Ari, I enjoyed reading this piece about borders. Living on an island, I'm not so aware of borders between countries as you may be in Europe. But I'm thinking a lot about New Year's Eve as a border and why I can't get excited about transitioning from 2024 to 2025. Now its New Year's Day, but what has changed? Nevertheless have a great 2025.
Hi Martin, thank you for sharing your thoughts and for the kind feedback. I didn't really think much about the Ango-Scottish border until I moved out of the UK, realising that the UK does in fact have borders where things do change markedly.
I enjoyed reading about a landscape I know well. I felt your words and pictures perfectly captured the atmosphere of the area. The idea of a project about borders is intriguing and I look forward to seeing how it progresses.
Love your writing in today`s entry, whenever you are back in Montreal we should go on some walks looking at that very made up mind border of French East and Anglo West.
This was cool to read because it's basically the same for me except I'm on the other side of the border. I have never been to Brampton in my life! A mysterious land. Been to Carlisle a few times though. Around about Annan/Gretna area the accents are an odd mix.
>...a town so unremarkable that even Google Maps struggles to feign enthusiasm, instead convinced you're searching for Brampton, Ontario.
Which didn't keep the Ontario commuter railway from mistakenly illustrating its web site with stock photos of Brampton, Cumbria (along with Whitby, Yorkshire) some years back!
That's actually hilarious. I lived in Montreal for 10 years, so I've actually past through Brampton, Ontario a few times and it could not be more different from Bramoton, Cumbria if it tried.
This is really good. I’m from Northumberland and had a Gran in Alston so I’ve spent a lot of time in Cumbria, although not much as deep into Cumbria as you were here. I love the photograph of the road leading between the stands of pine trees, and I look forward to seeing more photographs of familiar scenes.
Thanks Tom, glad to hear you liked it. I just saw your photo essay from from Northumberland too and great to see so many familiar spots. My aunt and uncle used to run a farm right by Hadrian's Wall and close to the Sycamore Gap Tree.
A feeling I did not expect to have this morning: I would very much like to visit Brampton (not that one, sorry Ontario).
This is an incredible piece of travel writing and photography Ari. I hope you can expand the scope of the borders project. You're absolutely right — it's worryingly relevant at this moment. Just before reading this I was talking to my coworkers about the increasingly sharp English/French divide in Montreal.
It seems as if we're moving through a pendulum swing toward isolationism globally and a sudden decision that these imaginary lines on the map or in the mind are solid and crucial realities. I hope the pendulum swings back soon, but I think exploring the nature of these divisions is a wonderful endeavour.
Thank you so much for this kind and thoughtful feedback, and I'm sorry for not responding sooner; I've been recovering from the worst bout of flu in over a decade. I fear you're right about the return of division and borders, it does seem like the pendulum is swinging back in that direction. Maybe history just never ends, sorry Fukuyama...
Beautiful pictures and accompanying sentiments. I have been working on a similar photo project for some years now. Less about physical borders but definitely about ideologies of place: looking forward to seeing more of this. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Luke, thank you for sharing. Sorry for not responding sooner; I've been under the weather with a dreadful bout of flu. I would be interested to learn more about your project.
Beautifully photographed Ari not sure how I missed this before! These images and your description of the border takes me back to living nearby - the area north of Longtown is a strange almost forbidding place.
Thank for your kind words. It's funny how I only really appreciate this neck of the woods now that I don't live there anymore and have somehow managed to grasp a fresh perspective.
Ari, I enjoyed reading this piece about borders. Living on an island, I'm not so aware of borders between countries as you may be in Europe. But I'm thinking a lot about New Year's Eve as a border and why I can't get excited about transitioning from 2024 to 2025. Now its New Year's Day, but what has changed? Nevertheless have a great 2025.
I loved your series of photos with this essay!
Hi Martin, thank you for sharing your thoughts and for the kind feedback. I didn't really think much about the Ango-Scottish border until I moved out of the UK, realising that the UK does in fact have borders where things do change markedly.
I enjoyed reading about a landscape I know well. I felt your words and pictures perfectly captured the atmosphere of the area. The idea of a project about borders is intriguing and I look forward to seeing how it progresses.
Thanks for reading and great to have such feedback from someone that knows the area. It's certainly an part of the world that has a draw to me.
Great story and great writing. I really enjoyed this.
Thank you Glen, I appreciate you sharing this. Sorry for the very late reply.
Love your writing in today`s entry, whenever you are back in Montreal we should go on some walks looking at that very made up mind border of French East and Anglo West.
Thanks. Definitely would be up for that.
This was cool to read because it's basically the same for me except I'm on the other side of the border. I have never been to Brampton in my life! A mysterious land. Been to Carlisle a few times though. Around about Annan/Gretna area the accents are an odd mix.
You're basically the Scottish version of me. Agree about the accents around Annan and Gretna being an odd mix.
>...a town so unremarkable that even Google Maps struggles to feign enthusiasm, instead convinced you're searching for Brampton, Ontario.
Which didn't keep the Ontario commuter railway from mistakenly illustrating its web site with stock photos of Brampton, Cumbria (along with Whitby, Yorkshire) some years back!
That's actually hilarious. I lived in Montreal for 10 years, so I've actually past through Brampton, Ontario a few times and it could not be more different from Bramoton, Cumbria if it tried.
This is really good. I’m from Northumberland and had a Gran in Alston so I’ve spent a lot of time in Cumbria, although not much as deep into Cumbria as you were here. I love the photograph of the road leading between the stands of pine trees, and I look forward to seeing more photographs of familiar scenes.
Thanks Tom, glad to hear you liked it. I just saw your photo essay from from Northumberland too and great to see so many familiar spots. My aunt and uncle used to run a farm right by Hadrian's Wall and close to the Sycamore Gap Tree.
I love it around there. I grew up near Hexham (Slaley to be precise), my parents are still there.
Been there a few times. My cousin and his wife and kids were living there in a very nice house until a couple of years ago.
That last paragraph is a good piece of wisdom (before the in other news part). Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for reading, and appreciate the feedback!
Such an interesting project. I love the photographs you made!
I'm not sure how I missed this comment first time round, but just wanted to say thank you and I appreciate that a lot.
A feeling I did not expect to have this morning: I would very much like to visit Brampton (not that one, sorry Ontario).
This is an incredible piece of travel writing and photography Ari. I hope you can expand the scope of the borders project. You're absolutely right — it's worryingly relevant at this moment. Just before reading this I was talking to my coworkers about the increasingly sharp English/French divide in Montreal.
It seems as if we're moving through a pendulum swing toward isolationism globally and a sudden decision that these imaginary lines on the map or in the mind are solid and crucial realities. I hope the pendulum swings back soon, but I think exploring the nature of these divisions is a wonderful endeavour.
Thank you so much for this kind and thoughtful feedback, and I'm sorry for not responding sooner; I've been recovering from the worst bout of flu in over a decade. I fear you're right about the return of division and borders, it does seem like the pendulum is swinging back in that direction. Maybe history just never ends, sorry Fukuyama...
Beautiful pictures and accompanying sentiments. I have been working on a similar photo project for some years now. Less about physical borders but definitely about ideologies of place: looking forward to seeing more of this. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Luke, thank you for sharing. Sorry for not responding sooner; I've been under the weather with a dreadful bout of flu. I would be interested to learn more about your project.
Fascinating project - looking forward to seeing it develop. Happy New Year to you.
Beautifully photographed Ari not sure how I missed this before! These images and your description of the border takes me back to living nearby - the area north of Longtown is a strange almost forbidding place.
Thank for your kind words. It's funny how I only really appreciate this neck of the woods now that I don't live there anymore and have somehow managed to grasp a fresh perspective.