life as a writer – Blethers from Afar

The Simmer Dim: A Short Story by Izzy Gray

August 7, 2020

Europe, Fiction, life as a writer, Scotland, the great outdoors, The Stories, United Kingdom

In 2020, lockdown hit, forcing us into our homes and taking away the usual travel opportunities. It's been a heartbreaking time for many reasons, but if there's one beacon of light to shine through the mire, f...

The Times It All Went Wrong: Take Two

blethersfromafar

June 16, 2020

Features, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, The Stories

Five years ago (...how?!) I shared an article called ‘The Times it All Went Wrong’, with the hope of showing the, erm, slightly less glamorous side of travelling. Surprisingly, it went down a storm. What do...

My Top Travel Experiences of 2018

blethersfromafar

January 10, 2019

Features, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, The Stories

As my pals down in Leith would say, 2018 has been a beezer of a year for travel. As well as several trips abroad, one of my missions for the year was to spend more time exploring my home country. Turns out, S...

How not to survive the Budapest metro: A tale of traveling ineptitude

blethersfromafar

July 17, 2018

Europe, Features, Hungary, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, Most Read, The Stories

It was a chilly Sunday night. The temperature had dipped below zero and the first flurry of snow had drifted down from the painted black sky, sending a ripple of excitement through the market-goers. The smell...

A Year in Travel: My Top Travel Experiences of 2017

blethersfromafar

January 20, 2018

Features, life as a writer, Most Read, The Stories

2017 was a year of firsts for me; the first time I had the confidence to travel alone; the first time I visited mainland Spain; the first time I got trapped on a metro at night...oh wait, we're not talking abou...

Conquering Rome Alone: A First Step into the World of Solo Travel

blethersfromafar

May 22, 2017

Europe, Features, Italy, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, Most Read, The Stories

"Get in the car." And with those four words, the conversation had changed. His eyes narrowed. His hand, which had once held mine in a friendly shake, now closed around my wrist. I tried to pull back but his...

Lost for words on the banks of the Liffey: How Dublin saved me from writer’s block

blethersfromafar

May 5, 2016

Europe, Features, Ireland, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, The Stories

"So this is where the magic happens..." It was the first thought to pass through my mind in what felt like a very long time. Even I was taken back by the satirical tone of my subconscious self. I had just be...

Evil eyes and poisoned dogs: The tale of an ill-fated voyage into the Ionian Sea

blethersfromafar

August 18, 2015

Europe, Features, Greece, life as a writer, sunny getaways, the great outdoors, The Stories

I closed my eyes as another cast of spray came in from the North, slicing across the right side of my body like a barbed tentacle.  I spluttered, the taste of salt hot upon my tongue.  The plastic deck chair, w...

A Literary Tour of Paris

blethersfromafar

May 6, 2015

Activities, Europe, France, life as a writer, weekend breaks

There are few cities I know which could be as inspiring as Paris; with its artistic associations, ornate architecture and thriving cafe culture, it's a city which will not only draw you in, but get beneath your...

The Times it All Went Wrong

blethersfromafar

May 5, 2015

backpacking, Features, Izzy's Travel Tips, life as a writer, Most Read, The Stories

A wise friend once said to me, “Travelling will teach you to love the world, not as you’d like it to be, but as it really is. If that means shitting yourself in the middle of New Delhi, then so be it.” I’ve a...

The Simmer Dim: A Short Story by Izzy Gray

The Times It All Went Wrong: Take Two

My Top Travel Experiences of 2018

Lost for words on the banks of the Liffey: How Dublin saved me from writer’s block

Evil eyes and poisoned dogs: The tale of an ill-fated voyage into the Ionian Sea

A Literary Tour of Paris

The best places to eat near Glencoe, Scotland

10 peaceful escapes in Krabi, Thailand

Taking the train to Pinhao: The perfect day trip to Portugal’s Douro Valley

10 ways you can inject a little Hygge into your morning routine

Ae Fond Kiss: An Acoustic Cover