The Paps of Jura with cumulus clouds hovering overhead. Wild gorse, cuckoo flower, red campion, cuckoos, song thrush, robin, blackbird, willow warbler and as perfect a way of celebrating a wedding anniversary as I can imagine.🥰

You're never at a loose end with a deadline. #books

When I'm not writing I'm playing. Itchy Fingers – the twitch returns - Ardoch Unplugged Braco Hall Sunday 24th May 2pm - 6pm.

To be old, balding and white Is really shite (apologies to Nina Simone and To Be Young, Gifted and Black)

I hate giving bad reviews but it is beyond belief anyone made this into a film. Even the actors long for the end. To be fair it does have some good reviews but then Reform and Trump get votes. Low budget snoozefest with existential undertones. Avoid 15% www.rottentomatoes.com/m/beyond_exi...

Rating hungry media creator employs 3 self-obsessed assistants and a partner with trust issues. They land in the wrong South American country, create absurdist content to film whilst Glyphosates rain down on the unfortunate and diseased locals. Well filmed parable 74% www.imdb.com/title/tt3496...

Today’s book post

Entertaining enough French romp as Swedish Agnita takes an au pair job to look after an aging 'child'. As sweet and as undemanding as a plate of macarons, it offers suitable relief from a daily depressing diet of reality. Slightly cheesy 62% www.imdb.com/fr/title/tt3...

Tania Kovats’ artwork Rivers (2012) at Jupiter Artland. 100 rivers, sampled, distilled, bottled and mirroring my own flow from Thames to Usk, Avon to Forth and Teith.

The Spell or The Dream" at Jupiter Artland is a permanent, large-scale installation by Turner Prize-winning artist Tai Shani, featuring a luminous blue figure sleeping within a glass box represents a dreaming woman, exploring themes of resilience, resistance, and environmental collapse.

It's a Kindle countdown 🎶 www.amazon.co.uk/Devils-Cut-D...

Had the pope around yesterday, which was a surprise. Not sure what I'll dream about tonight.

2nd session couch to 5k and I can recommend it to JD Vance. First lesson, don't run like a loon but perform a slow soft shoe shuffle.

Writing this in a heap of my own sweat - couch to 5k started. God it’s harder than I expected!

High school lesbian coming of age comedy that wouldn’t play well in a redneck state. Slow to get going but our unlikely heroines kick arse at the end. Made me laugh and for that I give it 75% www.imdb.com/title/tt1752...

That's a good thing, being left in tears, right? #thegravesong

Donald Duck! What quackery is this? Is there anything more man centric than interpreting bird song from a male perspective – unless perhaps in the flat-chested world of seatbelt design? www.theguardian.com/environment/...

And the first review has arrived! www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0G36316W...

Word of the day – Schrödinger Theoretical physicist who used the analogy of a cat inside a sealed box as being both alive and dead simultaneously to describe quantum superposition. Hence Schrödinger's cat or Schrödinger's blockade www.cnn.com/2026/04/18/w...

Now available from NetGalley - www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book... Once you start you can't let go

Hello? Is this thing working? Available on @NetGalley book 4 in the DI Corstorphine series 'Jack was no expert, but he knew a corpse when he saw one' www.netgalley.co.uk/catalog/book...

Fish'n'chips in Anstruther followed by coffee and walnut cake in Crail. I'll diet tomorrow (and continue writing DI Corstorphine book 5)!

Can't believe I haven't seen this (or maybe I have)??? Jim Carey before he overacted. If only we could erase a painful love affair from memory – would it make our lives better, or worse, or are some things inevitable? And how are we to be forged except in fire? 88% www.imdb.com/title/tt0338...

I thought Friday was good but this morning's reviews are even gooder! #crimefiction

Happy Eostre www.thefield.co.uk/country-hous...

Word of the day – marmalised www.theguardian.com/world/2026/a...

Word of the day – Boondoggle www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

Shhh! Kindle Countdown www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CTKRJBB...

Sign of a devilish good book www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0F4M37J7...

Satan's saucers! thehill.com/homenews/adm...

Cut price www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DYQK2H8...

OUB - Oleaginous Unidentified Being www.theguardian.com/science/2026...

A fascinating glimpse into one man's obsession with birdsong and an opportunity to learn more about the natural world before extinction takes us all. Simply wonderful 92% www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/m...

Assisted dying is an emotive subject, but MSP's focussed on the wrong aspects. People don't choose death because of a lack of palliative care or social provision – they want to die on their own terms – in dignity and free of pain. It should be a basic human right. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

I don't want to see any UK deaths in support of Trump's ill-considered and illegal war. 38d.gs/9fxf

So well acted and a timely look at Tourette's syndrome. The humour came from the ticks but an ability to laugh at oneself is fundamental to dealing with the issue. Glad to see treatment is improving but our acceptance of the condition has still some way to go. 75% www.imdb.com/title/tt3151...

I've a great Ide for March! Today only - a final Kindle countdown www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0DYPHP8L...

Remembering my mum this bittersweet day Her spoonerisms and ability to get lost in woods The times we fought for breath over something Only we found hysterically funny Which made it all the worse I write books now and she'd be pleased Her school-dodging youngest Finally found his way Home

Synopsis: Weak men surround themselves with weaker men so they can pretend to be strong. Moral: Muscles and money are no substitute for manhood. www.bbc.co.uk/news/article...

A crypto investor just donated £9 million to the Reform Party. Right now, billionaires can pour unlimited money into our elections, effectively buying our democracy. Think that's wrong? Add your name to call for a cap on donations today: you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/ta...

Poles apart “You know, the new thing is magnets,” Trump stated. “So instead of using hydraulic that can be hit by lightning and it’s fine. You take a little glass of water, you drop it on magnets, I don’t know what’s going to happen.” "Now, nobody knows what magnets are." aje.io/f5v0hj

30 years we carry the grief And the load never lightens I'll bear this dark day To the end

It's a Kindle countdown 🎶 www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B0CP895M9...

Emergency! One more @Goodreads review required

Word of the day: Hubris Excessive pride or dangerous overconfidence that leads to a person’s downfall. From the Greek – defying the gods or divine order. Modern usage refers to a fatal, reckless overestimation of one's abilities, commonly causing individuals to disregard warnings or risks.

Working on DI Corstorphine book 5, thinking about book 6.

Older men start wars, but younger men fight them. Albert Einstein

As good a day as any to listen to this evergreen song and the rejection of hate-filled politics. youtu.be/WuCqlrLpHwE?...

No 9 at 599 and 0.99p www.amazon.co.uk/Bone-Clock-D...