AN OVERDUE UPDATE

Perhaps the most common blog post in the world is the one that begins: 'I'm afraid that I've neglected this blog for a while...'

Here, then, is my entry to that esteemed Canon. I offer sincere apologies - I've never really been a blogger, though I do go through phrases of trying. To cover the awkward six-month silence on these pages, let me fill you in on what I've been up to:

From December through until late February, I was locked away in a dark cell, writing a book. Although it didn't seem possible at the time, that book is now close to becoming a real thing that will be in shops and that people (you?) can read, instead of just an endless series of blank documents on Microsoft Word that sucked away my soul.

​The book, published by IB Tauris, will be called The Land Beyond: A Thousand Miles on Foot through the Heart of the Middle East, and will be available in all good UK bookshops (news on international versions to follow.)

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In March I went back to the West Bank to walk once more, revisiting some of my favourite parts of the region. I'll be there again in November, leading a two week hiking tour. There are still spaces to join me: http://www.edge-expeditions.com/tours/walk-the-masar-ibrahim-al-khalil-november-2017/

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In April, as recipient of the Neville Shulman Challenge Award, I flew back to Israel (it's been a pretty Middle East-heavy year) to begin a journey across the Holy Land that culminated in joining the Israelite Samaritans - perhaps the world's smallest and oldest ethno-religious group - for their unique, ancient Passover celebration.

​More to follow on that soon - there will be some significant writing on the story, and some radio work too.

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May was mostly filled with a speaking tour, and in June I walked 250km along the Caminho Portugues, from Porto to Santiago. The route is one strand of the ancient Way of St James - a series of pilgrimage trails spread throughout Europe that all terminate in the city of Santiago, where the bones of the Saint are said to rest. For some it is a religious experience, but for most it is simply a pleasant walk (with perhaps a little spiritual flourish along the way.) I'll write about it at some point, I'm sure.

Finally, that brings us here to July, where I've just returned from some time in the Italian Dolomites, and am preparing for an expedition to Armenia in a couple of weeks. If you're wondering what the point is here, other than a condensed version of my diary over the first half of the year, then it's probably simply a long-winded way of saying that there have been some exciting adventures recently, and some great stories, and pretty soon they'll be coming your way.

​Expect: a film from Patagonia, a radio piece on the Samaritans, a book on the Middle East, a long-form article on Portugal and, hopefully much more.

I'm not sure when I'll next check in here, but I'll try and make it sharpish. Thanks for the support, readers!

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