Cookie Policy

What Are Cookies?

Cookies are small text files that are placed on your computer or mobile device when you visit a website. They are widely used to make websites work, or work more efficiently, as well as to provide information to the site owners. They can be thought of as a website’s memory, allowing it to recognise a user’s device on subsequent visits.

How This Website Uses Cookies

This website is built on the Google Sites platform. Google uses certain necessary cookies to allow the site to function securely and correctly.

In addition, this site includes embedded content and links from third-party services. When you interact with this content, these third parties may set their own cookies on your device. I do not have direct control over these cookies.

Below is a breakdown of the types of cookies you might encounter while visiting www.johnaferguson.co.uk.

Types of Cookies Used

• Strictly Necessary Cookies:

  • Google Sites: The underlying platform for this website, Google Sites, uses cookies that are essential for security and for the site to operate correctly. You cannot opt out of these.

• Third-Party Cookies: These cookies are set by a domain other than this website. When you visit this site, the following services may set cookies:

  • Google Forms: The website uses an embedded contact form from Google. When you load the page containing the form, Google may use cookies to ensure the form functions correctly, prevent spam, and gather usage statistics.

  • Spotify: The website embeds an audio player from Spotify to allow you to listen to podcast episodes. Spotify uses cookies to make the player functional (e.g., to remember your volume settings) and may also use them for analytics and advertising purposes in line with their own privacy policy.

  • Blogger: The website embeds a feed from my Blogger page. Google (the owner of Blogger) may use cookies to ensure the embedded content displays correctly and to gather usage statistics.

  • Google Drive: Links on this site may direct you to PDF files hosted on Google Drive. When you access these files, Google may set cookies to manage your session and permissions.

  • Amazon.co.uk: The site includes links to purchase my books on Amazon. These links may be affiliate links, which use cookies to track that you have come from my website. If you then make a purchase, this cookie allows Amazon to attribute the sale back to my site.

  • Social Media (X and Facebook): This site contains links to my profiles on X and Facebook. When you click on these links, you are taken to their respective websites. These platforms will use their own cookies for tracking, advertising, and personalising your experience in accordance with their own policies.

How to Manage Your Cookies

You have the right to decide whether to accept or reject cookies. You can exercise your cookie preferences by setting or amending your web browser controls. If you choose to reject cookies, you may still use my website, though your access to some functionality and areas may be restricted.

As the methods for managing cookies vary from browser to browser, please visit your browser's help menu for more information. You can find information on how to manage cookies on the most popular browsers here:

• Google Chrome

• Mozilla Firefox

• Apple Safari

• Microsoft Edge

Changes to This Cookie Policy

I may update this Cookie Policy from time to time to reflect changes to the cookies I use or for other operational, legal, or regulatory reasons. Please therefore re-visit this page regularly to stay informed.

Contact Me

If you have any questions about this Cookie Policy, please refer to my [Privacy Notice] or contact me at author@johnaferguson.co.uk.

Last Updated: 13th October 2025