I think back on that night, I find myself smiling at the memory—the aching muscles, the sore feet, the way we all staggered out into the cool night air, still laughing, still caught in the rhythm of the music that had long since ended.

I often find myself wondering what became of that boy, the one who spun me through the night with such reckless joy. Now, in my late twenties, the details of that evening have softened around the edges, like a well-loved photograph faded by time. His name eludes me, slipping through the grasp of memory like mist on a Highland morning. Yet, I hold on to the hope that wherever he is, he is still enjoying a ceilidh or two this season, his laughter mingling with the music as it once did with mine. Perhaps he, too, thinks back on our one night together with a smile, remembering the wild energy of our dance, the way we were carried away by the music and the moment.

As for tomorrow, I will step into the festivities with anticipation, ready to be swept up once more in the whirl of kilts and the lively strains of the fiddle. Yet, I shall exercise a measure of restraint, ensuring that the whisky does not flow too freely. It would be a shame to lose myself entirely to the night, only to wake the next morning with the faces and names of those I met blurred and indistinct, like a dream half-remembered. No, I will savour the evening, but with a clear mind, so that I might capture each detail, each fleeting moment, and pen them here in the quiet hours that follow.

For it is not just the dance that I cherish, but the stories that linger in its wake—the faces, the conversations, the shared glances that might otherwise be lost to the passage of time. And so, tomorrow, I will dance and drink and laugh, but I will also remember, carefully storing away each memory to be woven into the tapestry of these pages.

In other news, I find myself in the curious position of having completed my work for the day, only to be met with a discovery that borders on the tragic—I am nearly out of whisky. The very notion seems to mock the sanctity of a Scottish home, where such an oversight is nothing short of sacrilege. What kind of abode, nestled within the mists of the Highlands, would allow its whisky supply to dwindle so perilously close to nothing? The thought alone is enough to make one shudder.

I completed my tasks with a sense of quiet satisfaction, the kind that comes only from a day well-spent, and I had looked forward to the small ritual that signals the day’s end: a glass of whisky, its rich amber glow catching the firelight as it swirls in the glass, a liquid sunset held captive by crystal. Yet, as I reached for the bottle, a most unsettling truth revealed itself—the level had sunk dangerously low, a scant few drops remaining to fend off the encroaching night.

What manner of home is this, where the hearth is warm, the air thick with the scent of peat, yet the glass is empty of its rightful fill? It is as if a violin were missing its strings, a canvas left untouched by paint. The whisky bottle stands there, a solemn witness to my negligence, the glass growing ever lighter with each pour, each sip a reminder of what little remains.

And so, with a mix of resignation and bemusement, I shall pour what is left and savour it as one might savour the last rose of summer, knowing it is the final bloom before the frost. I shall sit by the fire, the night pressing close against the windows, and reflect on the irony of it all—this Scottish home, so full of life and warmth, yet perilously close to being without the very essence of its identity. Tomorrow, perhaps, I shall rectify this grievous error, but tonight, I will make do with what remains, a reminder that even in the land of whisky, nothing is ever truly certain.
1171531  Link to this entry 
Written about Friday 2024-08-16
Written: (15 days ago)

A' Chiad Solas


Anns a’ chiad solas,
tha na h-àrdan na h-Alba a’ leagail,
air a’ bhunait sheòmar mòr,
is a’ ghrian a’ sgapadh gu socair
trìm na h-ùine,
a’ cur glan air a’ ghlas,
a’ snìomh leis an t-sìth.

Gach creag, gach coille,
air a’ mhullach,
a’ freagairt do na gàirdeanan a’ fàs,
bho chionn ghoirid agus fìor-thoileachas,
an fhìrinn a’ briseadh às an dorchadas
mar a h-uile nì eile a’ fuireach
ann an raon fada,
far nach eil ach an dòchas.

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The First Light


In the first light,
the Scottish highlands stretch out,
across the vast expanse,
the sun spreading gently
through time,
clearing the grey,
moving with tranquility.

Every crag, every forest,
on the ridge,
responds to the growing embrace,
with a recent and true joy,
truth breaking from darkness
as everything else remains
in a distant realm,
where only hope endures.
1171530  Link to this entry 
Written about Friday 2024-08-16
Written: (15 days ago)

15 August 2024


There is an exquisite strangeness in returning to this secluded corner of the digital ether, a space as secretive and intimate as the whispered confessions of a lover. Though the vast corridors of the internet echo with the silent absence of others, I find a peculiar comfort in this solitude, where my thoughts might unfurl without restraint, like the delicate petals of some rare, nocturnal bloom. How curious it is that this sanctuary should appear to me once more, a forgotten portal to a world where my musings might find resonance with kindred spirits. It ebbs and flows like the tides, this place, a virtual atelier where I once penned the fervent reflections of my youth. Now, with the weight of years upon my brow, I seek to rekindle that flame, to inscribe anew my thoughts, as one might trace the lines of an old, beloved manuscript, knowing that time will inevitably turn these words to dust.

More than a decade has passed since I last dwelt here, and in that span, life has unfurled in ways both expected and marvellously strange. I find myself, now, in the most curious of predicaments—an adult, though the term feels as ill-fitting as a borrowed coat. Two degrees hang on my wall, relics of academic pursuits that seem, in this light, almost ornamental. They do, however, find subtle expression in the cadence of my daily life, even if their utility is obscured by the banalities of existence.

At present, I reside in a tiny bothy nestled among the wild, untamed beauty of the Scottish Highlands. The bothy, once a humble shelter, has been transformed by the grace of modernity, now pulsing with the gentle hum of electricity, the steady flow of water, and the invisible threads of wifi—a trinity of conveniences for which I am profoundly grateful. Here, in this remote haven, I have embarked upon an artist residency, a sojourn that allows me to wrestle with the raw forces of nature that dominate this landscape, channeling them into my work. The Highlands, with their tempestuous energy, provide the perfect canvas for the evolution of my artistic vision—a vision that seeks to transcend the mere documentation of others' joy and reach into the sublime, the ineffable.

Today was spent in the quiet company of my own thoughts, the task of editing photographs occupying the better part of my hours. The world outside my window was alive with the songs of birds, their melodies a gentle counterpoint to the crackling warmth of an old record player, which spun the hauntingly familiar tunes of Elvis Presley. It was a day that unfolded like the turning of a page in a beloved novel, each moment tinged with a sense of nostalgia, yet brimming with the promise of new beginnings.

Before the Scottish summer sun dipped behind the craggy peaks of the mountains, casting its final golden rays upon the heather-clad hills, I felt an irresistible urge to venture outside. The day had been one of persistent rain, a fine, misty drizzle that had soaked the earth until it became a living sponge beneath my boots. Each step I took was met with the soft resistance of the sodden ground, releasing the rich, heady scent of damp earth and ancient peat into the cool evening air. It was a scent that seemed to rise from the very heart of the land, a perfume distilled by time and nature’s alchemy.

I made my way towards the nearest town, a place that clung to the landscape like a secret whispered between the hills, to procure a few essential items—a task mundane in its nature, yet imbued with a quiet significance in this remote corner of the world. The walk was solitary, the only sounds the occasional rustle of leaves in the breeze and the soft, rhythmic patter of water droplets falling from the trees. The path, a narrow ribbon of earth, wound through the wild beauty of the Highlands, where the landscape seemed to breathe with an ancient, untamed vitality.

As I approached the outskirts of the town, I encountered a gentleman whom I had seen on several occasions before, a figure as much a part of the landscape as the gnarled oaks or the brooding mountains. There was a ruggedness about him, a weathered quality that spoke of a life lived in harmony with the harsh, unforgiving terrain. His accent, thick and melodic, rolled off his tongue like the Gaelic verses of old, a stark contrast to my own softer speech. We exchanged pleasantries, our conversation turning, as it so often does in these parts, to the weather—a subject as unpredictable and capricious as the Highlands themselves. His words carried the weight of the land, shaped by the winds and rains that had carved these mountains, and I found a curious comfort in the cadence of his speech, as if in his voice I could hear the very soul of this wild and beautiful place.

Once I returned to the warmth of my humble abode, the gathering dusk casting long shadows upon the walls, I set about the comforting ritual of brewing myself a cup of coffee. Though I was born in these very lands, the years I spent wandering beyond the borders of my homeland seem to have severed my once steadfast allegiance to tea (and my accent). Instead, I found myself irresistibly drawn to the dark allure of coffee, a passion that had blossomed during my first sojourn to Italy, where an old Moka pot, now well-worn and cherished, became a trusted companion. I filled it with real espresso, rich and fragrant, and set it to boil on the stove, the kitchen soon filling with the warm, intoxicating scent that I have come to associate with moments of quiet reflection.

The coffee, once brewed, was tempered with a splash of milk and a spoonful of brown sugar, its sweetness offering a gentle counterpoint to the robust bitterness of the espresso. With cup in hand, I settled into the embrace of my sofa, the night drawing close around me like a familiar, comforting cloak. The late hour held no power over me; caffeine, it seems, is a stimulant that fails to disturb the tranquil waters of my mind. My brother, in his ever-amusing candour, attributes this to a touch of ADHD—a suspicion that, though never confirmed, has a certain poetic resonance. I have never sought a diagnosis, preferring instead to think of it as one of those quirks that lends character to my existence.

As I sipped the rich brew, I reached for an old favourite, The Picture of Dorian Gray by the incomparable Oscar Wilde, whose prose dances through my thoughts like the shadows cast by a flickering flame. Wilde, whose wit and wisdom have long inspired my own meandering attempts at writing, felt like the perfect companion for such a night. There is something about his work—its elegance, its decadence, its piercing insight into the human soul—that resonates deeply with me, as if his words were woven from the very fabric of my own thoughts. And so, with the fire of caffeine warming my veins and Wilde’s exquisite prose to guide me, I allowed myself to drift into the labyrinth of his imagination, where beauty and darkness entwine in a dance as old as time itself.
1171529  Link to this entry 
Written about Thursday 2024-08-15
Written: (16 days ago)

First Entry


I used to have an account on this website during the tumultuous days of my angsty high school years. While I don't necessarily long for those strange and awkward times, I do cherish the friendships I formed here and the space it provided to create, share, and journal my thoughts. There might be a touch of nostalgia creeping in, but I’m genuinely pleased to have been reminded of this little corner of the internet and to have found my way back to it.

This space feels like a hidden sanctuary, tucked away in the quiet corners of the vast digital landscape. It's as if I've stepped into an old, beloved attic, where the dust dances in the shafts of sunlight and every creak of the floorboards holds a memory. The walls here are lined with the echoes of past conversations, the whispers of shared secrets, and the warmth of friendships that defied distance and time. There’s a comforting anonymity here, like slipping on a well-worn cloak that allows me to blend into the background, yet still be a part of something meaningful. It’s a place where the weight of the everyday melts away, and in its place, a sense of possibility blooms—a place to sprinkle a little magic, dream freely, and let creativity flow like a river undisturbed by the rush of the outside world.

So, here's to writing more journal entries, forging new friendships, and embarking on countless adventures. Slàinte Mhath! Here's to good health and even better times ahead.
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