Simon Varwell
@simonvarwell.bsky.social
Loves trains, the outdoors, travel, Esperanto, ambient and post-rock music, dystofic, good food and scrontous beer. Hates car-centric societies, late stage capitalism and courgette. He/him. Inverness | 🏴 | 🇪🇺 Work: @hisasimon.bsky.social
Besta trapasado?
February 16, 2026 at 10:08 PM
Besta trapasado?
First time in the reopened Inverness Castle. I expected it to be a dirge, but I confess it was genuinely impressive: a wealth of interesting presentations and interpretations telling the story of the Highlands, the building fabulously rejuvenated, and of course great views. Locals, with a visit!
February 16, 2026 at 3:46 PM
First time in the reopened Inverness Castle. I expected it to be a dirge, but I confess it was genuinely impressive: a wealth of interesting presentations and interpretations telling the story of the Highlands, the building fabulously rejuvenated, and of course great views. Locals, with a visit!
I like how Sportscene is now providing Gaelic translations.
February 16, 2026 at 3:33 PM
I like how Sportscene is now providing Gaelic translations.
Cheerio Aberdeen.
February 14, 2026 at 5:44 PM
Cheerio Aberdeen.
Forthcoming: my investigation into the cowboy builders in Aberdeen who promise a compete house but who never deliver the bottom part. If you’ve been affected, DM me in confidence.
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Forthcoming: my investigation into the cowboy builders in Aberdeen who promise a compete house but who never deliver the bottom part. If you’ve been affected, DM me in confidence.
Furry boots am I?
February 13, 2026 at 7:38 PM
Furry boots am I?
On a wee adventure. It’s been a while. I mean since the last one not so far.
February 13, 2026 at 3:10 PM
On a wee adventure. It’s been a while. I mean since the last one not so far.
…and then put it in the oven and then, obviously, eat it.
Verdict: could’ve made more béchamel, and perhaps added a bit more flavour to bolognese sauce (don’t think I remembered to put in salt). But overall pretty good.
Verdict: could’ve made more béchamel, and perhaps added a bit more flavour to bolognese sauce (don’t think I remembered to put in salt). But overall pretty good.
February 8, 2026 at 6:28 PM
…and then put it in the oven and then, obviously, eat it.
Verdict: could’ve made more béchamel, and perhaps added a bit more flavour to bolognese sauce (don’t think I remembered to put in salt). But overall pretty good.
Verdict: could’ve made more béchamel, and perhaps added a bit more flavour to bolognese sauce (don’t think I remembered to put in salt). But overall pretty good.
Fort George as a complex is a funny place. Impressive architecturally, but cold, exposed and a bit austere. Plus tone deaf about the colonial legacy it is a part of. There is a briefcase used by Hitler however (not, I believe, recently) in the regimental museum.
February 8, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Fort George as a complex is a funny place. Impressive architecturally, but cold, exposed and a bit austere. Plus tone deaf about the colonial legacy it is a part of. There is a briefcase used by Hitler however (not, I believe, recently) in the regimental museum.
Went yesterday to Fort George to see the Brick Wonders exhibition. Impressive stuff.
February 8, 2026 at 5:16 PM
Went yesterday to Fort George to see the Brick Wonders exhibition. Impressive stuff.
…assemble the lasagna and bung it in the fridge on day 2 (or the morning of day 3 if you are out on day 2 and get back to late to do it)…
February 8, 2026 at 4:58 PM
…assemble the lasagna and bung it in the fridge on day 2 (or the morning of day 3 if you are out on day 2 and get back to late to do it)…
And here’s Orion’s Belt. In case he’s looking for it.
February 7, 2026 at 10:40 PM
And here’s Orion’s Belt. In case he’s looking for it.
Just seen a cloud that looks like Mull.
February 7, 2026 at 10:22 PM
Just seen a cloud that looks like Mull.
Sunday’s dinner will be a veggie mince lasagne. Thought I’d make it a three-day one. So sauce one day one…
February 6, 2026 at 9:04 PM
Sunday’s dinner will be a veggie mince lasagne. Thought I’d make it a three-day one. So sauce one day one…
I’ve cooked my favourite, again, and I have to say this time was my best bbq sauce ever. Absolutely gorgeous even though I say so myself.
Feliĉan vendredon.
Feliĉan vendredon.
February 6, 2026 at 7:25 PM
I’ve cooked my favourite, again, and I have to say this time was my best bbq sauce ever. Absolutely gorgeous even though I say so myself.
Feliĉan vendredon.
Feliĉan vendredon.
The evenings are definitely getting lighter but I’m still walking home from work in the dark.
February 2, 2026 at 9:54 PM
The evenings are definitely getting lighter but I’m still walking home from work in the dark.
Made one of my old favourites for dinner - Korean bbq crispy tofu. I was told it was my best.
January 26, 2026 at 10:59 PM
Made one of my old favourites for dinner - Korean bbq crispy tofu. I was told it was my best.
And it’s nice to see the wraps off the castle. Not yet visited it in its new format, but the grounds look good.
January 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM
And it’s nice to see the wraps off the castle. Not yet visited it in its new format, but the grounds look good.
Then a wee stop at Godsman’s Walk, another somewhat hidden gem, giving nice views across the river.
January 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Then a wee stop at Godsman’s Walk, another somewhat hidden gem, giving nice views across the river.
Then onwards for a walk down Altnaskiach Dell, a community woodland that’s right in the middle of Inverness but really overlooked. It’s quite the atmospheric oasis of calm, and I love going down when passing by. More about it at www.aultnaskiach.org.uk A bunch of volunteers regularly maintain it.
January 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM
Then onwards for a walk down Altnaskiach Dell, a community woodland that’s right in the middle of Inverness but really overlooked. It’s quite the atmospheric oasis of calm, and I love going down when passing by. More about it at www.aultnaskiach.org.uk A bunch of volunteers regularly maintain it.
A wander into town for a few things, on a day that almost felt like the beginning of spring. The birds certainly seem to think so. #inverness
January 24, 2026 at 3:51 PM
A wander into town for a few things, on a day that almost felt like the beginning of spring. The birds certainly seem to think so. #inverness
As the great contemporary philosopher Rebecca Black once wisely observed: it’s Friday.
Feliĉan semajnfinon al ĉiuj, kiuj celebras.
Feliĉan semajnfinon al ĉiuj, kiuj celebras.
January 23, 2026 at 7:11 PM
As the great contemporary philosopher Rebecca Black once wisely observed: it’s Friday.
Feliĉan semajnfinon al ĉiuj, kiuj celebras.
Feliĉan semajnfinon al ĉiuj, kiuj celebras.
Having missed last night’s aurora (not realising it was on the go until I was in bed), and so, having heard it had been switched on tonight too, I headed out for a wee walk. Absolutely nothing doing.
January 20, 2026 at 8:24 PM
Having missed last night’s aurora (not realising it was on the go until I was in bed), and so, having heard it had been switched on tonight too, I headed out for a wee walk. Absolutely nothing doing.