Paper/s

What would I do without it/them . . . even in today's age? I love reading newspapers and remember being advised by a primary school teacher when I was ten years old that I had to read The Glasgow Herald every day. My mum helped make that a reality when it was delivered every day to our home along with the Paisley Daily Express (the last daily newspaper in the UK to carry only small ads on the front page, a custom that lasted almost until my majority). And when I was 21, after reading a report by Robert Fisk of The Times written from Rommel's Beach in Mersa Matruh, Egypt which I had just visited, I began to take The Times every day having it delivered to my student flat every morning in Leven Terrace, Edinburgh and devouring it as I sat on the end of my bed with toast and coffee. I always started with the international section, followed by the sports pages before going to the front page and, finally and reluctantly, to the home pages. When I lived in Orkney no midday was complete without a walk to Spence's newsagents near St. Magnus Cathedral to pick up my copy after it was brought to the island by the first plane of the day. Everywhere I've lived a daily national newspaper has lit up my existence often supplemented by a 'rare bird' from afar. The International New York Times falls into that category and I usually get a free copy up at the school. Fine writing. Fine perspective. Here's today's copy with my present notebook on top in my favourite colour. The latter is produced by Fabriano of Italy who claim to have produced the first ever paper in the world and consists of bound sheets of Pergamenata paper, a beautiful see-through parchment.