The frankly bonkers Shell House at Ballymaloe Cooking School…

A photographer today told me that the back cover of Hot Rocks by the Stones was shot around here. (Outbuildings behind Bantry House…)

Terrific welcome at West Cork Literary Festival tonight…

Stopped in Baltimore for lunch. Another very warm day. Hydration: Kinsale Pale Ale…

Glengarriff today.

Man, I love a snug… (Ma Murphy’s pub in Bantry.)

I’m in Ireland for the West Cork Literary Festival. So far, so peaceful…

Glasgow today for lunch with friends…

Edinburgh today…

Edinburgh Castle from Castle Terrace today…

10.50pm on Bruntsfield Links.

I do some vocals on this but don’t let that put you off. Uplifting electronica from the peerless Pye Corner Audio…

Edinburgh. 7am sky.

Happy Bloomsday to all those who celebrate it! Here I am with Mr Joyce in Trieste last year…

Cromarty Open Gardens weekend was great…

Cromarty this lunchtime. Always good for the soul…

Kraftwerk in Edinburgh tonight. All the hits…

At Fife College (Dunfermline campus) for their annual writing scholarship prizegiving. Delicious lunch a bonus!!

Almost at the end of our Japanese adventure - but Mount Fuji decided to put on a show…

Ritsurin Garden…

Kurashiki today… Hot n busy…

Miyajima this afternoon…

I’m back in Japan. Today: Mojiko-retro. Home of Bananaman…

More Korean warning signs…

South Korea (Gyeongju) today…

Today I’m in Hagi as part of my Japan trip…

Matsue Castle today…

Kanazawa today…

More Japanese warning signs (Kyoto rail station)…

Japanese warning signs: a small selection…