I’m walking down a cobbled lane. I can hear the sea, smell it, taste it even but where is it… Suddenly, a surge of saltwater across the cobbles in front of me, blocking the lane before slowly it recedes and my path is clear again. Wow that was unexpected I say to myself. I dropContinue reading “The Skinny Woods”
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Stirling City Walk
“Here, take that son” said an auld dear, as she handed me a card on Christmas Eve. I’m not meant to accept gifts but if someone hands you a Christmas card you cannae exactly say no. Kinda defeats the purpose ae Christmas. When I got home I opened the card and there was a fiverContinue reading “Stirling City Walk”
Dunblane: Big Freeze 2010
Woke up this morning and its dark. Looking out I can see the streetlights across the glen: Holmehill Court stands out, the Hydro above that and further up the lights at Dykedale Farm. Twenty minutes later I’m up the park with the Shitzu. Theres a hint of dawn over Dumyat, a faint glow (tho thatsContinue reading “Dunblane: Big Freeze 2010”
Cheap Day Return tae Queen Street
Normally we head into Glasgow at this time of year : a Christmas tradition to get the train through from Dunblane to Queen Street then wander round George Square, drinking mulled wine, laughing at folk ice skating. Counting House for one then walk down busy Buchanan Street under a canopy of Christmas lights to theContinue reading “Cheap Day Return tae Queen Street”
How the East was Won
In 2006, I became manager of Doune Castle Ams. The previous manager had won almost everything and taken the club into the Caledonian League so it was a bit daunting. Doune however, had never won a national trophy, having lost the Scottish Amateur Cup Final in 1970 in extra time (a sore one as DouneContinue reading “How the East was Won”
Ben Venue:In Memory of Kuro
The Man Who Walks is driving north. After Doune, the mist is down and he has the headlights on. Passing through Callander its surprisingly quiet but then it is 8am. Suddenly he can see Ben Ledi above the mist, clear blue skies beyond. He smiles to himself. He turns left, passes the Lade Inn thenContinue reading “Ben Venue:In Memory of Kuro”
Sherrifmuir
After ten days self isolating then straight back into a hectic week at work, I was ready to get outdoors yesterday. The heavy rain had gone and the sun was trying to come out as I drove up and across the moor to the Sherrifmuir Inn (not an inn now, its a bit like theContinue reading “Sherrifmuir”
October Holidays
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”
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”
