Over the last 20 years as the tots were growing up, our October holidays would be a wee cottage up north. The three criteria were as follows: must allow dogs, be near a pub and have a real fire. However, when the tots were tiny (and we were skint) we went in a caravan forContinue reading “October Holidays”
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The Man Who Walks
The Man Who Walks lives in a small town. When he tells people where he lives, they pause. This can go two ways he knows. They will either mention the bad thing or the good thing. Yin and Yang. Hes ready for this and agrees yes it was terrible or agrees that yes we areContinue reading “The Man Who Walks”
Dunblane Auld Yins
Its the auld yins I feel for just now. Stuck in the house, cannae even have visitors, they just want a doorstep blether. My first delivery one day, the auld biddy had her arm in a sling. ‘Been in the wars, missus?’ Her dog had pulled her off her feet. Didnae surprise me in theContinue reading “Dunblane Auld Yins”
October Night in Dunblane
Needing some munchies , I took the car down to the co-op tonight. The lads were stacking shelves but spotted me standing at the counter, a slab of diet Irn Bru under my arm. Hows it goin? Ach we been mobbed the day – still catching up. I try a different tact : Never mind,atContinue reading “October Night in Dunblane”
Annfield Park, Stirling
When I first saw Annfield Park in the early 1970s, I thought it was a factory. In my defence I was 6 years old and all I saw was a crowd of miserable looking people walking away from a brick building. Annfield Park was, of course, home of Stirling Albion FC, an old stadium whoseContinue reading “Annfield Park, Stirling”
Loch Dochard
Last weekend I managed to go wild camping. This was one of my new year resolutions which looked doomed after Covid-19 kicked off. However, once lockdown was relaxed, I dug out the tent and rucksack and hit the road. Sadly, I didn’t hit the road early enough and there were tailbacks at Callander, Crianlarich andContinue reading “Loch Dochard”
Pabbay and The Sound of Harris
Pabbay is an island in the Sound of Harris. Its a lovely island with a history perhaps all too familiar in Scotland, an island where once over two hundred people lived and now only sheep and deer roam. From South Harris, especially Northton beach, it is unmistakable, a pyramid shaped island floating in the Sound.Continue reading “Pabbay and The Sound of Harris”
Interrail 1988: Athens to Alps
On 18 June 1988, I had arrived in Athens by train after a 36 hour journey from Austria and despite tiredness and scorching heat, I headed out with my new pals, 3 London coppers. We visited the Acropolis and then found a bar to watch England lose to Russia in Euro ’88. I found thisContinue reading “Interrail 1988: Athens to Alps”
Day 250
*As an introduction, today is Day 250. I have not touched alcohol in 250 days. I’m still aff it. I had that dream again last night. In it, I wake up with a drooth and the realisation I had a swally the night before. Ah shite. I count the empty bottles…. Last nights dream hadContinue reading “Day 250”
Braeriach
A big day on the hills you cannae beat it. Just a man and his dug and one simple goal : climb the 3rd highest mountain in Scotland. At 4,252 feet above sea level its a beast but the weathers glorious (I never go out on a miserable day, whats the point..soaking wet, nae views..).Continue reading “Braeriach”
