On Meeting a Quiet Englishman

I have a car. I live in Austin, so it really helps, even if I took to driving like a teenage boy takes to soap and water. But, I do have a car. But, maybe about 9 months ago, the manufacturer of my car (who shall remain nameless) sent me a recall notice; my passenger airbag …

Snowpocalypse 2017

Every now and again here in Austin, we get a little snowfall. Sometimes it’s icy and therefore dangerous in a city where a light rain means a significant increase in traffic accidents. But mostly, it’s pretty white shapes drifting down and melting as soon as it hits a hard surface. And yet, still, the schools …

On Renaissance Fairs

Texas is dry. Not dry like in The Untouchables, but dry as in bush fires, bans on washing cars, and wild animals coming into the town in search of water. Dry like a desert bone. All kinds of records have tumbled since I moved to Hell's armpit, most notably the "most days over 100F" one. …

#UK2015 – 1. Cars and Planes

It had only been a year since my last visit to the old country, but it had been much longer since I'd really had a chance to look around. In addition to the cold wasteland of the North East of England, I'd also be checking out my long-held prejudices of other parts of this great …

On Visiting Austin

Dear friend, family member, former neighbor, backpacking progeny of a schoolfriend or workmate… Now you have decided to spend some time with me in Austin, I thought it would be useful to give you the benefit of my experience on the city and what it’s like to live here. Forewarned being forearmed, etc. This is …

An English Person’s Guide to Texas

The first thing you need to know is this: everything you’ve heard about Texas is true. It is big. The roads are big, the trucks that rumble on them are big, the bugs you’ll find curled up dead and twitching under the sink are huge. The people are friendly – you’ll see more smiles than …