When I was 18, I got a job in a fish and chip shop in Dumbarton, just north of Glasgow. This was a mistake. Dumbarton has a picturesque ruined castle and views of the Highlands, 3196-foot-high Ben Lomond and the River Clyde. I did not see any of these things. I did see a lot [...]
The Somerset Cheddar – part 1
I wrote a story about cheese. I was originally going to make the main character a cantankerous Mature Isle of Mull Cheddar, but to show that I have no hard feelings towards those from south of the border, I made it a story about an English cheese. This is part 1. Click here if you [...]
The Somerset Cheddar – part 2
I wrote a story about cheese. I was originally going to make the main character a cantankerous Mature Isle of Mull Cheddar, but to show that I have no hard feelings towards those from south of the border, I made it a story about an English cheese. This is part 2. Click here to read [...]
Glasgow and Edinburgh Guides
I’m being asked for lots of advice on what to do in Glasgow this week. Seems my hometown is on many North Americans’ itineraries. I’ll put together a wee Glasgow guide in the next week or so. But for now, here’s a Lonely Planet/ BBC article online today that talks about the arts scene and [...]
Buchanan Street, Glasgow
A shot I took when I was home last. The sun broke through the clouds and Buchanan Street turned silver in the lunchtime light. I snapped this one from the steps of the Concert Hall. Och, Glasgow, I miss you.
The Parish Talent Show
I have always had an unreasonable fear of singing in public. While I dream of being the one who vaults in front of the microphone to entertain the amazed masses, I am instead the one who blunders to the back of the room, making panicstruck attempts to blend into the curtains, foliage or profiterole [...]
All Things Anger You And The Cat Breaks Your Heart
I’ve been catching up on my reading and in between re-reading my favourite book, The Good Fairies of New York, by my favourite author, fellow Scot Martin Millar and dipping into my battered Boyfriend 1963 annual, I’ve been poring over Scottish Proverbs. In this classic from 1948, Forbes MacGregor tells us, “There is no surer guide to [...]
Baby Raccoon Raccoonarama
A couple of weeks ago, a fat elderly raccoon with what looked like cataracts started hanging out on our back deck. Being a non-North American, I think raccoons are exotic and awesome and, on sighting one scurrying into the garbage, get as excited as an American spotting their very first free-range haggis. “A raccoon!” I [...]
A Highland Cow in a Rowing Boat
On board flight UA592 to Dallas, I examine Gaelic Without Groans, the text book I have pilfered from my sister Orla’s old childhood bedroom. The cover boasts an ecstatic pink Highland cow perched in a rowing boat. The cow appears quite at home in such a craft. It looks like it has spent its life [...]
My Mother Does Not Like Squirrels
This is an edit of a wee something I was writing for something else… I’m supposed to be writing about Texas today, but I always seem to be able to find reasons to postpone writing about Texas, such as my mother’s dislike of squirrels. Writing about Texas is hard, writing about squirrels is easy. Texas [...]
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