Alison Macaulay 

Lexicographer by day. Bookworm by night. Crocheter and crochet designer by whatever time is left over. I have yarns to spin about yarn.

It would probably be a mistake to call Paisley Abbey a hidden gem, because it's an enormous building slap bang in the middle of the city, but I’d never been inside until today, and my goodness, it's worth a visit. Lots of beautiful stained glass, including windows designed by Edward Burne-Jones, and others made of painted Bavarian glass.…

I see even Substack is not immune from the social media tendency to try and make the rest of the world care even a tiny bit about the Superbowl. Still not working for me.

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Considerations When Building Post-Human Utopias: Despite the new varieties, violence within the tribe remained commonplace.
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Considerations When Building Post-Human Utopias: All Trolley Lord models fell into two camps: those who love the light and those who prefer shade, among these the first poet arose.
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Considerations When Building Post-Human Utopias: MadeGPT decision to create additional series of Trolley Lord Models was met with confusion, disdain and finally contempt.

My husband has been collecting these photos for years and now, finally, he feels their time has come.

A little levity for dark days (but maybe take notes).

Considerations When Building Post-Human Utopias: MakeGPT could not understand the lyric qualities in shyness, having only allowed transactional shame to function in Plan 978607624576254067.

I cannot possibly recommend this slow read highly enough. The War and Peace slow read has been such a revelation to me (and I read for a living!). If you’ve never read it, or if it's an old friend, or if you think it's too daunting, or dry and dusty, give the slow read a go. Simon is the most gentle and generous guide through this wonder…

Join the 2025 'War and Peace' Slow Read
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I hate to ask, but if you enjoy reading please restack, share or whatever it is. I'd like more readers. Gross, I know! Vile. But that's how it is.

The Good Captain: Chapter 3

A wander around the Hunterian Museum this afternoon for an hour or so. My favourite corner in there has always been the small section devoted to nests. It blows mind that birds and other creatures can construct these intricate, delicate things. Thrushes’ nests, lined with a smooth smooth layer of mud. Or this warbler's nest, built from “…

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You must join the War and Peace readalong next year

Among the thousand other things, you will feel you're standing next to that drum, seeing better than the marshals behind.

Anyone fancy on joining us next year? 😉

My kind of bookstore (the ever wonderful Voltaire and Rousseau in Glasgow).

Just can't recommend Simon's slow reads highly enough. The War and Peace slow read has been a highlight of my year, and it's running again in 2025.

From today you can begin signing up to the 2025 slow reads! Simply turn on notifications for the books you're interested in and you'll not miss a thing.