Writers Write. And read and stuff...

Not as originally intended - more of my photos and thoughts than I had envisaged, few reblogs, mostly original material from a writer in the North of Scotland. (function(i,s,o,g,r,a,m){i['GoogleAnalyticsObject']=r;i[r]=i[r]||function(){ (i[r].q=i[r].q||[]).push(arguments)},i[r].l=1*new Date();a=s.createElement(o), m=s.getElementsByTagName(o)[0];a.async=1;a.src=g;m.parentNode.insertBefore(a,m) })(window,document,'script','//www.google-analytics.com/analytics.js','ga'); ga('create', 'UA-28770597-1', 'auto'); ga('send', 'pageview');

[lord-canewaxer]

Goodbye Tumblr, Hello Everyone - Where to Find Me.

This is just a short note to say I no longer check or post on this tumblr. I had been using a sub-tumblr to post “Dear Diary” pieces, mostly with daily wordcounts and the like but, with the advent of Tumblr’s decision to implement their sweeping algorithm (and the whole farce of “female presenting nipples” over nazi-crushing), I decided enough was enough.

Instead, I have exported all my posts and I am currently in the process of importing them into my own site, here:

Not A Travel Writer

I can also be found on Twitter, Instagram, and (for now, but I don’t really like or use it other than for work) on Facebook. I am also looking at Medium and Steemit, but I have yet to decide how best to use these. Watch the space above. Not this one. There’ll be nothing more from me here.

If we’ve spoken in the past, and we are not connected elsewhere, please do say hello at one of the previous places! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks to everyone who has ever shared my posts, commented, sent me messages or even just liked things.

Bye Tumblr, you were great, once upon a time. All things must change though.

Alex

[lord-canewaxer]

I shall reblog this on all my tumblrs! Find me please!

[lord-canewaxer]

Goodbye Tumblr, Hello Everyone - Where to Find Me.

This is just a short note to say I no longer check or post on this tumblr. I had been using a sub-tumblr to post “Dear Diary” pieces, mostly with daily wordcounts and the like but, with the advent of Tumblr’s decision to implement their sweeping algorithm (and the whole farce of “female presenting nipples” over nazi-crushing), I decided enough was enough.

Instead, I have exported all my posts and I am currently in the process of importing them into my own site, here:

Not A Travel Writer

I can also be found on Twitter, Instagram, and (for now, but I don’t really like or use it other than for work) on Facebook. I am also looking at Medium and Steemit, but I have yet to decide how best to use these. Watch the space above. Not this one. There’ll be nothing more from me here.

If we’ve spoken in the past, and we are not connected elsewhere, please do say hello at one of the previous places! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks to everyone who has ever shared my posts, commented, sent me messages or even just liked things.

Bye Tumblr, you were great, once upon a time. All things must change though.

Alex

[lord-canewaxer]

I shall reblog this on all my tumblrs! Find me, please!

[lord-canewaxer]

Goodbye Tumblr, Hello Everyone - Where to Find Me.

This is just a short note to say I no longer check or post on this tumblr. I had been using a sub-tumblr to post “Dear Diary” pieces, mostly with daily wordcounts and the like but, with the advent of Tumblr's decision to implement their sweeping algorithm (and the whole farce of “female presenting nipples” over nazi-crushing), I decided enough was enough.

Instead, I have exported all my posts and I am currently in the process of importing them into my own site, here:

Not A Travel Writer

I can also be found on Twitter, Instagram, and (for now, but I don’t really like or use it other than for work) on Facebook. I am also looking at Medium and Steemit, but I have yet to decide how best to use these. Watch the space above. Not this one. There’ll be nothing more from me here.

If we’ve spoken in the past, and we are not connected elsewhere, please do say hello at one of the previous places! I’d love to hear from you.

Thanks to everyone who has ever shared my posts, commented, sent me messages or even just liked things.

Bye Tumblr, you were great, once upon a time. All things must change though.

Alex

[alexandermichaelcrow]

‘Well, I’m back,’ he said.

I’ve put together a number of different posts, each explaining at length why I’ve not been around on tumblr, why I haven’t responded to messages and notes. 

However, I’ve decided that, for now, I’ll simply post this “Here I am!” post instead of one of those detailed explanations. It probably makes some sort of sense.

I think I’ll be using this tumblr (alexandermichaelcrow) for snippets, thoughts and some of my own photos, as well as using it as a proper tumblr should be used - reposting others’ pics and notes. Longer posts and musings will now be found on my website (alexandermichaelcrow.com), where they really belong. More on this later.

Find me on twitter too - I’m AlexanderMCrow there.

I have really missed some of you and I hope to be in touch over the coming weeks, but it may take a wee bit of time to say hello. 

[lord-canewaxer]

From my other tumblr - applies here too!

[lord-canewaxer]

brushstrokesandshutterclicks said: Hurrah! I was wondering what had happened to you, and whether you were immersed in writing :-) Don’t spend too long on here though - you know what it gets like!

Yey!  I'm glad you are still around on here, that's excellent news.  

And yes, you hit the nail on the head - immersed is the right word.  I'm a bit sick of editing (I find it's fun at first but once you've read and reread the same piece over and over and over...argh!) but I do think my tumblr silence has helped.  

The problem is I want to look at all the pretty posts people share - as you say, I do know what it gets like!  Going to try a different approach this time, trying to be strong and NOT scroll through EVERYTHING...!  I think I'll check out individual tumblrs (such as yours, obviously) instead.  Whether this will work remains to be seen!  

[lord-canewaxer]

Dear Tumblr

This is an interim note to say I miss you.

But I miss the people I have befriended through you far more.  

For this reason I'll be making an effort to get back into tumblring ASAP and will hopefully be able to catch up with all the lovely things I have missed.

Yours with love

Alex

[lord-canewaxer]

I'm still here! A brief update on me.

As last night’s broken tumblr-embargo proved – I am still here, just not really online.

I have not had the time to catch up with your blogs as I would have liked, but I have managed to get lots of work done. After several false starts and hiccups, I am at the point where I can finally see an end to this novel.

I intend to scribble a piece about how the last few years have led me to this point; how the journey has not exactly been linear (starting with what is now Book Three in my series), easy, nor – at times – even fun. But it has been one I would take again; I have learnt a lot about myself in the process and have no regrets.

Over the last few weeks, since getting back from Killiecrankie, I have thrown myself into my work. This has led to even more effective results than I dared hope. When I am not editing, I have been designing my website, formulating plans and strategies as to my options to make money from my work, and generally being a good boy when it comes to avoiding wasting time on the internet.

It really is surprising how much I can get done in a day – when I am not checking my emails, the news, or scrolling down my dash ever hour, or more.

I will soon be revitalising my other tumblr sites – using alexandermichaelcrow as a more conventional tumblr; reblogging things other people post I believe to be of interest and/or importance. I have started drafting some new pages for my a-fall-in-time tumblr too, to keep my wilderness adventures separate and accessible. These include the alterations I made to my shelter in 2011; building an oven and raised hearth, making shelves from fish boxes etc. All this will also be linked to and referenced on my personal website.

I am also grouping and sorting photos on my flickr feed, in order to share more of these with the world at large. Twitter and (maybe, as I am NOT a fan) facebook will/may follow at some point soon too, along with other sites I deem worth investing time and effort in – Goodreads a notable case in point.

I will keep this tumblr as it is – for adding my own words and pictures to share with you. It is not really a secret site, but it is perhaps a little harder to link to my name than the others. I do not follow many people from here, as I do with alexandermichaelcrow, for example, and I would prefer to keep it this way – more cosy and friendly.

I hope the above makes some sort of sense (I got to bed late, thanks to the Merry Dancers, and then got up really early too – my brain is currently frazzled and caffeine-laced), and goes a little way to explain my recent absence. I have not forgotten you!

[lord-canewaxer]

Merry Dancers, Caithness, Scotland.

[lord-canewaxer]

Merry Dancers, Caithness, Scotland.

[lord-canewaxer]

Merry Dancers, Caithness, Scotland, with Cassiopeia.

[lord-canewaxer]

Merry Dancers and sisters in car headlights.

[lord-canewaxer]

Looking west in the back garden, Wick, Caithness.  Merry Dancers dancing.

[lord-canewaxer]

Wick Harbour with Merry Dancers.

This shows you just how bright they are tonight - even with the lights of the town.  Quite spectacular.  I am cold now though and need my bed.

[lord-canewaxer]

A Kind of Kindling

A kind of kindling, sparks awaken from dormant carbon. Dreams burn across the brow Through the heart. Across the senses.

The town is sleeping through the winter’s clamour The wind is simply a snore, or a murmur unknown to the self. Doors closed, windows rattled by thrusting, prying hands Snow, hail, rain.

The brightness flickers through smoked memory; Glimpses of a history once held dear And now seen through the eyes of the old, Tarnished true.  Burnished too. Light and dark, twins of existence beholden to none.

The sea turns her sheets, tosses them for freshening. The light here believes in our tale Shines on our stage and smiles at our plays As it has since her Dawn and will past our Dusk; It is backdrop, pervasive and insisting, gentle.

Lovers' hands grasp the truth hidden in the dew The grass, moss, heather; all provide a cushion Upon which we can build our mighty tale. The sparks drift through us, enlighten our load Press our eyes into service; record this day, for it will become dream.

[lord-canewaxer]

The River Garry, Killiecrankie, Scotland.

When Queen Victoria first laid eyes on the pass, on her way to Blair Castle, she recorded the following in her journal:

"...and then came to the the Pass of Killiecrankie, which is quite magnificent; the road winds along it, and you look down a great height, all wooded on both sides; the Garry rolling below it.  I cannot describe how beautiful it is.  Albert was in perfect ecstasies."

And who am I to argue with her?

[lord-canewaxer]

Killiecrankie viaduct.  Completed in 1863.  

They don't make them like this any more.

The face is said to have been carved by friends of a worker who was killed during the construction, as a likeness and memorial.

[lord-canewaxer]

Squirrel du jour.

Still posing.