JOHNATHAN DUNDEE
ABOUT THE AUTHOR -
J. B. Dundee was born in Scotland on the 17th of August 1960, but at the age of four moved down to Manchester with his parents and two siblings, and he has lived in the area ever since. He therefore considers himself a Scottish Mancunian, although he is drawn back to the Highlands as often as possible. The author began writing verse almost by accident in 1980 at the age of twenty and continued until shortly after getting married the day before his twenty-sixth birthday, when he found his time being taken up with starting a family and advancing his career to provide for them. After thirty years J. B. Dundee took early retirement at the age of fifty-five and shortly thereafter revisited his interest in writing poetry, which began again in March 2016. The inspiration to write is random and can come to him via any route. It chooses the subject; he just tries to express it the best he can.
A HIGHLAND HOLIDAY - A VACATION IN VERSE
Anyone who knows me will know that I have a great love for the Scottish Highlands – a place which my wife and I have visited as often as possible over the past twenty years or more.
Our last few holidays there have been at the same cottage across the valley from the hamlet of Laggan near Newtonmore in the Central Highlands. During one visit I decided to document my encounters in verse, supported with photographs. Although around the Covid-19 epidemic, overall the restrictions did not impact too heavily.
Predominantly a walking holiday, I have tried to express my enthusiasm for the surrounding landscape and how it makes me feel – though descriptions and photographs can do it little justice. You have to be there to appreciate the scale and constantly changing moods.
These are not diary accounts, following a day-by-day timeline; they are more a montage of activities.
If you too revel in dramatic, beautiful countryside, regardless of the weather, you will enjoy spending time amongst Scotland’s most stunning scenery.
I hope even in some small way this book encourages you to go and see the Highlands for yourself. Who knows, it might be the start of a love affair of your own.