As I sit outside this evening, the sun is just slipping behind the wooded hills of Kozara National Park. The sky turns that perfect dusky pink, the kind that makes me reach for my camera, though it never seems to capture the colours quite right. I must work on that.

But tonight isn’t about the view. It’s about the sound.

Not the familiar birdsong, the bark of a village dog, or even the faint whir of a distant tractor.

No, this evening’s soundtrack is coming from underground.

Meet the Mole Cricket

Around this time of year, late July, something remarkable happens just below the surface of the soft, river-fed soil we have all around us.A gentle, rolling trill begins to rise from the earth. At first, it sounds faint, almost electronic. Then, as the minutes pass, others join in, and the entire area begins to hum.

These mysterious little performers?

Mole crickets.

Now, I’ll be honest, I hadn’t paid much attention to them until about three years ago. They’re not flashy. You won’t catch them hopping across the path or fluttering through the trees. No, they live in the quiet, deep in the soil, digging with their strong, spade-like forearms and keeping mostly to themselves.

We accidentally dug one up during some garden work once, and I was genuinely startled. They’re not the most handsome of creatures, in fact, I’d say they’re a bit grotesque,but they’ve earned their place in my summer evenings.

Nature’s Hidden Symphony

There’s a particular kind of magic to their chorus.

It starts with just one cricket calling out from its burrow. Then another replies. And another. Before long, the valley becomes filled with this strange, pulsing music, nature’s own ambient soundtrack.

It’s not easy to miss, even if you’re busy scrolling or wrapped up in the noise of the day. But if you sit still and let yourself listen, it’s like discovering a secret concert performed just for you.

That’s one of the many things I’ve come to love about life here. The quiet things are the main event. You begin to mark the seasons not just by the dates on the calendar, but by the sounds around you.

In spring, it’s the frogs.

In June, it’s the nightingales.

And in the height of summer, like right now, it’s the shy, subterranean song of the mole crickets.

The Rhythm of My Bosnia

What I’m sharing here isn’t a tourist destination or a hidden gem to pin on Google Maps. It’s just a moment. A rhythm. A reminder that some of the most beautiful parts of life are the ones that hum gently in the background, waiting for you to notice.

So wherever you are, walking, working out, winding down,I hope you’ll pause and listen to your own dusk chorus. I’d love to know what it sounds like where you live.

Let’s Stay Connected

If you enjoyed this little postcard from my Bosnian summer, I’d love to hear from you. You can drop me a message.

🎧 And if you’d like to experience it yourself, I’ve included a short soundscape, just under half an hour , of the dusk chorus recorded right here in Čardačani.

Thank You

Thank you for listening to these little slices of my life. If you’d like to get more stories, you can subscribe to my Substack, it’s free, and if you ever want to upgrade to paid but can’t afford it, just email me. I’ll sort it out, no questions asked.

Here are 3 questions I have.

* What would make you hit “play” on an audio post instead of just reading?

* What makes a podcast episode feel personal or meaningful to you?

* Would you like me to add audio versions of my blog posts so you can choose how to enjoy them?

I’ll give a complimentary subscription to Coffee and Rakija for life for taking the time to answer.

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A Sad Farewell to an Important Voice

Hello from Bosnia. Today, I want to share something that’s left me truly disappointed. A rare moment where I find it hard to keep my usual optimistic outlook.

The End of Al Jazeera Balkans

This past Saturday, 12 July, Al Jazeera Balkans closed its doors after almost 14 years of broadcasting. Whether you tuned in regularly or not, the channel has been a critical voice in the Western Balkans.A region where most media is tightly controlled by governments or big business interests. Al Jazeera Balkans stood out as an alternative, independent perspective, a place where tough questions were still asked.

More Than Just Another Newsroom

Of course, they had their own editorial stance. Every newsroom does. But what set them apart was their commitment to diverse, in-depth storytelling and their courage to challenge power. Over the years, they produced documentaries, investigative reports, and live debates that gave space to stories that might otherwise have been buried. And they did so in the languages of the region, from Serbian and Croatian to Bosnian and Macedonian, making their work accessible to so many.

A Huge Loss for Media Freedom

Officially, the closure came down to economic and organisational decisions from headquarters in Doha. But whatever the reason, the result is the same.One less independent voice, one less safe space for journalists, and fewer opportunities to hear all sides of the story.

Around 200 staff are now without work, and in this fragile media environment, that is a devastating blow.

Where Do We Go From Here?

As someone who’s called this region home for over two decades, I’ve seen the struggles for media freedom up close. This feels like a big step backward. But despite this, I still believe in the region’s positive future.

I’d love to hear your thoughts. Do you think there’s still space for independent journalism in the Balkans? Or are we slipping into a single echo chamber?

Let’s keep the conversation going. Vidimo se opet.

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