My Blog

“It isn’t where you came from; it’s where you’re going that counts.” Such beautiful and resonant words by such an inspiring lady in the history of music.  Ella Fitzgerald was arguably one of the most influential singers in the United States for more than 50 years of her recording career. Winning 13 Grammy awards and selling … Continued

Possibility of stray golf balls. I may just have been a signpost I passed on my walk today down the side Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club. It’s a walk I do almost daily, and I almost always take the same route as I wander. But today was different, I was walking as part of a … Continued

Situated on the hobgoblin green hilltops of Cairnhead near the Dumfriesshire village of Moniave stands landscape artists Andy Goldsworthy’s stunning sandstone Striding Arches.  Built from locally quarried stone, each arc consists of 31 sculpted blocks, weighing 27 tonnes. The four beacons sit resplendently on the peak of Galloway hilltops, at the edge of a Nordic … Continued

Farm fields drowned in free-flowing kaleidoscopic eleven high play.  Captain ball kicking. White lady floating. Shooting star ends the day. It’s a mirage. An oasis of what was would and what could be. Treading forward. Always stopping, never further than that tree. _ BMX customise. Profiteering maximise.  Super shiny trefoil badges. A silver spray tantalising.  … Continued

Shhhhhh, don’t tell ourselves about the middle page of life. The restful ease, I’m grateful for. The tranquil marine in sight.  Hush, keep hidden the inner Inver peace.  Summer warming winds. Loving living life meets.  Quieten, and embrace The Royal George coorie corners.  The vital spark in harbour. The famous oyster trawlers.  Mute, now discover … Continued

Since we last met a lot of me has travelled. The wanderless topsy-turvy tangles would never be ironed to a pinch perfect pleat. More playful not less, still silly not stressed. I never lost sight of the challenge, the cheek, the mischief, the mishaps and tumbles. I’m thankful for the rough stuff, the hardball, The … Continued

We don’t need rule breakers. We need a few more mavericks. Countless Cantona’s and Kaufmanns. Buckets of brilliantly bonkers Bjork’s.  We need an expansion of experimenters. Bold Blumenthal’s. An explosion of Edison’s. A delicious dapple of Dysonista’s.   We need an extravagance of expressive’s. A kaleidoscope of Kahlo and Klint’s.  Bombastically bold Bowie and gargantuan Ga Ga’s.  We need … Continued

Laugh at yourself. Look after those you love. Make every day like Christmas. Give out, give away, dance, jig and sing forgiveness. Invite them all for dinner. Buy the best food and wine. Over tip, be over the top. Be Ebeneezer dopamine. Be as giddy as a drunken man. Shout joy from the rooftops. Now … Continued

What if lies came in colours other than white?  I’m sure we’ve all told a wee white one like, “I need to go cause that the postie just came to the door”, or “It wisnae me, it wis ma food”, or maybe even, “Sorry honey, I’ve just missed the train” only to be rumbled by … Continued

I’ll tell you what I miss… The gallus gab of Glasgow. Sitting in the square, eating a square, watching a square go. Circling round Argyll, eyes up seeing Rennie Mac and Buchanan street style show.  Warrington Bank Quay, shitty cereal bars, the long trek choo-choo in the morn. The out of order hole in the wall. … Continued

Let’s not walk, let’s wander, let’s take a path of your choice. Let’s shortcut, new cut, jump through, and wiggle and weave not poise. Let’s go on a journey that’s unplanned, untamed, wild and far. Let’s get to the un-get-at-able, make memorable moments by stars. Let’s travel by quest and untapped, let’s sample the scented … Continued

Dump doom scrolling downsides, what’s shit, doesn’t work, won’t work, can’t be fixed, takes too long, costs too much and won’t solve it anyway. Dump days of solid structure, open up, tea at 10, pee at 11, lunch at 12. Dabble and babble until the fug becomes a bug. Dump the duty of pleasing, saying … Continued

Last week saw the conclusion of the truly spectacular Enchanted forest in leafy Perthshire. The scenic whisky den of Pitlochry is a place more famous for its big trees and ceilidhs than the psychedelic disco stroll I encountered on my visit. The light, music and conceptual arts event runs for 5 weeks every year in … Continued

Sole Trader. Self employed. One-man band. Just some of the terms used to define my role. And indeed, as a Management Consultant much of my time is spent on my lonesome. Long days and evenings spent on my tod surrounded by inspiration from dead artists, inspiring books and Jack Daniels. However, even we lone wolves … Continued