Another Sunday morning, another (short) essay. This one is about being on the receiving end of small acts of generosity, and the instinct to pay them back. I've also added voiceovers to all my articles now, so you can listen if you prefer. Thanks pals! 🙌

"This place is not a place of honor. No highly esteemed deed is commemorated here." This week's Lightsome piece is about deep-time lightsomeness and one of the strangest pieces of writing of the 20th century. Subscriptions mean the world while I try to build this thing, thanks Bluesky pals 🙌🌳

For five years, I've been running every decision of our business through a single question: "is this the lightsome thing to do?" One of the things that has given us is "the fine day policy." At 60° north, the work can often wait, but the fine weather never does.

Politics breeding cruelty, algorithms breeding outrage, most of us tired. So fuck it; new Substack, all about lightsomeness. Free, one piece every Sunday. I'm a small account, so reposts by my mighty pals on here to like-minded humans would mean a lot 🙌 lightsomeness.substack.com/p/there-are-...

Had to share this memory from last year - I had been away with work, and when I arrived home, my youngest daughter (5 at the time) couldn't wait to tell me that her story had been chosen for publication in a kids book of short stories. This was her story... 😂🙈

Reform UK are weaponising a growing net zero cynicism in the UK - and it might just get them into power. Check out my article if you have 5 mins.

The current direction of energy market reform risks reinforcing a trajectory for Scotland where the majority of the benefits are extracted while the burdens are localised. This short viewpoint covers the REMA announcement, and some broader ideas on community ownership.

Anyone who thinks our benefit system is too generous, has clearly had their common sense surgically extracted by the Daily Mail. Losing your job is financially catastrophic (esp for mortgage payers, who drop to just 12% of an average wage overnight). And our sickness benefits bill is similarly mean.

I'm all for progressive taxation, but this isn't that. Farming can be an extremely marginal business, even on land that is valued highly on paper. I know farms that have been passed down for 300+ years from one generation to the next. Tax levied at the point of land sale feels less destructive.

This article is vital reading re. the principles of a 'just' transition. "Wind and solar only require massive natural and human sacrifice if you fail to regulate the corporations that build them". Couldn't agree more. 🙌

Love the sunrise on this kind of day

Love deep menacing blues, which gradually blacken as snow showers get closer and night draws in.

"To abandon facts is to abandon freedom" #BookSky

Continuing the theme of things I love: spindrift. When, on days like today, the wind picks up spray from the surface of the sea.

Community Compensation ≠ Community Benefits ≠ Community Wealth

When it comes to creating community wealth from energy developments, Shetland has a singular experience of the good, the bad, and the downright disastrous. Last month Voar launched a report on this; there are lessons for the whole country in here: www.justtransition.scot/publication/...